December 20, 2022 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Artificial intelligence (AI) | Biometrics | Surveillance and data retention

What are the provisions of new policing draft laws

The SHARE Foundation has consistently advocated against the legalisation of mass, indiscriminate biometric surveillance for the past four years, particularly during the consultation process launched upon the withdrawal of the first Draft Law on Internal Affairs. A new draft with old fundamental issues is now before us. The public hearing is open until the end of December.

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April 3, 2024 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Data protection standards | Disinformation and electoral interference | Surveillance and data retention

2023 Digital Rights Update: Eastern Partnership CSO Meter

Countries of the Eastern Partnership region continue digitalisation efforts and some implemented promising data protection legislation. However, the expansion of surveillance and spread of disinformation put digital rights under constant pressure in 2023.

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December 9, 2020 · Blogs | On the ground | Privacy and data protection | Artificial intelligence (AI) | Privacy and confidentiality | Surveillance and data retention | Transparency

For a truly “Trustworthy AI,” EU must protect rights and deliver benefits

EDRi member Access Now published a report exploring the actions EU governments are taking to promote what the EU calls Trustworthy AI, what this approach means for human rights, and how European AI strategy is changing, both for EU institutions and national governments.

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May 4, 2022 · Blogs | EDRi-gram | Highlights | Information democracy | Open internet and inclusive technology | Privacy and data protection

EDRi-gram, 4 May 2022

In this edition of the EDRi-gram, we urge the European Parliament to vote down the expansion of Europol's powers to prevent the enabling of mass surveillance. We also explore what could go wrong when a billionaire decides to buy one of the largest social media platforms. Join us in celebrating the success of EDRi member Defesa dos Direitos Digitais who got the Portuguese Constitutional Court to declare the unconstitutionality of the Portuguese data retention law.

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December 23, 2024 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Biometrics | Profiling practices | Surveillance and data retention

Pre-travel controls: Digitalising travel documents

We are responding to a public consultation on the European Commissions’ digitalising travel documents proposal. This proposal promises convenience in travel but could pave the way for biometric mass surveillance and automated discrimination.

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January 13, 2021 · Blogs | Campaigns | EDRi-gram | Highlights | Open internet and inclusive technology | Privacy and data protection | Artificial intelligence (AI) | Biometrics | Data protection standards | Surveillance and data retention

Looking for a New Years’ Resolution? #ReclaimYourFace with our citizens’ initiative!

Since its launch just 2 months ago, the Reclaim Your Face campaign to ban biometric mass surveillance has gone from strength to strength. Already 23 organisations have joined the coalition, and almost 13,000 people have joined the movement – and this is only the beginning.

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April 6, 2018 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Biometrics | Surveillance and data retention

Fundamental Rights Agency report: The risks from biometrics and EU IT systems

On 27 March 2018, the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) published a report entitled “Under watchful eyes: biometrics, EU IT systems and fundamental rights” . The report analyses the impact of technologies used for immigration and security purposes on the right to privacy and data protection.

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June 10, 2020 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Biometrics | Privacy and confidentiality | Surveillance and data retention

COVID-Tech: the sinister consequences of immunity passports

In EDRi’s series on COVID-19, COVIDTech, we explore the critical principles for protecting fundamental rights while curtailing the spread of the virus, as outlined in the EDRi network’s statement on the pandemic.

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July 3, 2019 · Blogs | Information democracy | Privacy and data protection | Surveillance and data retention

EU worries over the possibility of losing wiretapping powers

5G telecoms networks could render obsolete the “lawful interception” techniques that police is traditionally using, unless the European Union and national governments take action. This was revealed in internal EU documents obtained by EDRi member Statewatch, that has published a new analysis explaining the issues and calling for a public debate. “It is unsurprising that […]

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December 9, 2020 · Blogs | Information democracy | Open internet and inclusive technology | Privacy and data protection | Artificial intelligence (AI) | Biometrics | Data protection standards | Surveillance and data retention

Looking back at digital rights in the era of a surveillance pandemic

2020 started as a year to build momentum to tackle various digital rights issues, including mass surveillance and freedom of expression online. Needless to say, the global pandemic disrupted not only these efforts but also our health, personal relations, basic survival needs and ways to organise around human rights. After 9 months of living and working in a pandemic, we look back at what we achieved and the ways forward from here.

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March 9, 2021 · Blogs | Highlights | Publications | Information democracy | Data protection standards | Online tracking industry / AdTech | Privacy and confidentiality | Profiling practices | Surveillance and data retention

Booklet: Surveillance-based advertising: An industry broken by design and by default

Most online advertising today relies on huge amounts of personal data extracted from people without their knowledge. EDRi’s new guide book “Targeted Online” sheds light on this opaque data industry and explores how EU law should regulate it. This is the first blog post in a new series dedicated to the EU’s proposed Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act.

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May 7, 2025 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Artificial intelligence (AI) | Cross border access to data | Digital rights in trade agreements | Surveillance and data retention

Digital trade: the new frontline in the fight for our rights

The EU is signing digital trade deals that could undermine fundamental rights and block oversight of software systems shaping our lives. From data protection to algorithmic accountability, these agreements risk empowering opaque systems - used by both companies and governments - at the expense of the people most affected by them.

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