EDRi-gram, 19 May 2021

The increasing use of facial recognition and other biometric surveillance technologies – on our streets, in train stations, at protests, at sports matches and even in our global ‘town square’, Facebook – means that our freedom to be anonymous in public spaces, our freedom to just be, really does face an existential threat. The mask is a symbol of resistance against the growing use of mass facial recognition. Get this symbolic merch and support the work EDRi does.

By EDRi · May 19, 2021

Can a COVID-19 face mask protect you from facial recognition technology too?

Mass facial recognition risks our collective futures and shapes us into fear-driven societies of suspicion. This got folks at EDRi and Privacy International brainstorming. Could the masks that...

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“E-evidence” negotiations: a call to protect media freedoms and democratic rights from abusive cross-border orders

Together with a coalition of 25 organisations and companies, European Digital Rights (EDRi) urges the European Parliament and the Council to uphold a high level of procedural safeguards...

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New Cybercrime Protocol: weak safeguards against big risks of abuse

In 2017, the Council of Europe (CoE) and its Cybercrime Committee started preparing an additional protocol to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime – a new tool for law...

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EU’s new artificial intelligence law risks enabling Orwellian surveillance states

When analysing how AI systems might impact people of colour, migrants and other marginalised groups, context matters. Whilst AI developers may be able to predict and prevent some...

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FLoC: Google’s new means of following you across the web

If you browse the web without an ad blocker, you will have noticed that the ads you see tend to follow you around. Have you been looking around...

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DSA Proposal: Recommendations for the EU Parliament and Council

The Digital Services Act (DSA) is a mixed bag with some promising proposals, shares EDRi's member Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). In their "Recommendations for the EU Parliament and...

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Spotify, don’t spy: global coalition of 180+ musicians and human rights groups take a stand against speech-recognition technology

“You can’t rock out when you’re under constant corporate surveillance. Spotify needs to drop this right now and do right by musicians, music fans, and all music workers.”...

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Washed in blue: living lab Digital Perimeter in Amsterdam

An increasing amount of Dutch government agencies seem to resort to so-called ‘living labs’ and ‘field labs’ in order to test and experiment with technological innovations in a...

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Democracy, social movements, our relationships, and our own well being all require private space to thrive. This conversation with Snowden, part of limited series in honour of Electronic Frontir Foundation’s 30th anniversary, discusses how state actors and law enforcement reach for persistent mass surveillance tech with disturbing frequency.

Happy 30th anniversary to EFF who have been committed to ensuring that technology supports innovation for all of us.

Watch the conversation here.

Listen: Nandini Jammi and the hate-funding advertising

Producer: EDRi member, Citizen D

The Sleeping Giants campaign highlighted the issue of hate funding through digital advertising and showed that the relationship between ad companies and propaganda outlets is highly problematic and highly ignored by the people responsible. EDRi’s member Citizen D discusses propaganda funding through opaque online digital ad system, the ways to address and solve this issue and the role of a critical consumer, with tech marketer turned activist Nandini Jammi.

Listen to learn if the Sleeping Giants are awakening here.

Do: Cover Your Tracks

Producer: EDRi member, Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)

How does tracking technology follow your trail around the web, even if you’ve taken protective measures? Learn how trackers see your browser by using the Cover Your Tracks tool created by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. It provides you with an overview of your browser’s most unique and identifying characteristics.

Check if you are protected from tracking and fingerprinting here.

Read: Community-led online platforms: Alternative governance study

Producer: The Greens/EFA (Political group in the European Parliament)

Strong online communities and a transparent bottom-up approach to moderating content are best for our online safety and our digital rights. Nowadays, Big tech and artificial intelligence are increasingly deciding which content is censored online, often restricting freedom of speech and expression of real people on the internet.

Read the study on alternatives to FB & co here.

Events

May 19, 2021

One World: International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival

One World’s tradition in the Czech Republic stretches back more than twenty years, and over time, it has grown into the world’s largest festival for documentary films on...

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May 26, 2021

Month of biometric monitoring (5 May – 26 May)

How to understand biometric control technologies in the information society and how to establish relationships between privacy protection, a sense of security and technological progress? Where should the...

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June 7, 2021

RightsCon 2021

Every year, RightsCon brings together business leaders, policy makers, general counsels, advocates, technologists, academics, government representatives, and journalists from around the world to tackle the most pressing issues...

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September 14, 2021

Data for Policy 2021

The sixth International Data for Policy Conference will take place in London in September 2021. The conference series is the premier global forum for multiple disciplinary and cross-sector...

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October 11, 2021

Fundamental Rights Forum 2021

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights has launched their call for proposals to host a session at the Fundamental Rights Forum 2021 (RightsForum21). This year they are...

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November 4, 2021

“Cultural Flow (s) and Mobility in the Age of Media Convergence”

EDRi's member Alternatif Bilişim hopes to come together with you around the following or other themes at the 5th New Media Studies National Congress, which will be held...

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June 11, 2021

Transatlantic discussion: Time to ban surveillance-based advertising?

The Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) is hosting a discussion between MEP Alexandra Geese and Congresswoman Lori Trahan on Transatlantic solutions to protect consumers from surveillance-based advertising. The discussion...

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