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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Data Retention Directive: reactions related to the costs involved
After the European Parliament adopted the data retention directive, in many countries the debate only began about the costs. The European Parliament decided to delete the article that demanded cost reimbursement for all additional costs of retention, storage and transmission of data. In the draft directive adopted by the Civil Liberties Committee, Members had initially […]
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French anti-hate groups win case against Yahoo
In a tight decision (6-5) ruled on 12 January 2006, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed Yahoo’s case of sale of Nazi-related books and memorabilia on its French auction site. The majority stated that “First Amendment harm may not exist at all” and that it’s “extremely unlikely” that any penalty could be assessed […]
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French Parliament is making the first step in legalising P2P
At the end of 2005 the French National Assembly took a surprising decision by adopting unexpected amendments on the draft law that transposes the directive on copyright in the information society. During a night meeting on December 21/22, with only 10% of its members present, the National Assembly adopted (30 pro and 28 against votes) […]
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P2P Italian server administrator condemned for copyright infringement
As a result of the modification of the copyright law in Italy through Urbani Law, an administrator of an OpenNap server, « Soniknap5 » was condemned for illegal sharing of music files. The Italian Urbani law modified in March 2005, stipulates administrative penalties for those downloading copyrighted files from the Internet but penal sanctions for […]
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France adopts anti-terrorism law
In November 23, the anti-terrorist draft law proposed by the Ministry on Internal Affairs of France, Nicolas Sarzoky was voted by a large majority of the deputies of the National Assembly. The law facilitates the surveillance of communications allowing the police to obtain communication data from telephone operators, Internet Services Providers, Internet cafes. ( see […]
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Comparison between US and European anti-terror policies
In a report titled ” Threatening the Open Society: Comparing Anti-terror Policies and Strategies in the U.S. and Europe” and released on 13 December 2005, Privacy International compared the anti-terrorism approaches in the U.S. with those in Europe. The report finds that on every policy involving mass surveillance of its citizens, the EU is prepared […]
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Evaluation of EU rules on databases
The Directive on the legal protection of Databases was adopted in February 1996. The Directive created a new exclusive ‘sui generis’ right for database producers, valid for 15 years, to protect their investment of time, money and effort, irrespective of whether the database is in itself innovative (“non-original” databases). The European Commission published on 12 […]
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BEUC's Campaign on Consumers' Digital Rights
In November 2005 BEUC (the coalition of all consumers’ organisations in Europe) has launched a Campaign on Consumers’ Digital Rights. The campaign is meant to show consumers what their digital rights are. BEUC is supported by Zusana Roithova, Member of the European Parliament, Czech Republic. The campaign highlights the complex threats for consumers in today’s […]
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UK ID card scheme – defeated in the House of Lords
On 17 January 2006, a full House of Lords debated at length the purposes, costs, and details of the proposed identity cards scheme. And in three votes serious obstacles were raised against the Government. The Government contends that the card is essential for combating crime, illegal immigration, and identity theft, and can be achieved for […]
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NL Supreme court ends 10 year old Scientology case
Freedom of speech won in a battle that lasted for a decade between Karin Spaink, a Dutch writer and XS4ALL, her Internet service provider, on one side, and the Church of Scientology, on the other side, which was claiming copyright infringement. It all began in 1995 when the Church of Scientology attempted to seize the […]
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Freedom of Information Act in Macedonia
The Civil Society in Macedonia is very much concerned about the quality of the proposed draft Law on Free Access to Information of Public Character as it does not meet international standards on access to information. Today (18.01.2006), it is expected that the Macedonian Parliament will adopt the Law. Nongovernmental organizations Article 19, Foundation Open […]
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First Consultations on Establishment of Internet Governance Forum
Following the agenda of the WSIS (World Summit on the Information Society) in Tunis in November 2005, the stakeholders will attend a meeting in Geneva, on 16 and 17 February for consultations regarding the convening of an IGF ( Internet Governance Forum) for multi-stakeholder policy dialogue. The meeting in Geneva is meant to deal with […]
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