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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April 18, 2018 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Privacy and confidentiality | Surveillance and data retention

Fighting for migrants’ data protection rights in the UK

Since 2014, the United Kingdon (UK) government has steadily rolled out policies to make the country a “hostile environment”  for migrants, in the words of Prime Minister Theresa May.

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June 24, 2020 · Blogs | Information democracy | Freedom of expression online | Surveillance and data retention

The threat on OTF as a wake up call for European digital sovereignty

Around 2 billion people in 60 countries are able to use the internet securely and without risks of being surveilled or censored. And all of this, thanks to the work done by a non-profit called Open Tech Fund (OTF) for only 15 million dollars a year. However, all of this may be over soon.

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June 16, 2021 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Privacy and confidentiality | Surveillance and data retention

Panoptykon ends campaign against uncontrolled surveillance reaching 3M people

1 out of 5 Poles are aware of the constantly growing powers of the Polish secret service. And this lack of knowledge from the public leaves the door open for further expansion of the powers of secret service authorities.

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April 20, 2022 · Blogs

Member in the Spotlight: Asociația pentru Tehnologie și Internet – ApTI (Association for Technology and Internet)

ApTI is a non-governmental organisation that aims to support and promote a free and open Internet where human rights are guaranteed and protected. A free Internet represents an environment where privacy and freedom of expression are respected, while an open Internet represents a guarantee for secure and rightful access to the benefits brought by information technology.

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March 29, 2023 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Biometrics | Privacy and confidentiality | Profiling practices | Surveillance and data retention

Protect My Face: Brussels residents join the fight against biometric mass surveillance

The newly-launched Protect My Face campaign gives residents of the Brussels region of Belgium the opportunity to oppose mass facial recognition. EDRi applauds this initiative which demands that the Brussels Parliament ban these intrusive and discriminatory practices.

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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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June 25, 2020 · Open letters | Privacy and data protection | Biometrics | Surveillance and data retention

Open Letter: EDRi calls on IBM to clarify stance on facial recognition

On 25 June, EDRi sent an open letter to the CEO of IBM in response to their 8 June statement on racial equality and facial recognition in the US.

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April 22, 2021 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Artificial intelligence (AI) | Biometrics | Surveillance and data retention

Regulating Border Tech Experiments in a Hostile World

We are facing a growing panopticon of technology that limits people’s movements, their ability to reunite with their families, and at the worst of times, their ability to stay alive.  Power and knowledge monopolies are allowed to exist because there is no unified global regulatory regime governing the use of new technologies, creating laboratories for high-risk experiments with profound impacts on people’s lives.

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