EDRi-gram, 25 September 2024
With summer on its way out, there might be a chill in the air. But there’s none to be found in Brussels and the digital rights world. Last week, we were glued to our screens as the European Commission President Elect, Ursula Von Der Leyen, announced the Commissoners-Designate and what they’ll be in charge of. Now, these Commissioners will go through live-streamed hearings at the European Parliament next month before starting work. We’ll be watching with interest… and maybe popcorn. This week, we’re also concerned about the impact of age verification proposals on fundamental rights and the well-being of children and young people. Spoiler alert: it’s not good. Evidence & lived experiences show these tools are dangerous, discriminatory and unsafe. EDRi and 63 organisations and experts wrote to the European Commission to urge them to halt proposals for using such tools in the implementation of the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the eIDAS Regulation. Now that we’ve all firmly, albeit sadly, turned off our summer out-of-office messages, it’s also time to catch up on what Google, Meta, X and other tech giants have been up to over the summer, especially with the DSA and Digital Markets Act (DMA) in place.
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Open letter: The dangers of age verification proposals to fundamental rights online
On 16 September, EDRi and 63 organisations, academics and experts in privacy, encryption, child safety, sex workers' rights and consumer rights issued a joint statement urging the European...
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What the arrest of Telegram’s CEO means for digital rights
French prosecutors have charged Telegram CEO Pavel Durov for illegal content disseminated by users of his platform and the company’s failure to cooperate with law enforcement authorities. EDRi...
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Enforcing the European Union’s new digital platform laws: How it is going so far
It’s already September and the European Parliament’s summer break is officially over. While the legislature was sleeping, the European Union’s (EU) tech enforcers and their counterparts—Big Tech lobbyists—have...
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European Commission cuts funding support for Free Software projects
The Next Generation Internet initiative has supported Free Software projects with funding and technical assistance since 2018. Despite its proven success, the European Commission made the decision to...
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Making decision-making just and accountable: A vision for our digital future
Together, we can protect human rights, strengthen democracy, and reshape societal systems. Read about our commitment to making decision-making just and accountable, as part of our Vision for 2024...
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The first year of Chat Control
This thought exercise imagines the consequences of the European Union passing a proposal to scan all photos and videos sent by people for potential child abuse. The proposal is real, but this article is extrapolative fiction. The quotations are based on real statements made by the attributed person, but presented out of their original contexts. Their original contexts are linked. Discover what it would be like.
Towards an AI Act that serves people and society
EDRi member, ECNL
The coming two years will be critical for the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) regulation in Europe. Civil society organisations must be active partners in this process to ensure that the regulation can be an effective tool to challenge the harmful impacts of AI on society and secure accountability over AI use. Read more.
The EU AI Act with Access Now
As leaders in the digital rights field, Daniel Leufer and Caterina Rodelli from EDRi member Access Now, have been working hard to ensure that the European Union’s AI Act doesn’t undermine human rights or indeed fundamental democratic values. Find out how the EU AI Act was put together, its downfalls, and where the opportunities are for us as citizens to get involved. Watch the video.
The XZ exploit: The day the internet got lucky
EDRi member, Privacy International
In this week’s episode of “Technology Pill Podcast” we can find out more about a backdoor inserted into a popular Linux file compression tool, which had the potential to massively undermine the security of vast swathes of the internet. What happened? How did it happen? And how was it thwarted? 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
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DisinfoCon 2024 – Taking stock of information integrity in the age of AI
DisinfoCon is a forum for civil society, policymakers, journalists and AI practitioners to meet, exchange and align on a values-based approach to the AI revolution affecting our democracies....
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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...
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A civil society summit on tech, society, and the environment: Meet our key speakers & Explore the Action Desks
We are excited to announce that 41 civil society organisations, including EDRi, will be co-hosting the “Tech and Society Summit” this fall, in October 2024. This event...
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Disinformation & Democracy Conference 2024
The conference seeks to address the critical issue of disinformation and its impact on democratic processes. It will bring together experts from the public sector, private industry, academia,...
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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.
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News Impact Summit: Fighting climate misinformation
Since 2014, the EJC has organised 36 News Impact Summits. The Summits have inspired communities of journalists and media organisations in 29 cities in 20 countries across Europe...
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BigBrotherAwards Germany 2024
Watch as the worst offenders on privacy and surveillance are being slammed at the German BBA gala. The BigBrotherAwards are presented to companies, institutions and persons who act...
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Webinar: “Countering climate disinformation: strengthening global citizenship education and media literacy”
Currently responsible for around 75 per cent of global CO2 emissions, cities – and in particular the transport systems and office buildings – play a pivotal role in...
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#TechPromCDT
Mark your calendar for November 14, 2024 at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. for an evening of mixing and mingling with leaders in the tech policy space. You...
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Freedom not Fear 2024: Registration open
Freedom not Fear (FNF) is an annual self-organised conference on privacy and digital rights. People from all across Europe meet and work towards more freedom in the digitalised...
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RigthsCon25
Each edition of RightsCon convenes business leaders, policy makers, general counsels, government representatives, technologists, academics, journalists, and human rights advocates from around the world to tackle pressing issues...
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2024 Digital Rights Summer School!
During the school, we’ll explore the impact of new technologies on human rights through lectures and talks by regional and international digital rights experts. You’ll take part in...
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Wikimania 2024
Every year, hundreds of Wikimedians come together to celebrate free knowledge at the annual Wikimania global conference. The 19th edition of Wikimania will happen in Katowice, Poland from...
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Call for papers: Cambridge Disinformation Summit 2025
The 2025 Cambridge Disinformation Summit is designed to convene global thought leaders to discuss research regarding the efficacy of potential interventions to mitigate the harms from disinformation.
JOBS
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EDRi is looking for a Communications and Media Officer (PERMANENT)
EDRi is looking for a Communications and Media Officer to join EDRi’s team in Brussels, Belgium. This is a unique opportunity to lead on communication plans for an...
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EDRi is looking for a Graphic Design Officer (1 year contract, possibility of renewal)
EDRi is looking for a Graphic Design Officer to join EDRi’s team in Brussels, Belgium. Bring your creativity and technique in service of the largest civil society digital...
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Center for countering Digital Hate is hiring for various positions
The Center for Countering Digital Hate is a growing organization with offices in Washington DC and London. What makes us different is that we use cutting-edge research to...
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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,...
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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...
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Open Rights Group is hiring for various positions
Founded in 2005, Open Rights Group (ORG) is a UK-based digital rights organisation that campaigns to protect our rights to privacy and free speech online.
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Privacy International is hiring for a Legal Officer
Since 1990, Privay International has been working to promote the human right of privacy throughout the world: raise awareness of threats to privacy; monitor and report on surveillance...
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Stichting NLnet is hiring for a junior or senior technology assessor
Stichting NLnet is a recognised philanthropic non-profit foundation. NLnet supports independent organizations and people that contribute to an open information society. We provide microgrants, advice and access to...
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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...