September 14, 2022 · Blogs | Campaigns | Privacy and data protection | Artificial intelligence (AI) | Biometrics | Surveillance and data retention

European Parliament calls loud and clear for a ban on biometric mass surveillance in AI Act

After our timely advocacy actions with over 70 organisations, the amendments to the IMCO - LIBE Committee Report for the Artificial Intelligence Act clearly state the need for a ban on Remote Biometric Identification. In fact, 24 individual MEPs representing 158 MEPs, demand a complete ban on biometric mass surveillance practices. Now we need to keep up the pressure at European and national levels to ensure that when the AI Act is officially passed, likely in 2023 or 2024, it bans biometric mass surveillance.

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April 25, 2023 · Blogs | Press mentions | Privacy and data protection | Artificial intelligence (AI) | Profiling practices | Surveillance and data retention

As AI Act vote nears, the EU needs to draw a red line on racist surveillance

The EU Artificial Intelligence Act, commonly known as the AI Act, is the first of its kind. Not only will it be a landmark as the first binding legislation on AI in the world – it is also one of the first tech-focused laws to meaningfully address how technologies perpetuate structural racism.

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September 11, 2020 · Press mentions | Privacy and data protection | Artificial intelligence (AI) | Biometrics | Profiling practices | Surveillance and data retention

Technology has codified structural racism – will the EU tackle racist tech?

The EU is preparing its ‘Action Plan’ to address structural racism in Europe. With digital high on the EU’s legislative agenda, it’s time we tackle racism perpetuated by technology, writes Sarah Chander.

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February 16, 2023 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Surveillance and data retention

Is the EU protecting people from Pegasus spyware?

Spyware is an extremely invasive surveillance tool and a global threat to human rights and democracy. Since the initial Pegasus Project revelations, we’ve learned that governments and private actors in over 46 countries worldwide, including EU member states, have used invasive spyware to target and silence journalists, human rights defenders, political opponents, and dissidents.

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February 20, 2025 · Blogs | Position papers | Privacy and data protection | Biometrics | Cross border access to data | Surveillance and data retention

Protect Not Surveil position paper: Stop Europol’s expanding digital surveillance against migrants!

EDRi and the Protect Not Surveil coalition published position paper today to call for the rejection of the Europol reform. The proposed legislation would expand Europol’s surveillance powers, put lives at risk, and criminalise migrants and solidarity organisers.

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April 24, 2019 · On the ground | Privacy and data protection | Surveillance and data retention

Strategic litigation against civil rights violations in police laws

Almost every German state has expanded or is preparing to expand police powers. The police authorities are now more often allowed to interfere with civil rights, even before a specific danger has been identified. They are also given new means to conduct secret surveillance online. EDRi member Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte (GFF, Society for Civil Rights) […]

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December 9, 2020 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Online tracking industry / AdTech | Privacy and confidentiality | Surveillance and data retention

Benefiting whom? An overview of companies profiting from “digital welfare”

Could private companies be the only ones really profiting from digital welfare? This overview from EDRi member Privacy International looks at the big players.

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April 22, 2021 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Online tracking industry / AdTech | Privacy and confidentiality | Surveillance and data retention

Luca contact tracing app: CCC calls for an immediate moratorium

A dubious business model, defective software, irregularities in the awarding of contracts: EDRi member, Chaos Computer Club (CCC) demands an immediate end to federal funding for the “Luca” contact tracing app.

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January 19, 2022 · Blogs | Campaigns | Privacy and data protection | Online tracking industry / AdTech | Platform regulation | Surveillance and data retention

People ask MEPs: Take the opportunity, end surveillance ads!

Thousands of people are asking the EU Parliament to end online surveillance advertising , ahead of the DSA (Digital Services Act) vote in the plenary on Thursday, 20 January 2022. EDRi is part of the movement mobilising people, together with individual organisations in the PeopleVsBigTech group and beyond.

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May 13, 2020 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Artificial intelligence (AI) | Biometrics | Surveillance and data retention

Ban biometric mass surveillance!

44 civil society organisations call for a ban on biometric mass surveillance in EDRi's new paper, "Ban Biometric Mass Surveillance: A set of fundamental rights demands for the European Commission and EU Member States"

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October 20, 2021 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Online tracking industry / AdTech | Platform regulation | Surveillance and data retention

Facebook Files: How a ban on surveillance advertising can fix Facebook

Facebook is engulfed in the biggest crisis to hit the company since the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The explosive revelations by whistle-blower Frances Haugen, is that Facebook’s leadership refused to make changes that would make their platforms safer because they “put their immense profits before people”.

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April 6, 2022 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Data protection standards | Surveillance and data retention

Criminal complaint against illegal export of surveillance software is making an impact: the FinFisher group of companies ceases business operations after its accounts are seized by Public Prosecutor’s Office

Following a criminal complaint filed by the Society for Civil Rights (Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte e.V.), Reporters without Borders (RSF), the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) and netzpolitik.org over illegal exports of surveillance software, the Munich-based corporate group FinFisher has ceased its business operations. The Public Prosecutor’s Office Munich announced that it had seized the company’s accounts, after which FinFisher GmbH and two partner companies filed for insolvency.

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