Belgium has introduced a national safe harbor framework for ethical hackers, making it the first European country to do so. The framework, announced by the Centre for Cyber Security Belgium (CCB), offers legal protection to individuals or organizations who report security vulnerabilities in systems, networks, or applications located in Belgium. The protection applies to both private and public sector technologies. To qualify for protection, security researchers must follow certain conditions, including notifying the owner of the vulnerability, submitting a written report, and acting without fraudulent intent. Belgium’s policy is considered the most comprehensive in the EU, with other countries like France, Lithuania, and the Netherlands also implementing vulnerability disclosure policies. The introduction of this framework may encourage more companies to adopt their own vulnerability disclosure programs.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| New legal protections for security researchers | Legal protection for ethical hackers | More comprehensive protections for ethical hackers | Motivation to encourage responsible vulnerability disclosure |
| Belgium adopts national safe harbor framework | Adoption of safe harbor framework | More EU countries adopt similar frameworks | Encouraging responsible disclosure and protecting hackers from legal consequences |
| Conditions for legal protection | Conditions for legal protection | Increased awareness and adherence to conditions | Ensuring responsible and necessary disclosure of vulnerabilities |
| Guidelines for organizations to adopt CVDP | Encouragement to adopt CVDP | Greater adoption of CVDP by organizations | Encouraging organizations to take responsibility for their vulnerabilities |
| Other EU countries developing similar protections | Development of similar protections | More EU countries adopt nationwide protections | Growing recognition of the importance of ethical hacking |
| Low adoption of VDPs among companies | Low adoption of VDPs by companies | Increased adoption of VDPs by companies | Legislation and pressure to prioritize cybersecurity |