Privacy and confidentiality
Privacy is a crucial element of our personal security, enabling free speech and democratic participation. The absolute and fundamental human right to privacy guarantees people respect for their private life and freedom from snooping and unlawful interference. It gives everyone the freedom to be themselves, to express and develop their opinions and ideas with dignity, and to practice their religion, as well as giving journalists and civil society the ability to report on violations of rights by states or businesses. Without sufficient privacy, people’s private interactions are exposed, which can be used to target or discriminate against them.
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Spyware attack attempts on civil society in Serbia
On 30 October 2023, two members of civil society from Serbia received an alert from Apple that they were potential targets of state-sponsored technical attacks. They immediately contacted EDRi member SHARE Foundation after receiving the warning, in order to check if their devices were attacked by any known spyware. These were the first documented cases of attempted sophisticated spyware attacks known to us in Serbia.
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CSAR: European Parliament rejects mass scanning of private messages. Here is why
On 22 November, the European Parliament officially adopted its position on the draft ‘Regulation laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse’ (CSAR). With strong support for this position from all seven European political groups, this marks a positive development for human rights in one of the most controversial draft European Union (EU) laws in recent memory.
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EU Parliament committee rejects mass scanning of private and encrypted communications
On 14th November, Members of the European Parliament’s ‘Civil Liberties’ committee voted against attempts from EU Home Affairs officials to roll out mass scanning of private and encrypted messages across Europe. It was a clear-cut vote, with a significant majority of MEPs supporting the proposed position.
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A coalition of six organisations takes EU’s dangerous terrorist content regulation to court
On 8 November 2023, a coalition of six organisations filed a complaint before the French supreme administrative court, the Conseil d’État, against the French decree implementing the Regulation on addressing the dissemination of terrorist content online.
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If the Commissioner isn’t responsible for DG HOME’s alleged unethical and unlawful actions, who is?
Serious concerns have been raised about the EU CSA Regulation by technologists, lawyers, NGOs, EU institutions, some child protection advocates and survivors and more. Recent allegations suggest that not only have these stakeholders been ignored - but that there may have been attempts by the EU Commission to manipulate the democratic process. The head of the Commission's Home Affairs unit has been grilled by MEPs about these allegations
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Why your data might already be on a Europol list
Police forces around Europe seem hooked on the habit of collecting information on a massive scale and forwarding it to the EU's police agency, Europol. This undermines privacy, fair trial rights and the presumption of innocence.
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Activists come to Brussels to tell MEPs to ensure everyone’s digital security amid mass surveillance measures in CSA Regulation
Between 9 and 11 October, 23 Stop Scanning Me activists from 13 European countries travelled to Brussels. They were students, parents, lawyers, young activists, human rights defenders and technologists. They came on behalf of the 200,000 people who signed the movement petition to tell their EU representatives in the European Parliament that the CSA Regulation proposal must be rejected to prevent mass surveillance.
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CSA Regulation Document Pool
This document pool contains updates and resources on the EU's proposed 'Regulation laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse' (CSA Regulation)
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Position Paper: Age verification can’t ‘childproof’ the internet
EDRi has published its policy paper on age verification to shed light on the risks of the widespread use of age verification and to chart out possible alternative solutions.
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Are we about to lose the last pillar of our digital security?
Breaking encryption and criminalising its use will not resolve the deep societal issues we are facing. Instead, governments should protect and promote the very tool that ensures our digital security.
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Press Release (CSA Regulation): Who benefits from the EU Commission’s mass surveillance law?
A newly-published independent investigation uncovered that the European Commission has been promoting industry interests in its proposed law to regulate the spread of child sexual abuse material online.
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The Stop Scanning Me movement organised a mass protest in Berlin against dangerous surveillance law
The German alliance against chat control "ChatkontrolleSTOPPEN!" mobilised people in a protest against the European Commission's mass surveillance plans under the Child Sexual Abuse Regulation (CSAR). The action took place during the visit of the European Union Interior Commissioner to the conference of the German Interior ministers in Berlin.
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