November 4, 2015 · Blogs

Austrian BBA awarded to the new intelligence services act

On 25 October, Austrian EDRi member q/uintessenz organised the annual Big Brother Awards Gala. It was held in Vienna at the Rabenhof Theatre, with over 300 people attending to “honour” the biggest privacy invaders of this year. Organised annually since 1999, this was the 17th time the Gala was held. It was broadcast via national […]

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February 22, 2017 · Blogs

New legal framework for predictive policing in Denmark

After the terrorist attack in Copenhagen in February 2015, the Danish government presented an action plan to strengthen the data analysis capacity of the police and the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET). The action plan, called “A Strong Guard against Terror”, specifically mentions monitoring of social media posts in order to discover possible terrorist […]

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October 23, 2019 · On the ground | Privacy and data protection | Privacy and confidentiality | Surveillance and data retention

Austrian Passenger Name Records complaint – the key points

Austrian EDRi member epicenter.works filed a complaint with the Austrian data protection authority (DPA) about the Passenger Name Records (PNR) in August 2019, with the aim to overturn the EU PNR Directive. On 6 September, the DPA rejected the complaint, which was a good news, because that was the only way to lodge a complaint […]

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November 25, 2020 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Alternatives to dominant digital services | Artificial intelligence (AI)

EU alphabet soup of digital acts: DSA, DMA and DGA

Members of the European Commission appointed in 2019 agreed to put digital policies as one of the cornerstones of EU legislation between 2019-2023. These include the Digital Services Act (DSA), the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Data Governance Act (DGA). So, what are the differences between these acts?

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July 14, 2021 · Blogs | Campaigns | Information democracy | Artificial intelligence (AI) | Biometrics | Surveillance and data retention

EU privacy regulators and Parliament demand AI and biometrics red lines

In their Joint Opinion on the AI Act, the EDPS and EDPB “call for [a] ban on [the] use of AI for automated recognition of human features in publicly accessible spaces, and some other uses of AI that can lead to unfair discrimination”. Taking the strongest stance yet, the Joint Opinion explains that “intrusive forms of AI – especially those who may affect human dignity – are to be seen as prohibited” on fundamental rights grounds.

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July 6, 2022 · Blogs | Open internet and inclusive technology | Transparency

The European Media Freedom Act: a unique opportunity to safeguard Europe’s media and democratic values

Media independence, freedom and plurality are under pressure in the EU. The upcoming European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) is a unique opportunity to protect Europe’s media and, by ensuring a diverse information ecosystem, also safeguarding EU democratic values.

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January 23, 2023 · Blogs | Artificial intelligence (AI) | Biometrics

Remote biometric identification: a technical & legal guide

Lawmakers are more aware than ever of the risks posed by automated surveillance systems which track our faces, bodies and movements across time and place. In the EU's AI Act, facial and other biometric systems which can identify people at scale are referred to as 'Remote Biometric Identification', or RBI. But what exactly is RBI, and how can you tell the difference between an acceptable and unacceptable use of a biometric system?

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June 19, 2023 · Blogs | Open letters | Privacy and data protection | Transparency

Open letter: The Council of European Union must protect journalists against spyware and surveillance in the European Media Freedom Act

Civil society and journalist associations are calling on the Council of the European Union to reconsider its current position on the European Media Freedom Act, as stated in a recent compromise text. Instead, the Council must take steps to meaningfully protect journalists and their fundamental rights.

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July 20, 2023 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Surveillance and data retention

LIBE Committee’s opinion fails to include a total ban on the use of spyware in the European Media Freedom Act

EU Parliament's LIBE committee voted on its position on the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) and failed to call for a total ban on the use of spyware against journalists.

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September 27, 2023 · Open letters | Privacy and data protection | Freedom of expression online | Surveillance and data retention

Open Letter: European Parliament must protect journalists and ban spyware in the European Media Freedom Act

As the European Parliament gets set to vote on the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) next week, 80 civil society and journalists’ associations are calling on Members of European Parliament (MEPs) to ensure meaningful protection for journalists in the regulation by including a total ban on spyware.

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February 22, 2017 · Blogs

Proposed Espionage Act threatens free speech in the UK

The UK’s Law Commission has announced proposals that could mean journalists and whistleblowers are treated as spies if they “handle” official data. The ongoing open public consultation on the protection of official data, run by the Law Commission, suggests that the crime of espionage is changed so that it is “capable of being committed by […]

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February 24, 2021

The Digital Markets Act – how to break the market dominance of Big Tech

What are the problems with market dominance of big tech? How are governments trying to solve them? Will the Digital Markets Act and similar efforts be enough? Join this webinar to learn more.

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