EDRi-gram, 5 February 2025

What has the EDRis network been up to over the past two weeks? Find out the latest digital rights news in our bi-weekly newsletter. In this edition: Don’t let Big Tech bully the EU, Commission’s AI Act guidelines should center human rights, & more!

By EDRi · February 5, 2025

Dear supporters,

It’s been a relentless, cold and grey start to the year, but we’re holding our ground to bring you the latest digital rights news. The same cannot be said for the EU leadership, which is showing signs of bowing to pressure from Big Tech bullies and their allies in the Trump administration when it comes to the enforcement of digital rules.

We, and more than 40 civil society organisations across the EU and the US, say: this won’t do. Together, we called on the European Commission and President Ursula von der Leyen to ensure that Europe commits to strong enforcement of the DSA, DMA and other digital laws to protect people and our democracy.

In December 2024, we told you about the annulment of Romania’s presidential election result, and how TikTok breached the national election laws. EDRi member ApTI has an update on the aftermath of that debacle and reflections on the role of social media platforms and the DSA.

In this edition, you can also read about the surprising body that makes Ireland the Achilles Heel of the EU’s fight against Big Tech.

Lastly, a gentle reminder that as of this week, EDRi is no longer active on X (forever known as Twitter in our hearts). If you missed it, we wrote a blog explaining why we left. You can find us on Mastodon, LinkedIn, and of course, every two weeks in your inbox with this newsletter!

Read about this in detail, and much more in this EDRi-gram:

  • Privacy & Data protection
    • Civil Society Demands: EU Commission Must Close e-ID Loopholes!
    • Why Ireland is the Achilles heel of the EU’s fightback against Big Tech
  • Mass Surveillance & AI
    • European Commission guidelines on the AI Act implementation must center human rights and justice
  • Open internet & inclusive technology
    • Exploring the aftermath of the annulment of Romanian election results – social media platforms, the democratic process, and the role of the DSA
    • Chaos Computer Club supports hackers facing legal battle with railway manufacturer
    • The mirage of EU techno-solutionism to the climate crisis
  • EDRi’s Recommendations
  • Jobs & Events!

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