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We urgently demand the government of Gabon to immediately reverse orders to shut down social media indefinitely in the country. The order is in gross violation of national and international human rights frameworks and must not be allowed to continue. The post #KeepItOn: authorities must reverse social media shutdown order and restore access in Gabon appeared first on Access Now.

In the third part of our blog series on the dodgy digital security practices underlying advanced AI tools, we look at how the availability of systems is impacted by the proliferation of large language models. The post Artificial Insecurity: access and availability in the age of AI appeared first on Access Now.

The Czech Supreme Court has ruled that the legal regulation of blanket collection of electronic communications data (known as data retention) violates European Union law in a "long-term and particularly serious manner." This decision is the result of a multi-year campaign by the organization IuRe. However, the responsible minister has not yet taken steps to end blanket collection. The post Czech ministry apologizes to journalist for blanket collection of mobile phone data appeared first on Europ

A study published by EDRi member Asociația pentru Tehnologie și Internet (ApTI) Romania analysed how the recommender algorithms on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok distributed political content, during the 2025 presidential election. The quantitative analysis identified cases in which these social media platforms did not comply with either national electoral laws, nor with EU Regulations, such as the Digital Service Act (DSA). The post How recommender algorithms threaten election integrity appeare

The DSA Human Rights Alliance has released 'Principles for a Human Rights-Centred Application of the Digital Services Act: A Global Perspective' to guide the European Commission, national policymakers, and regulators as the DSA moves from legislation to enforcement. The recommendations focus on the cross-border effects of DSA enforcement, empowering diverse groups to enforce users’ rights and providing input during enforcement actions. This will ensure that the law is applied in a way that respe

EDRi is deeply concerned that the European Commission’s current plans to amend the Better Regulation framework will lead to worse lawmaking, not better. In its submission to the Commission, EDRi shares recommendations to ensure balanced representation, fairness, transparency, and meaningful safeguards in EU lawmaking. The post European Commission’s plans will lead to worse regulations appeared first on European Digital Rights (EDRi).

What has the EDRi network been up to over the past few weeks? Find out the latest digital rights news in our bi-weekly newsletter. In this edition: A competitiveness feast with our rights on the menu 🍽️ The post EDRi-gram, 18 February 2026 appeared first on European Digital Rights (EDRi).

EDRi submitted a response to the EU’s new open source digital strategy. We argue that free and open source software is not a niche technical choice, but a strategic foundation for Europe’s resilience, competitiveness and democratic autonomy. The post Europe’s digital sovereignty starts with open source appeared first on European Digital Rights (EDRi).

On 3 February 2026, the United States House Committee on the Judiciary launched a report in which EDRi member Bits of Freedom and Justice for Prosperity, among others, are called "censorous NGOs". In response, Bits of Freedom and Justice for Prosperity are issuing the following statement. The post US pressure on the Digital Services Act in the Netherlands appeared first on European Digital Rights (EDRi).

Bharat Mandapam The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is a high-profile international event involving heads of state and government, ministers, senior government officials, international delegations, industry leaders, media, and general The post Access Now at India AI Impact Summit 2026 appeared first on Access Now.

In the second part of our series on the dodgy digital security practices underlying advanced AI tools, we examine how LLMs threaten information integrity. The post Artificial Insecurity: threats to information integrity appeared first on Access Now.

To:Mr. Mark Driedger, Chief Executive Officer Ms. Carol Tate, Chief Ethics & Compliance OfficerAppLogic Networks Re: Addressing human rights abuses and attacks on press freedom facilitated by AppLogic Networks in Egypt The post Addressing human rights abuses and attacks on press freedom facilitated by AppLogic Networks in Egypt appeared first on Access Now.

Access Now, alongside several human rights organizations and independent news platforms, are calling on AppLogic Networks (previously Sandvine) to substantiate its announced corporate reforms following its removal from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Entity List. The post From Sandvine to AppLogic Networks: a rebrand doesn’t mean reform appeared first on Access Now.

EDRi has assessed the Digital Omnibus proposals affecting the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the ePrivacy framework. While presented as simplification, the changes amount to deregulation in effect, weakening fundamental rights safeguards, increasing legal uncertainty, and advancing through a process that falls short of democratic lawmaking standards. The post Reopening GDPR and ePrivacy through the Digital Omnibus: a risky path for EU digital rights appeared first on European Digi

During the State of the Internet, Waag Futurelab takes the annual temperature of the internet. This edition focuses on AI and the limits of our planet. The lecture will be given by Fieke Jansen, co-founder of the Critical Infrastructure Lab. The post The State of the Internet 2026 with Fieke Jansen appeared first on European Digital Rights (EDRi).

Digital Commons: Infrastructures, Design, and the Ethics of Autonomy is an international conference exploring how digital infrastructures shape contemporary life, and how communities, researchers, and technologists imagine and build alternatives. The post Conference Digital Commons: Infrastructures, Design, and the Ethics of Autonomy appeared first on European Digital Rights (EDRi).

The European Commission’s dangerous and misguided Digital Omnibus proposal includes a dangerous rollback of transparency requirements in the AI Act. 60 civil society organisations, independent public authorities and individuals, including EDRi, urge EU lawmakers to reject a change that would risk weakening enforcement, legal certainty, and the protection of fundamental rights, while offering negligible benefits for companies. The post AI Omnibus: Reject the proposals to undermine transparency in

Why do our digital systems break people? Conversational AI tools like Grok or ChatGPT are promoted as a means to democratize knowledge and expand access to information. In practice, however, they have also made sexual harassment easier, reproduced harmful stereotypes, and, in some cases, encouraged people to self-harm rather than helping them. These outcomes are not rare glitches. They reveal how conversational AI and social media platforms are built, governed, and deployed at scale. The post Ag

Media scholars Lucie Chateau and Michael Stevenson, and legal scholar Catalina Goanta on how Big Tech killed the internet. The post Science Cafe: Why the current internet sucks appeared first on European Digital Rights (EDRi).

The Global Gathering brings together groups from around the world working on the most urgent technology-related challenges affecting human rights, social justice, civil society, and journalism at the local, regional and global levels. The post Global Gathering 2026 appeared first on European Digital Rights (EDRi).

The event will give the opportunity to the researchers, the University of Amsterdam and Eurecat – Centre Tecnològic de Catalunya, to showcase the results of their analyses, presenting the policy options that can inform future policy-making. The post Information Integrity & Wikipedia: How community-governed platforms can inform future policy-making. appeared first on European Digital Rights (EDRi).

The independent authrotities reject many of the European Commission's proposals in the Digital Omnibus

The Digital Omnibus proposal fails to comply with the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Better Regulation rules, EDRi urged the Council to send the proposal back to the Commission for proper scrutiny and comprehensive assessments. The post EDRi urged the Council to demand a proper scrutiny of the Digital Omnibus proposal appeared first on European Digital Rights (EDRi).

We, the undersigned organisations and individuals, urge you in the strongest possible terms to reject the deletion of the Article 49(2) transparency safeguard for high-risk AI systems that is proposed in the AI Omnibus. This transparency safeguard ensures that providers of AI systems cannot circumvent the core obligations of the AI Act. The post A call to EU legislators: protect rights and reject the call to delete transparency safeguard in AI Act appeared first on Access Now.

The European Commission preliminarily found that TikTok was in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA) due to the addictive design of its platform. EDRi welcomes this decision and urges TikTok to swiftly mitigate the risks to which its users are exposed. The post EDRi welcomes EU preliminary findings on TikTok’s addictive platform design appeared first on European Digital Rights (EDRi).

The EDRi network strongly condemns the pressure of the US Trump administration on EDRi members and allies for our work on online platform regulation. The post Statement of solidarity with EDRi members and allies facing pressure for their work on platform regulation appeared first on European Digital Rights (EDRi).

In the first part of our blog series on the dodgy digital security practices underlying advanced AI tools, we unpack how LLMs can jeopardize the confidentiality of people’s data. The post Artificial Insecurity: how AI tools compromise confidentiality appeared first on Access Now.

The post Joint Statement on Internet Shutdowns in the Islamic Republic of Iran appeared first on Access Now.

At the 39th Chaos Communication Congress (39C3), German author Marc-Uwe Kling helped launch the idea of a monthly “Digital Independence Day” with a broad coalition of civil society organisations. On the first Sunday of each month, participants explore alternatives to dominant digital platforms, share experiences using #DIDit, and support one another through volunteer-led online and in-person meet-ups. To date, 189 organisations have joined the initiative, organising over 400 meet-ups. The post #

As the UK adequacy renewal comes to an end, EDRi member Open Rights Group reflects on its outcome and the broader implications for the future of EU-UK relatiopnships. The post UK adequacy decision: a risk for the future and a lesson to be learnt appeared first on European Digital Rights (EDRi).

19 civil society organisations have penned a letter to the Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) to express serious concerns about their plans to extend the Swiss Data Retention regime. They call on the Federal Councilor to align Swiss legislation with the highest standards of protection for people’s privacy. The post Open Letter: Civil society concerned about extensive and indiscriminate data retention regime in Switzerland appeared first on European Digital Rights (EDRi).

What has the EDRi network been up to over the past few weeks? Find out the latest digital rights news in our bi-weekly newsletter. In this edition: borders, biometrics, billionaires and bots The post EDRi-gram, 4 February 2026 appeared first on European Digital Rights (EDRi).

The European Commission’s new Digital Networks Act threatens to dismantle nearly a decade of net neutrality protections in Europe. What is being presented as a technical update could actually give politicians control power over the open internet, create paid fast lanes, and weaken independent regulators. The post The EU Commission is gutting net neutrality appeared first on European Digital Rights (EDRi).

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In honour of this year’s Data Protection Day, noyb is clearing up 5 of the most common misconceptions.

The DSB decided that Microsoft unlawfully placed tracking cookies on the devices of a pupil

The European Commission has opened a DSA investigation into Grok, X’s AI chatbot. EDRi welcomes this decision and is calling for a swift resolution to this matter, to ensure that X complies fully with its DSA obligations and protects its users. The post Press Release: EDRi calls for swift action as EU probes X’s Grok over AI-generated harm appeared first on European Digital Rights (EDRi).

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Bits of Freedom shares lessons learned while working on “Amsterdam Top400”, an invasive municipality project which involved the use of predictive policing and led to unwanted interference in the private lives of young people. Together with a coalition of professionals from different background and affected individuals, they explored the possibility of holding the municipality of Amsterdam accountable for violations of children’s rights, data protection law, and fundamental freedoms. The post Fig

Spyware continues to spread across Europe despite years of scandals and undisputable evidence of fundamental rights violations. As the European Commission remains inactive, civil society, journalists and some lawmakers at the European Parliament are stepping up pressure for accountability. In this context, EDRi is launching a document pool to centralise resources that tracks abuse and support the growing push for a full EU-wide ban of spyware. The post EDRi launches new resource to document abus

What has the EDRi network been up to over the past few weeks? Find out the latest digital rights news in our bi-weekly newsletter. In this edition: EDRi’s 2025 year in review, new resource to support an EU spyware ban, DSA delayed in Poland, & more! The post EDRi-gram, 21 January 2026 appeared first on European Digital Rights (EDRi).

Version 2 of our report includes specific recommendations for the EU legislator on each of the most important articles, including on whether to reject or maintain proposed changes

A new noyb review involving more than 2,400 affected individuals shows that CRIF's biggest data sources access public registers such as the company and land registers.

join the international community, including the UN’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission, in calling on Iran to immediately restore internet and mobile communications and in demanding accountability and transparency for the grave human rights violations documented in the country The post #KeepItOn: Iran plunged into digital darkness, concealing human rights abuses appeared first on Access Now.

Access Now appeals to you, President Yoweri Museveni, to ensure that people in Uganda have unfettered access to the internet, digital platforms, and all other communication channels throughout the upcoming elections on January 15, 2026 The post #KeepItOn: Government of Uganda must ensure unrestricted internet access throughout the upcoming elections appeared first on Access Now.

As millions of people prepare to head to the polls in Uganda on January, 15 2026, Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition — a global network of over 345 organizations from 106 countries working to end internet shutdowns, has urged President Yoweri Museveni to ensure unfettered access to the internet, digital platforms, and all other communication channels on the run-up-to, during and post-elections. The post #KeepItOn coalition raise the alarm on potential shutdown during upcoming elections in Ug

The Austrian Supreme Court has issued a ruling in an 11-years long procedure against Meta

TikTok houdt de activiteiten van zijn gebruikers bij, zelfs als ze andere apps gebruiken. Het videoplatform weet daardoor ook welke dating-app u gebruikt.

TikTok tracks its users even if they're using other apps. The video platform therefore also knows what dating app you use

TikTok tracks the activity of its users, even when they are using other apps. As a result, the video platform also knows which dating app you are using.