EDRi-gram, 20 March 2024
On March 13, following years of tireless advocacy, the EU Parliament finally passed the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act. But there’s not much to celebrate – the law missed the mark when it comes to protecting our human rights, especially those of migrants and people on the move. On the same day, the Parliament also passed the European Media Freedom Law (EMFA) which aims to protect journalists and media workers. Another legislation with lofty ambitions that did not live up to its goals. Despite the Brussels spyware scandal that shocked up in February 2024, EU’s approach to surveillance technology remains lackadaisical at best. What will finally convince them to take action?
Do you want to receive all the latest news from the digital rights world?
SUBSCRIBE NOW TO THE EDRi-GRAM!-
Open letter: Digital rights advocates unite against Meta’s “Pay or Okay”. Privacy and data protection are NOT for sale
In response to three Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) requesting a European Data Protection Board (EDPB) opinion on Meta's 'Pay or Consent' approach, Access Now, the EDRi office and...
-
Delay, depress, destroy: How tech corporations subvert the EU’s new digital laws
When the DSA and DMA were passed in 2022, major tech industry associations praised the new laws as significant achievements. It is time for Big Tech corporations to...
-
GPS tagging of migrants found unlawful by UK data protection authority
As a result of Privacy International’s 2022 complaint against the UK Home Office, the UK data protection authority (ICO) has found that the GPS tagging of migrants and...
-
Europe’s highest court delivers landmark judgment against IAB Europe in GDPR consent spam pop-ups case
The Court of Justice of the European Union's landmark decision on March 7, 2023, against the auctioning of personal data for advertising purposes under the General Data Protection...
-
#ProtectNotSurveil: The EU AI Act fails migrants and people on the move
The #ProtectNotSurveil coalition is calling attention to how the EU AI Act - adopted by the European Parliament on March 13 - is failing to prevent harm...
-
Will the Brussels spyware scandal finally convince the EU to act?
In February, Brussels was rocked by reports of phone hacking and spyware attacks on members of the European Parliament’s defence and security committee. Such intrusions are a huge...
-
European Court of Human Rights confirms: weakening of encryption can violate the human right to privacy
In a milestone judgment - Podchasov v. Russia - the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled that weakening of encryption can lead to general and indiscriminate...
-
Privatised municipal surveillance on the stage of security theatre in Slovenia
The municipality of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, wasted almost two years deflecting freedom of information requests (FOIAs) from EDRi member Državljan Dsfor the municipal CCTV system data...
Donations from readers like you help us to publish the EDRi-gram and bring you the most important digital rights news.
DONATE TODAYRECOMMENDED
Keep your data secure
Consumer Reports
Cut down on data collection and protect your sensitive personal information, health data, and geolocation. Answer a few simple questions to get customised recommendations from this security planner. Create your plan.
Web monitors say Gaza week-long internet outage is longest yet
Tech Crunch
People in Gaza are unable to call the 101 emergency line to get ambulances. In a Signal message, Doug Madory, Director of internet analysis at Kentik, told TechCrunch that this is the “longest internet blackout ever and longer than all of the previous blackouts combined” in Gaza. Read more.
Is TikTok safe? Algorithm investigation reveals the truth
EDRi observer, Amnesty International
TikTok’s privacy-intrusive way of making money tracks everything you do on the platform to collect information about you. With this information, it tries to predict your interests, emotional state, and well-being, which in turn makes you addicted to the platform. Watch the video.
Data protection in the EU: Children, migrants, and EU Commission
Euractiv
The Tech Brief podcast, together with the European Data Protection Supervisor Wojciech Wiewiórowski, looks at data protection issues, including the regulation concerning the detection and removal of online child sexual abuse material, as well as Frontex’s handling of migrants’ data, and the recent news regarding the European Commission’s violation of data protection rules in its use of Microsoft. Listen to the podcast.
Join us in shaping our digital spaces for people, democracy and the planet.
EDRi has launched its manifesto for digital futures for people, democracy and the planet. In the 2024 European elections and beyond, we'll tackle challenges like climate change and tech monopolies, standing up for justice, equity, and sustainability. But we can't do this alone. With your support, our bold visions are within reach!
Get involved!EVENTS
-
LibrePlanet 2024
LibrePlanet provides an opportunity for activists, hackers, law professionals, artists, educators, students, developers, policymakers, tinkerers, and anyone looking for technology that respects the user's freedom to come together...
-
2024 Spring Fling
The Center for Democracy and Technology is pleased to announce the 2024 Spring Fling, a celebration during IAPP’s Global Privacy Summit. You won’t want to miss it!
-
Barcelona Cybersecurity Congress
Join your peers, stakeholder, industry players and providers at the Barcelona Cybersecurity Congress to find real solutions to the challenges and needs of the sector and discover new...
-
Palestine Digital Activism Forum 2024
Palestine Digital Activism Forum (PDAF) 2024 aims to put Palestinian digital rights as a priority both regionally, and globally, in an attempt to mobilize an intersectional struggle for...
-
Global Digital Intimacies Conference
In the light of these transformations, the Global Digital Intimacies conference aims to gather together scholars from around the world to investigate digital intimacy in all its varieties.
-
2024 Global Gathering
The 2024 Global Gathering (GG) will take place on September 27, 28, and 29 in Estoril, Portugal. The event brings together digital rights networks from around the...
-
EU DisinfoLab 2024 Annual Conference – open call, sumbit your ideas!
After the successful #Disinfo2023 in Krakow, the 2024 Eu DisinfoLab conference is set to take place in Riga, Latvia, on 9-10 October 2024.
JOBS
-
Call for Nomination – EDRi Board elections 2024
EDRi General Assembly will this year elect two Board members to replace two outgoing Board members. As an EDRi Board Member, you will help shape the future of...
-
EDRi is looking for a Senior Policy Advisor to work on digitalisation, society, climate justice (permanent position)
EDRi is looking for a Senior Policy Advisor to join EDRi’s policy team in Brussels. This role will focus on digitalisation and society, artificial intelligence (AI), and the...
-
EDRi is looking for a Policy Advisor (2-year position)
We are looking for a Policy Advisor to join EDRi’s policy team in Brussels. The policy team leads work to ensure the respect, protection and fulfillment of human...
-
Access Now is hiring for a Security Officer
Access Now is a growing international human rights organisation dedicated to defending and extending the digital rights of users at risk around the world, including issues of privacy,...
-
Amnesty International is hiring for various a Global Fundraising Programme Volunteer
Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 10 million people who take injustice personally. They are campaigning for a world where human rights are enjoyed by...
-
Article 19 is hiring for a IT Tech Support Team Lead
ARTICLE 19 works for a world where all people everywhere can freely express themselves and actively engage in public life without fear of discrimination.
-
Electronic Frontier Foundation is hiring for Director of Major Gifts
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is the leading nonprofit organization defending civil liberties in the digital world. Founded in 1990, EFF champions user privacy, free expression, and innovation through...
-
FSFE is hiring for a Policy Intern
The Free Software Foundation Europe is a charity that empowers users to control technology. Software is deeply involved in all aspects of our lives and it is important...
-
Liberties is hiring for various positions
The Civil Liberties Union for Europe is a Berlin-based watchdog that safeguards the human rights of everyone in the European Union. Liberties works on multiple human rights issues,...
-
Logically is hiring for a Deputy Editor
Logically Facts works to reduce the individual, institutional, and societal damage caused by misleading and deceptive online discourse through our fact-checking efforts.
-
Mnemonic is hiring for a Service Provision for Travel Management Services
Mnemonic works globally to help human rights defenders effectively use digital documentation of human rights violations and international crimes to support advocacy, justice and accountability.
-
Mozilla is hiring for various positions
Mozilla Foundation is committed to an internet that promotes civil discourse, human dignity, and individual expression. To an internet that catalyzes collaboration among diverse communities working together for...
-
noyb is hiring for a Legal Trainee
Noyb pursues strategic and effective enforcement by thoroughly analyzing and prioritizing privacy violations, identifying the legal weak spots of these cases and litigating them with the best possible...
-
Sovereign Tech Fund is hiring for a Communications Manager
The Sovereign Tech Fund's mission is to promote security, innovation and competitiveness and to create a stable digital foundation for participation and democracy.
-
Wikimedia Foundation is hiring for a Communications Manager
The Wikimedia Foundation is the nonprofit that hosts Wikipedia and their other free knowledge projects. Wikimedia Foundation wants to make it easier for everyone to share what they...