March 23, 2016 · Blogs

Loopholes creeping into the Italian proposal on net neutrality

The Italian legislative proposal on net neutrality is currently being discussed by the Italian Parliament. Notwithstanding general provisions on the equal treatment of traffic for Internet access services, its amended text contains loopholes and provisions that raise concerns. The text, now containing references to EU Regulation 2120/2015 on net neutrality (and mobile roaming), generally fails […]

Read more

 

January 30, 2008

ECJ decision on handing traffic information in civil cases

(Dieser Artikel ist auch in deutscher Sprache verfügbar) The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has decided on 29 January 2008 in the case of Productores de Música de España Promusicae vs. Telefónica de España considering that the European law “does not require member states to lay down an obligation to disclose personal data in the […]

Read more

February 25, 2015 · Blogs

Did GCHQ spy on you? Find out now!

Since its launch on 16 February 2015, over 25 000 people have joined an international campaign to try to learn whether Britain’s intelligence agency, GCHQ, illegally spied on them. This opportunity is possible thanks to court victory in the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT), a secret court set up to hear complaints against the British Security […]

Read more

 

March 8, 2023 · Blogs | Information democracy and participation | Just and open internet and technologies | Privacy and surveillance

#PrivacyCamp23: Event summary

In January 2023, EDRi gathered policymakers, activists, human rights defenders, climate and social justice advocates and academics in Brussels to discuss the criticality of our digital worlds. We welcomed 200+ participants in person and enjoyed an online audience of 600+ people engaging with the event livestream videos. If you missed the event or want a reminder of what happened in a session, find the session summaries and video recordings below.

Read more

 

September 8, 2021 · Blogs | Privacy and surveillance | Inclusive technologies | Platform regulation

Facebook’s dominance makes it difficult to question the truth

What we as a society understand as true is changeable, and questioning the truth can only be done with a healthy public debate. But the dominance of the platforms that facilitate our public debate makes difficult.

Read more

 

July 8, 2020 · Blogs | Just and open internet and technologies | Artificial intelligence (AI) | Biometrics | Equal access to the internet | Inclusive technologies | Online tracking industry / AdTech | Profiling practices

Digital rights for all

In this article we set out the background to EDRis’ work on anti-discrimination in the digital age. Here we take the first step to explore anti-discrimination as a digital rights issue, and then, what can EDRi do about it? The project is motivated by the need to recognise how oppression, discrimination and inequality impact the enjoyment of digital rights, and to live up to our commitment to uphold the digital rights of all.

Read more

 

February 1, 2023 · Blogs | Privacy and surveillance | Artificial intelligence (AI) | Biometrics

Phone unlocking vs biometric mass surveillance: what’s the difference?

Facial recognition is one of the most hotly-debated topics in the European Union’s (EU) Artificial Intelligence Act. Lawmakers are more aware than ever of the risks posed by automated surveillance systems which pervasively track our faces – as well as our bodies and movements - across time and place. This can amount to biometric mass surveillance (BMS), which undermines our anonymity and freedom, and weaponises our faces and bodies against us. The article explores the types of biometric technology and their implications.

Read more

 

April 7, 2021 · Blogs | Just and open internet and technologies | Data protection standards | Inclusive technologies

Why the electronic green vaccination certificate creates new problems instead of solving them

The National Council in Austria passed a legal basis for the electronic immunity certificate project within two days, skipping any kind of review procedure. The digital passes are not a ticket to a normal life, vaccination is. So, special attention should be paid to maintaining the trust of people and the voluntary nature of vaccination, ensuring that people's rights to privacy and freedom of choice are respected. EDRi's member epicenter.works explains what are the concerns with the deployment of green certificates and suggests alternatives to this project.

Read more

 

May 7, 2025 · Blogs | EDRi-gram | Information democracy and participation | Just and open internet and technologies | Privacy and surveillance

EDRi-gram, 7 May 2025

What has the EDRis network been up to over the past two weeks? Find out the latest digital rights news in our bi-weekly newsletter. In this edition: Apple & Meta fined for breaching DMA, civil society urges EU to act against Hungary’s pride ban, & more!

Read more

 

April 7, 2021 · Blogs | Privacy and surveillance | Privacy and confidentiality

Everyone wants to encourage encryption, except for one minister

The Department of Justice and Security in the Netherlands seems to be holding on to the idea that it is possible to weaken encryption "just a little". Simultaneously, the parliament and a monster alliance of organizations tells the minister over and over again: it's impossible. EDRi's member Bits of Freedom sheds some light on the on-going debate on the question.

Read more

 

March 23, 2022 · Blogs | Privacy and surveillance | Privacy and confidentiality

Leaked opinion of the Commission sets off alarm bells for mass surveillance of private communications

A newly-revealed Opinion of a European Commission review board about their own colleagues’ upcoming proposal for a ‘Legislation to effectively tackle child sexual abuse’ shows strong concerns with the legislative proposal. Leaked by French media outlet Contexte yesterday (22 March), and dated 15 February 2022, the Opinion confirms the fears EDRi and 39 other civil society groups recently raised about the proposal which could destroy the integrity of private online communications across the EU, and set a dangerous precedent for the world.

Read more

 

January 20, 2025 · Blogs | Just and open internet and technologies | Alternatives to dominant digital services | Disinformation and electoral interference | Platform regulation

Why EDRi is leaving X and where to find us

Since Musk’s acquisition of X in October 2022, we have been working towards an exit strategy. Recent developments and Musk becoming part of the second Trump administration have contributed to a unique and toxic platform power-grab, which has accelerated our X-it timeline. EDRi is joining many other organisations and people in leaving X by the end of January 2025. On 20 January, we will host an important X Spaces conversation to encourage our followers to join Mastodon.

Read more