September 25, 2024 · Blogs | EDRi-gram | Highlights | Information democracy | Open internet and inclusive technology | Privacy and data protection

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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September 24, 2022

Privacy is Global: Creative Storytelling for Data Protection Advocacy

“What if there was a mythical monster that sucked our biodata instead of our blood?” “Can you imagine the CEO’s reaction when he realised the whole country’s personal data was stolen from his company’s databases?” “What if we could send messages back in time and warn ourselves about the dangers of losing our privacy?”

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February 21, 2024 · Blogs | EDRi-gram | Highlights | Information democracy | Open internet and inclusive technology | Privacy and data protection

EDRi-gram, 21 february 2024

In this edition, we share with you our concerns about the Irish media regulator’s Online Safety Code and the sledgehammer approach of age verification tools. Also, earlier this month, the EU Parliament voted on the agreement on automated data exchange for police cooperation, known as ‘Prüm II’. What does this framework, and the broader securitisation mindset it represents, mean for our fundamental rights?

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May 29, 2024 · Blogs | EDRi-gram | Highlights | Information democracy | Open internet and inclusive technology | Privacy and data protection

EDRi-gram, 29 May 2024

What an exciting few weeks we have ahead of us – the European Parliament elections are just around the corner and much is about to change. The next time you read the EDRigram, we will have new decision-makers in place at the Parliament. But before we jump too far ahead into the future, here’s what’s been happening in the digital rights world since we last met. EDRi member La Quadrature du Net is taking legal action against the French prime minister’s decision to block TikTok in New Caledonia. The French government is resorting to the tried-and-tested authoritarian reflexes of obstructing people’s freedom of expression as tensions in the archipelago reach new heights. In this EDRigram, we’re also getting real about EU’s surveillance agenda, and looking at how to enforce the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in a way that realises its full potential.

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October 11, 2023 · Blogs | EDRi-gram | Highlights | Information democracy | Open internet and inclusive technology | Privacy and data protection

EDRi-gram, 11 October 2023

The autumn leaves have started to fall but not our spirits. We organised 180 civil society groups and eminent experts to call on governments to stop the use of facial recognition surveillance by police, authorities and private companies. We also mobilised 80 media, journalists, and human and digital rights organisations to urge MEPs to ban the use of spyware against journalists & so much more!

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December 7, 2022

Effectively and safely sharing government data with the public: webinar

This webinar discusses recommendations for opening up government data, establishing a National Secure Data Service, and implementing privacy preserving technologies, drawing on reports published by the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), the Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence Building (ACDEB), and Georgetown University’s Massive Data Institute (MDI).

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November 24, 2022

The EU’s struggle with general-purpose AI: dialogues and debates

In the EU, these AI systems are now referred to as “general-purpose AI” and policymakers are grappling with this exact question in negotiations of the EU’s so-called AI Act. Join the event to learn more.

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October 25, 2023 · Blogs | EDRi-gram | Highlights | Information democracy | Open internet and inclusive technology | Privacy and data protection

EDRi-gram, 25 October 2023

We’re in high spirits after mobilising 23 activists from over 13 European countries to come to Brussels in support early October. Representing over 200,000 supporters of EDRi’s Stop Scanning Me campaign, these activists urged Members of European Parliament (MEPs) to ensure everyone’s digital security amid mass surveillance measures in the CSA Regulation. Meta is up to no good again after the European Court of Justice declared their handling of user data illegal earlier this year. In a move to circumvent EU privacy law, the tech corporation reportedly plans to ask users to pay up to €228 a year to preserve their fundamental right to privacy on its platforms.

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January 17, 2024 · Blogs | EDRi-gram | Highlights | Information democracy | Open internet and inclusive technology | Privacy and data protection

EDRi-gram, 17 January 2024

In December 2023, European Union (EU) institutions reached an agreement on the landmark Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act. But we think it might be too early to celebrate. Same for the European Media Freedom Act, which culminated in a politically pressured final trilogue in December. The final text leaves much to be desired in protecting journalists and EU fundamental rights.

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December 16, 2020 · Blogs | Information democracy | Freedom of expression online

Terrorist Content Online: Is this the end?

On 10 December, the European Parliament and the German Presidency acting on behalf of the Council reached a provisional agreement on the Regulation addressing the dissemination of terrorist content online.

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April 22, 2021 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Artificial intelligence (AI) | Biometrics | Data protection standards | Privacy and confidentiality

Computers are binary, people are not: how AI systems undermine LGBTQ identity

Companies and governments are already using AI systems to make decisions that lead to discrimination. When police or government officials rely on them to determine who they should watch, interrogate, or arrest — or even “predict” who will violate the law in the future — there are serious and sometimes fatal consequences. EDRi's member Access Now explain how AI can automate LGBTQ oppression.

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January 29, 2020 · Blogs | Information democracy | Open internet and inclusive technology | Privacy and data protection

#PrivacyCamp20 happened

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