Spyware and state abuse: The case for an EU-wide ban
EDRi’s position paper addresses the challenges posed by state use of spyware in the EU. It also tackles how spyware should be legally defined in a way that shields us from future harms, as well as the dangers of the proliferation of commercial spyware in Europe. After conducting a values-based analysis into spyware, the paper concludes that the only human-rights compliant approach is a full ban.
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Spyware and state abuse: The case for an EU-wide ban
EDRi’s position paper addresses the challenges posed by state use of spyware in the EU. It also tackles how spyware should be legally defined in a way that shields us from future harms, as well as the dangers of the proliferation of commercial spyware in Europe. After conducting a values-based analysis into spyware, the paper concludes that the only human-rights compliant approach is a full ban.
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All Eyes on my Period? Period tracking apps and the future of privacy in a post-Roe world
Privacy International investigated eight of the most popular period-tracking apps to analyse how they function and process users’ reproductive health data. Their findings raised concerns for users’ privacy, given the sensitive nature of the health data involved. These findings come within the context of the global roll back on reproductive rights and fears over law enforcement forcing apps to hand over data.
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LIBE vote on Europol reform blow to the Commission, but still legitimises an expanding surveillance regime
European Parliament's LIBE committee vote on a reform of the Europol Regulation was a mixed bag. Although it was a blow to the European Commission's original proposal, it still legitimised an expanding surveillance regime thanks to Europol's ever-growing power and resources. Read the Protect Not Surveil coalition’s statement.
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UK data adequacy under scrutiny: civil society warns EU not to reward deregulation disguised as ‘simplification’
Civil society organisations, including EDRi and EDRi members Open Rights Group and Privacy International, are urging the European Commission not to re-adopt the UK’s data adequacy decisions without meaningful reform. The UK’s rollback of protections under the guise of ‘simplification’ puts the level of protection required by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) case law at risk and exposes the Commission’s decisions to legal challenge.
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Sweden further cracks down on sex workers: What it means for digital rights
Despite overwhelming opposition from civil society, academic experts, and sex workers, the Swedish Parliament voted to adopt a law that expand the criminalisation of sex work. This will have have a chilling effect nationally and internationally, and affect digital rights.
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The blanket collection of metadata on communications in the Czech Republic is illegal. Iuridicum Remedium wins data retention dispute.
The Municipal Court in Prague ruled in a dispute that lasted more than four years. EDRi member IuRe represented journalist Jan Cibulka in the case. He demanded an apology from the state for the Czech state collecting information about his whereabouts or with whom he calls and writes under the data retention regulation.
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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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Ljubljana’s municipal surveillance: Where trust trumps data
During a Ljubljana municipal council debate on CCTV transparency, several concerning points were raised regarding the Slovenian capital's network of over 500 surveillance cameras and the methods employed to assess their effectiveness in preventing crime. The discussion revealed that the entire system relies heavily on trust in the authorities, without any substantial data to support the cameras' effectiveness or a clear rationale for their widespread deployment.
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Avoiding regulation of biometric surveillance and loyalty applications: The 20th Big Brother Awards took place in the Czech Republic
For the twentieth time, the Czech organization and EDRi member IuRe (Iuridicum Remedium) awarded prizes to the greatest snoopers.
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Panoptykon Foundation challenges the data retention regime in Poland: Telecom companies requested to delete activists’ data
EDRi member Panoptykon Foundation supports activists and attorney-at-law Artur Kula to demand that the four biggest telecom companies in Poland delete data stored for the purpose of law enforcement in the 12 months prior. They want to challenge the current unlawful data retention regime in Poland.
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CJEU saved the HADOPI: what implications for the future of data retention in the EU?
The Court of Justice of the European Union judgement on the HADOPI case (C-470/21) is significant for the ongoing debate on mandatory retention of metadata, such as traffic and location data. EDRi provides key takeaways and what they mean for the upcoming data retention legislation by the European Commission.
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The Security Playbook
EDRi affiliate SUPERRR is challenging “Security Theater” as a societal maneuver.
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