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.
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Press release: TiSA negotiations: the European Parliament’s strong position
On 3 February 2016, the European Parliament gave its opinion to the European Commission on what to do and what not to do with regard to the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA). The European Commission is in charge of conducting the negotiations on behalf of the European Union. At the end of the negotiation process, […]
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EDRi co-hosts the Privacy Camp, 26 January 2016
In the run up to CPDP conference in Brussels, civil society groups met at the fifth annual Privacy Camp to exchange views and develop new strategies. This year’s conference took place under the title “The Multiple Ways of (De/Self)-Regulation: What is at stake for Human Rights?” and included various panels and speakers from around the […]
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What’s behind the shield? Unspinning the “privacy shield” spin
If there is a deal, why was nothing published? It is standard practice from the European Commission. When an agreement is reached, the Commission launches a press release, but not the actual agreement. In this way, the Commission can control the amount of information available to journalists and the general public. It then launches the […]
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TiSA resolution: what are you going to do about it?
The Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) is bizarrely and sadly not subject to the same public debate as other “trade” agreements, such as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) or the recently concluded Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). While some do not find TiSA as “sexy”, it still contains provisions that should deserve all your attention. […]
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European Commission defence of European rights sinks in an unsafe harbour
Following the decision of the European Court of Justice to overturn the EU/US “Safe Harbor” Agreement last year, EU/US negotiations have been ongoing to reach a new deal, which would facilitate transfer of data across the Atlantic. Having failed to reach an agreement before 1 February, the European Commission today announced plans to back down […]
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Why is Safe Harbour II such a challenge?
It seems baffling to many outside the Brussels bubble – and certainly our friends across the Atlantic – that reaching a revised Safe Harbour deal has proved so difficult. Part of the problem is Europe. The United States was able to negotiate a questionable deal with the EU to gain access to financial transaction data […]
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EDRi’s work in 2015
Information technology has a revolutionary impact on our society. It has boosted freedom of communication and democracy but has also led to new approaches to surveillance and is increasingly used to impose restrictions on fundamental rights. In the past year, we worked hard to ensure that your rights and freedoms in the online environment are […]
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Digital Single Market: The EU Parliament responds to the Commission
On 19 January 2016, the European Parliament voted to adopt its report “Towards a Digital Single Market Act”. This Resolution is a non-legislative statement, prepared by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), in response to the European Commission’s Digital Single Market (DSM) strategy presented on […]
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Member in the Spotlight: Bits of Freedom
Bits of Freedom is the leading Dutch civil rights organisation, focusing on privacy and communications freedom in the digital age. They strive to influence legislative and non-legislative measures, in order to increase freedom and privacy on the Internet.
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TiSA: European Parliament ready to defend digital rights?
On 18 January 2016, the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee (INTA) adopted a non-legislative report, that will be subject to a vote by the whole Parliament on 3 February 2015. Similar to TTIP, harsh criticism has been expressed on the nature and content of the TiSA negotiations. While the INTA committee remained silent about certain […]
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Academics under attack in Turkey
1128 academics from Turkish universities signed an open letter urging the government to stop using curfews to facilitate the violence ongoing for weeks in Kurdish towns. The number of local signatories increased to 2212 by 20 January 2016, including 30 Nobel Prize winners. Moreover, the letter heading “We Will Not Be A Party To This […]
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Civil society and telecom industry urge EU policy makers to safeguard broadband competition
Hosting an event at the European Parliament, the #NetCompetition alliance restated the dangers that a lack of competition in broadband markets will have on consumer welfare and innovation. The event highlighted the problematic practices that broadband providers in monopolistic and oligopolistic markets impose on Internet data usage. Hosted by MEP Lara Comi, the event featured […]
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