Our work
EDRi is the biggest European network defending rights and freedoms online. We work to to challenge private and state actors who abuse their power to control or manipulate the public. We do so by advocating for robust and enforced laws, informing and mobilising people, promoting a healthy and accountable technology market, and building a movement of organisations and individuals committed to digital rights and freedoms in a connected world.
Filter resources
-
Statement: End complicity with ISS World Europe
ISS World Europe is an annual surveillance industry trade fair where the most invasive technologies for mass surveillance, data harvesting and tracking of individuals are traded and promoted. Such a marketplace for digital repression tools, connected to companies directly involved in war crimes, human rights violations, and the genocide in Gaza, should have no place in the EU. Civil society is calling on the EU to immediately cut ties with ISS World Europe.
Read more
-
What’s behind the EU’s digitalisation push? Surveillance, control and exclusion
The EU institutions have been engaged in a broad and wholesale digitalisation project but underneath the rhetoric of efficiency, modernisation, and citizen empowerment lies a more troubling reality. It is not a mere technical upgrade of public services, but a political choice, long in the making, to forego care and rights of individuals in favour of normalising surveillance, control and exclusion of the most marginalised. This blog explores the various facets of the EU’s digital welfare state push, and what it means for the relationship between people and the state.
Read more
-
A push back to Czech football club‘s plan to install facial recognition CCTV system
There is a debate in the Czech Republic over the use of facial recognition cameras in stadiums. Both clubs and politicians are calling for biometric surveillance after hundreds of fans stormed the football pitch during a recent match. The debate has unfolded with pushbacks from the public opinion and digital rights groups, including IuRe, while government officials are still considering the implementation of biometric system regardless of their illegality.
Read more
-
Inside Italy’s low-cost spyware economy
Commercial spyware in Europe has recently made headlines with the now notorious names of Pegasus and Graphite, the expensive, exploitation-driven products at the top end of the market. Much less known is the wide underworld ecosystem of low-cost spyware vendors, often targeting citizens via their smartphones. EDRi member Osservatorio Nessuno has investigated and analysed two separate products, Spyrtacus and Morpheus.
Read more
-
EDRi-gram, 28 May 2026
What has the EDRi network been up to over the past few weeks? Find out the latest digital rights news in our bi-weekly newsletter. In this edition: May the force be with the digital rights community.
Read more
-
“Fight for Us, Not for Them”: A Public Interest Vision for EU Tech Policy — new speakers announced
As EU digital policy faces growing pressure from deregulation and “simplification” agendas, civil society experts, lawmakers, regulators, and journalists are coming together in Brussels and online to make the case for a bold public-interest vision of technology policy: one that protects people, communities, democracy, and our fundamental rights.
Read more
-
Research study: Evaluation of EU’s Law Enforcement Directive shows implementation still fragmented and insufficient
This study commissioned by EDRi analyses the implementation of the Law Enforcement Directive (LED) in five EU Member States. It shows that even eight years after the LED’s entry into application, the implementation of this crucial instrument for digital rights remains fragmented and insufficient.
Read more
-
Ireland investigates Meta for breaching the DSA – a year on from our complaint
The Irish Digital Services Coordinator Coimisiún na Meán (CnaM) has announced a formal investigation last week into whether Meta breaches the DSA’s obligation to offer users access to alternative news feeds without profiling – a promising step towards tackling toxic platform design. The investigation comes after Bits of Freedom, EDRi, GFF and Convocation Research + Design filed a complaint about the issue. At the same time, Meta’s abuses have already gone on for too long. We need a fast resolution from the CnaM in order to protect the digital rights of people across Europe and to show that the EU stands ready to enforce its platform laws.
Read more
-
Did the EU Parliament really vote not to protect children online?
In April 2026, negotiations on the ‘interim ePrivacy derogation’ fell apart, with several stakeholders claiming that the European Parliament stopped the EU from protecting children. In reality, however, the Parliament’s position aimed to ensure the protection of all fundamental rights without leading to mass surveillance – whereas EU Member States and the Commission proved unwilling to move even an inch on safeguards.
Read more
-
Announcing the Summit “Fight for Us, not for Them”: A public interest vision for EU tech policy
Europe’s approach to governance for advancing technology in the digital age is under pressure, with “simplification” proposals hitting the heart of core digital protections. At the same time, civil society is uniquely positioned to co-develop the EU’s vision for public-interest tech laws, policies and practices. Today, civil society organisations announce a strategic convening between European lawmakers, regulators, journalists and key civil society voices for a vision for tech laws and practices that center public interest, data protection and other rights.
Read more
-
If the DMA is fit for purpose why are the gatekeepers winning?
The European Commission says the Digital Markets Act (DMA) was “fit for purpose” and had “positive impact.” But while it certainly has that potential, laissez-faire enforcement and political interference by the Commission undermine its effectiveness and allow gatekeepers to continue to dominate European digital markets.
Read more
-
EDRi-gram, 30 April 2026
What has the EDRi network been up to over the past few weeks? Find out the latest digital rights news in our bi-weekly newsletter. In this edition: Young people across Europe say social media bans won’t fix broken platforms
Read more