January 29, 2021 · Blogs | Open internet and inclusive technology | Alternatives to dominant digital services | Artificial intelligence (AI) | Biometrics

2021: Important consultations for your Digital Rights!

Public consultations are an opportunity to influence future legislation at an early stage, in the European Union and beyond. They are your opportunity to help shaping a brighter future for digital rights, such as your right to a private life, data protection, or your freedom of opinion and expression.

Read more

 

March 17, 2022 · Blogs | Highlights | Open letters | Privacy and data protection | Privacy and confidentiality | Surveillance and data retention

Private communications are a cornerstone of democratic society and must be protected in online CSAM legislation

On 17 March 2022, EDRi and 34 other civil society organisations jointly raised our voices to the European Commission to demand that the forthcoming EU ‘Legislation to effectively tackle child sexual abuse’ complies with EU fundamental rights and freedoms. We are seriously concerned that the draft law does not meet the requirements of proportionality and legitimacy that are rightly required of all EU laws, and would set a dangerous precedent for mass spying on private communications.

Read more

 

December 22, 2011

US lobbying against draft Data Protection Regulation

Right at the end of the inter-service consultation process in the European Commission (the almost final step before a legislative proposal is launched), the United States Department of Commerce launched a significant lobbying campaign against the leaked draft proposal for a Data Protection Regulation. The campaign included high-level phone calls from senior figures in the […]

Read more

December 11, 2012 · Blogs

"Voluntary enforcement" vs legal restrictions – what rules apply?

Sometimes, watching the Commission make up its mind on a controversial topic is like watching a sports match. One of these topics is the question of whether it is legal for governments to encourage internet service providers (ISPs) to restrict fundamental rights “voluntarily” or whether they would need a legal basis. The European Home Affairs […]

Read more

November 30, 2022 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Biometrics | Data protection standards | Surveillance and data retention

Warnings against arbitrariness and mass surveillance in EURODAC

Four Members of the European Parliament in charge of leading the negotiations sent additional questions on data protection related to the EURODAC proposal to the EDPS. This comes as a result of the concerns of fundamental rights violations raised by several organisations protecting the rights of people on the move, children and digital rights, including EDRi, in an open letter. Read a summary of the EDPS' answers.

Read more

 

April 13, 2023 · Blogs | Information democracy | Open internet and inclusive technology | Privacy and data protection

A collective project: EDRi celebrates turning 20 in the capital of the EU

On 21 March, we celebrated EDRi 20th anniversary in Brussels, the heart of the European Union. Close friends and supporters gathered at Bozar, the Center for Fine Arts, for a fun and dynamic evening celebrating the networks's collective work for far, current efforts and a hopeful future.

Read more

 

October 26, 2023 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Privacy and confidentiality | Surveillance and data retention

If the Commissioner isn’t responsible for DG HOME’s alleged unethical and unlawful actions, who is?

Serious concerns have been raised about the EU CSA Regulation by technologists, lawyers, NGOs, EU institutions, some child protection advocates and survivors and more. Recent allegations suggest that not only have these stakeholders been ignored - but that there may have been attempts by the EU Commission to manipulate the democratic process. The head of the Commission's Home Affairs unit has been grilled by MEPs about these allegations

Read more

 

July 30, 2008

FRA has a long history of spying on Swedes

The Swedish National Defence Radio Establishment FRA that has made the headlines last month with its law on spying on all communication, has recently announced that it has reported a blogger to the Chancellor of Justice for distributing what they consider classified material proving the Agency was spying on Swedes starting with 1996. Henrik Alexandersson […]

Read more

May 10, 2004

Recommended reading: privacy and biometrics

The OECD working party on information security and privacy have published a very informative but dry report about biometrics. The report analyses theory and practice of the following major biometric-based technologies: finger-scanning, hand geometry, facial recognition, iris scanning, retinal scanning, finger geometry, voice recognition and dynamic signature verification. A brief description of other, more obscure […]

Read more

January 19, 2022 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Privacy and confidentiality | Surveillance and data retention

The EU’s own ‘Snowden Scandal’: Europol’s Data Mining

On 3 January 2022, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS), which supervises the processing of personal data by the EU’s law enforcement agency, Europol, ordered Europol to delete data held in its databases on individuals with no established link to criminal activity.

Read more

 

November 30, 2022 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Privacy and confidentiality | Surveillance and data retention

PEGA hearing: state hacking and spyware in Germany

On 14 November, EDRi observer Andre Meister from German digital rights newspaper netzpolitik.org, spoke at the PEGA committee's hearing in his capacity as an investigative journalist, covering state hacking for over a decade. Check out what he had to say to the PEGA committee responsible for investigating the use of the Pegasus spyware in Europe.

Read more

 

July 30, 2008

Macedonia: Public outcry over new legislation for preventive surveillance

Several leading human rights NGOs from Macedonia issued a reaction to the Parliament and the Government of Republic of Macedonia on 24 June 2008, regarding the recent changes in the Law on Criminal Procedure and the Law on Interception of Communications, allowing special investigative measures (such as surveillance). The Foundation Open Society Institute – Macedonia, […]

Read more