December 15, 2021 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Biometrics | Privacy and confidentiality | Surveillance and data retention

Italy introduces a moratorium on video surveillance systems that use facial recognition

On 1 December 2021, the Italian Parliament introduced a moratorium on video surveillance systems that use facial recognition technologies. This law introduces, for the first time in an EU Member State, a temporary ban for private entities to use these systems in public places or places accessible to the public. This moratorium is an important achievement: it recognises the dangers posed by technologies such as facial recognition to people's rights and freedoms. The moratorium will be in force until 31 December 2023 at the latest, unless a new law is introduced on the subject of biometric surveillance before that date.

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April 6, 2022 · Blogs | Campaigns | On the ground | Privacy and data protection | Artificial intelligence (AI) | Biometrics | Surveillance and data retention

About ClearviewAI’s mockery of human rights, those fighting it, and the need for EU to intervene

Clearview AI describes itself as ‘The World’s Largest Facial Network’. However, a quick search online would reveal that the company has been involved in several scandals, covering the front page of many publications for all the wrong reasons. In fact, since New York Times broke the story about Clearview AI in 2020, the company has been constantly criticised by activists, politicians, and data protection authorities around the world. Read below a summary of the many actions taken against the company that hoarded 10 billion images of our faces.

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November 22, 2023 · Blogs | Press mentions | Privacy and data protection | Artificial intelligence (AI)

The EU wants to make facial recognition history — but it must be done for the right reasons

Whilst civil rights activists have long called for an outright ban, certain EU lawmakers may see the AI Act as an opportunity to claim that they are doing the (human) right(s) thing — and actually doing the opposite.

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July 11, 2018 · Blogs | Information democracy | Freedom of expression online | Surveillance and data retention

German police raids privacy group’s premises

In the early morning of 20 June 2018, German police forces raided several locations – the headquarters of the privacy group Zwiebelfreunde, and the homes of three of its board members, as well as the association OpenLab, which is part of EDRi member Chaos Computer Club (CCC) in Augsburg.

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September 27, 2023 · Blogs | EDRi-gram | Highlights | Information democracy | Open internet and inclusive technology | Privacy and data protection

EDRi-gram, 27 September 2023

The weather might be cooling off but the digital rights world is heating up with activity. Civil society continues to fight against dystopian surveillance technology. More than 85 organisations have called on EU governments to say no to the CSA Regulation until it fully protects online rights, freedoms, and security. Over 115 civil society organisations are urging EU lawmakers to regulate the use of AI technology for harmful and discriminatory surveillance by law enforcement. In Czech Republic, EDRi member Iuridicum Remedium have details on the Czech police’s illegal use of a facial recognition system.

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November 17, 2021 · Blogs | On the ground | Privacy and data protection | Biometrics | Data protection standards | Surveillance and data retention

Big brother at the Prague airport. The state refuses to explain how the biometric camera system works

When Václav Mach, collaborator of the Czech digital-legal organization, an EDRi member, Iuridicum Remedium (IuRe) and law student at the University of Olomouc, asked the state for more detailed information on the use of smart biometric cameras at Prague's Václav Havel Airport, he obtained just general phrases. "They kept secret what they could. Their non-transparency doesn’t add to their credibility,“ he says in an interview with HlídacíPes.org. The article below is a summary of the more extensive interview, translated from Czech into English by EDRi member IuRe.

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March 6, 2024 · Blogs | EDRi-gram | Highlights | Information democracy | Open internet and inclusive technology | Privacy and data protection

EDRi-gram, 06 March 2024

On 17 February, one of the landmark digital laws, the Digital Services Act, in the European Union came fully into force. Now, you've got a whole bunch of fantastic online rights at your fingertips. But don't worry, we've got your back! Our friends at Bits of Freedom have whipped up a shiny new website packed with easy-peasy actions to help you understand and flex those digital rights muscles like a pro. But wait, there's more! We're thrilled to introduce you to our new Head of Policy, Ella Jakubowska. Ella takes up this role from her previous EDRi position as Senior Policy Advisor, where she led advocacy on facial recognition, the confidentiality of online communications, age verification and more. She’ll be spending the coming months listening and learning, so please get in touch if you’d like to talk all things digital rights policy.

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November 21, 2018 · Blogs | Information democracy | Freedom of expression online | Platform regulation

ENDitorial: Facebook can never get it right

In 2017, a man posted live footage on Facebook of a murder he was committing. The platform decides whether you get to see this shocking footage or not – an incredibly tricky decision to make. And not really the kind of decision we want Facebook to be in charge of at all.

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April 13, 2023 · Blogs | Campaigns | Privacy and data protection | Data protection standards | Privacy and confidentiality

Internal market MEPs wrestle with how to fix Commission’s CSAR proposal

The European Union’s proposed CSA Regulation (Regulation laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse) is one of the most controversial and misguided European internet laws that we at EDRi have seen. Whilst aiming to protect children, this proposed law from the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, would obliterate privacy, security and free expression for everyone online.

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April 12, 2022 · Blogs | Highlights | Open letters | Privacy and data protection | Platform regulation

A new crisis response mechanism for the DSA

EDRi is one of 38 civil society organisations jointly raising our voices to the DSA negotiators to stop negotiating outside their respective mandates and respect the democratic process of the EU. We demand concrete improvements necessary for the Crisis Response Mechanism (CRM) to respect international human rights law and prevent the future abuse of those emergency powers. Add your voice now!

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September 9, 2015 · Blogs

Terrorists behind the attacks in France not radicalised “online”

On 26 August, the French Minister of the Interior Bernard Cazeneuve announced in an interview that “90 percent of those drifting into terrorism do it on the Internet”. It is not the first time that Cazeneuve mentioned this figure – he used the same statistics already on numerous occasions, mainly to defend measures contained in […]

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September 28, 2022 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Privacy and confidentiality

United Nations report voices digital rights groups’ concerns over encryption in EU’s new rules

On 16 November 2022, the United Nations Human Rights Office published a report on the right to privacy in the digital age warning against the European Union’s plans to undermine encryption and the threat of mass surveillance in the proposed chat control legislation.

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