December 19, 2018 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Privacy and confidentiality

EU Council’s general approach on “e-evidence”: From bad to worse

On 7 December 2018, the Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA) adopted its general approach – a political agreement before entering into negotiations with the European Parliament – on the proposal for a Regulation on European Production and Preservation Orders in criminal matters. The initial proposals of the European Commission already raised concerns in terms […]

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February 19, 2020 · Blogs | Information democracy | Privacy and data protection | Alternatives to dominant digital services | Data protection standards | Equal access to the internet | Freedom of expression online | Inclusive technologies | Platform regulation

The impact of competition law on your digital rights

This is the first article in a series dealing with competition law and Big Tech. The aim of the series is to look at what competition law has achieved when it comes to protecting our digital rights, where it has failed to deliver on its promises, and how to remedy this. This series will first […]

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July 19, 2006

"Free cultures – Free Internet"

(Dieser Artikel ist auch in deutscher Sprache verfügbar) This was the motto of a Swiss symposium on Internet Governance held on 7 July at ETH Zurich. Inspired by the international efforts of convening an Internet Governance Forum (IGF) the symposium in Zurich was co-organized by ETH Zurich, a leading Swiss technical university and SWITCH, a […]

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October 31, 2017 · Blogs | Information democracy | Data protection standards | Transparency

The European Parliament calls for protection of whistleblowers

On 24 October, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on the European Commission to propose legislation protecting whistleblowers in the European Union (EU). The institution made a clear statement recognising the essential role that whistleblowers play in our society, as well as the need to protect them. Whistleblowers fight for transparency, democracy and the […]

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February 19, 2020 · Blogs | Open internet and inclusive technology | Privacy and data protection | Artificial intelligence (AI) | Biometrics | Data protection standards | Profiling practices | Surveillance and data retention

A human-centric internet for Europe

The European Union has set digital transformation as one of its key pillars for the next five years. New data-driven technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), offer societal benefits – but addressing their potential risks to our democratic values, the rule of law, and fundamental rights must be a top priority. “By driving a human rights-centric […]

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July 19, 2006

Commission strengthens the data protection policy

(Dieser Artikel ist auch in deutscher Sprache verfügbar) Following a complaint by a German citizen against the Hamburg State on the way the public authorities may handle the personal data and a series of arguments from the European Ombudsman and European Data Protection Supervisor, the European Commission decided to review its interpretation of the Data […]

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May 19, 2004

Council adopts bad position on software patents

Tuesday 18 May the Council of the European Union adopted by a qualified majority in its Competitiveness meeting a Common position for the Second Reading of the Software Patent Directive. The text is described by the Foundation for a free Information Infrastructure as ‘the most uncompromisingly pro-patent text yet’. The Common Position, which was agreed […]

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January 9, 2019 · Blogs | Information democracy | Privacy and data protection | Data protection standards | Privacy and confidentiality

Bits of Freedom announces winner of privacy award

The Dutch Big Brother Awards will take place on 22 January 2019 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. This year’s distinguished winner of the Felipe Rodriguez Award is Kirsten Fiedler, Managing Director of European Digital Rights. With this award, a Dutch digital rights organisation, EDRi member Bits of Freedom recognises people and organisations who have made a remarkable […]

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August 2, 2006 · Blogs

EDRI-gram in German

(Dieser Artikel ist auch in deutscher Sprache verfügbar) Starting with July 2006, EDRI-gram will be available also in German, a few days after the English edition. The translation is done by Andreas Krisch from the EDRI-member VIBE!AT – Austrian Association for Internet Users. Translations are available for all 2006 editions back to issue 3.23 at […]

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May 19, 2004

New telecommunications act in Germany

On Wednesday 5 May, the Mediation Committee, a common organ of the two German legislative bodies, adopted a compromise regarding the new German Telecommunications Act. It brought back a number of privacy restrictions that were already contained in the Government’s draft act (See EDRI-gram nr. 21), but had been rejected by the Deutsche Bundestag, the […]

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November 3, 2017 · Blogs | Information democracy | Data protection standards | Platform regulation

New Estonian Presidency “compromise” creates copyright chaos

Following the launch of the controversial proposed Copyright Directive in September 2016, the European Parliament and the Member States (gathered in the Council of the European Union) are now developing their positions. The Council is working under its Estonian Presidency, which has produced a new “compromise” proposal.  After the Estonian Presidency of the Council proposed […]

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February 17, 2009

Open letter to the European Parliament – Telecom Package

Dear Members of the European Parliament, We welcome the various statements by the EU to incorporate citizen’s interests within the policy-making process for the Internet and we would like to draw your attention to some serious concerns we have in respect to the Telecoms Package, which is about to enter the Second Reading stage in […]

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