News

Orbán-linked AI deepfakes flood social media despite EU attempts to boost transparency of Facebook ad ban

Brussels, 23 February - EDPB Chair Anu Talus has signed a Joint Statement on AI-Generated Imagery and the Protection of Privacy on behalf of the EDPB. The statement, coordinated by the Global Privacy Assembly's (GPA) International Enforcement Cooperation Working Group (IEWG), represents the united position of 61 authorities across the world. This reflects the Board’s commitment to contributing to the global dialogue on data protection as outlined in the fourth pillar of its work programme 2026-2

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.

This week, we follow a trail of Chinese espionage cases across Europe...

In today's edition: Spain's AI 'pornification' ban push, MEP questions US biometrics talks, DNA priorities

Athens joins several EU countries eyeing bans – Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Thursday that if talks with tech companies fail then regulation is needed

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

(a) No consensus on relevant and reasoned objections On 9 November 2020, the EDPB adopted its first decision under the dispute resolution mechanism laid down by Article 65 GDPR.<ref>EDPB, 9 November 2020, Twitter International Company, Decision 01/2020 (available [https://edpb.europa.eu/sites/default/files/files/file1/edpb_bindingdecision01_2020_en.pdf here]).</ref> The binding decision seeks to address the dispute which arose following a draft decision issued by the Irish SA as LSA

Facts }}}} The AEPD fined a right-wing political party €500 for publishing a proof of delivery on Facebook that showed a person’s name, ID number and signature without a legal basis under [[Article 6 GDPR]].The AEPD fined a political party €500 for publishing a document on Facebook that showed a person’s name, ID number and signature without a legal basis under [[Article 6 GDPR]]. == English Summary ==== English Summary ==

Rising fears about online safety are pushing more EU capitals to propose social media restrictions, driven by frustration with sluggish EU enforcement

In today's edition: CMA, social media, and the week ahead

In today's edition: Omnibus powers up AI Office, social media bans mapped, how to open Gemini

Facts }}}} The AEPD fined a right-wing political party €500 for publishing a proof of delivery on Facebook that showed a person’s name, ID number and signature without a legal basis under [[Article 6 GDPR|Article 6 GDPR]].The AEPD fined a right-wing political party €500 for publishing a proof of delivery on Facebook that showed a person’s name, ID number and signature without a legal basis under [[Article 6 GDPR]]. == English Summary ==== English Summary == VOX had sent a certified letter to a m

The New York Times reported that Meta is considering adding face recognition technology to its smart glasses. According to an internal Meta document, the company may launch the product “during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns.” This is a bad idea that Meta should abandon. If adopted and released to the public, it would violate the privacy rights of millions of people and cost the

added links to GDPR articles === Holding ====== Holding === The DPA found that, since the membership form did not contain information on the transmission of members' data to the social media platform, or even on targeted advertising, the consent was not informed nor specific. Therefore, it found the processing to be unlawful, violating Article 6(1)(a) GDPR. The DPA found that, since the membership form did not contain information on the transmission of members' data to the social media

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

(This appeared as an op-ed published Friday, Feb. 6 in the Daily Journal, a California legal newspaper.) Section 230, “the 26 words that created the internet,” was enacted 30 years ago this week. It was no rush-job—rather, it was the result of wise legislative deliberation and foresight, and it remains the best bulwark to protect free expression online. The internet lets people everywhere connect, share ideas and advocate for change without needing immense resources or technical expertise. Our u

Earlier this month, Iran’s internet connectivity faced one of its most severe disruptions in recent years with a near-total shutdown from the global internet and major restrictions on mobile access. EFF joined architects, operators, and stewards of the global internet infrastructure in calling upon authorities in Iran to immediately restore full and unfiltered internet access. We further call upon the international technical community to remain vigilant in monitoring connectivity and to support

The government has launched a consultation to seek views on whether under 16s should be banned from accessing social media

Lawmakers in Washington are once again focusing on kids, screens, and mental health. But according to Congress, Big Tech is somehow both the problem and the solution. The Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing today on “examining the effect of technology on America’s youth.” Witnesses warned about “addictive” online content, mental health, and kids spending too much time buried in screen. At the center of the debate is a bill from Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) called the Kids O

Een betrokkene wenste om op een genderneutrale manier aangesproken te worden en stelde dat twee bedrijven (de verantwoordelijke partijen) in hun profielinstellingen, op tickets en in trein aankondigingen een verkeerd gender gebruikten. De betrokkene stuurde aanvankelijk een bericht via Twitter naar een van de betrokken verantwoordelijke partijen, waarin hij vroeg of er genderneutrale opties beschikbaar zouden zijn.

A person requested to be addressed in a gender-neutral manner and stated that two companies (the responsible parties) were using an incorrect gender in their profile settings, on tickets, and in train announcements. Initially, the person sent a message via Twitter to one of the responsible parties, asking if there were any gender-neutral options available.

2025 was the year when age verification transitioned from a niche experiment to a widespread reality in the United States. Currently, half of the U.S. states require age verification for access to adult content or social media platforms. Nine states alone enacted laws this year, and more are expected in 2026. The good news is that courts have blocked many of the laws intended to mandate age verification on social media, primarily for the same reasons that the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) opposes these efforts. Age verification...

2025 was het jaar waarin leeftijdsverificatie een niche-experiment werd en uitgroeide tot een wijdverspreide realiteit in de Verenigde Staten. Momenteel vereist de helft van de Amerikaanse staten leeftijdsverificatie voor toegang tot content voor volwassenen of sociale mediaplatforms. In negen staten traden dit jaar alleen al wetten in werking, en er komen er meer in 2026. Het goede nieuws is dat rechtbanken veel van de wetten hebben geblokkeerd die bedoeld zijn om leeftijdsverificatie te verplichten bij sociale media, voornamelijk om dezelfde redenen als waarmee de EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) deze inspanningen tegenwerkt. Leeftijdsverificatie...

2025 was the year age verification went from a fringe policy experiment to a sweeping reality across the United States. Half of the U.S. now mandates age verification for accessing adult content or social media platforms. Nine states saw their laws take effect this year alone, with more coming in 2026. The good news is that courts have blocked many of the laws seeking to impose age-verification gates on social media, largely for the same reasons that EFF opposes these efforts. Age-verification m

In minstens een dozijn staten zijn wetgevers van mening dat ze wetten kunnen aannemen die jongeren de toegang tot sociale media verbieden, of die vereisen dat ze toestemming van hun ouders krijgen voordat ze inloggen. Gelukkig hebben bijna alle rechtbanken die deze wetten hebben beoordeeld, geoordeeld dat ze in strijd zijn met de grondwet. Het zijn niet alleen de rechtbanken die deze wetgevers vertellen dat ze het verkeerd doen. EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) heeft het afgelopen jaar pleidooien ingediend bij rechtbanken in het hele land, waarin wordt uitgelegd hoe deze wetten de vrijheid van meningsuiting van jongeren schenden, zoals beschermd door het Eerste Amendement.

Lawmakers in at least a dozen states believe that they can pass laws blocking young people from social media or require them to get their parents’ permission before logging on. Fortunately, nearly every trial court to review these laws has ruled that they are unconstitutional. It’s not just courts telling these lawmakers they are wrong. EFF has spent the past year filing friend-of-the-court briefs in courts across the country explaining how these laws violate young people’s First Amendment right

In at least a dozen states, lawmakers believe they can pass laws that prohibit young people from accessing social media, or that require them to obtain parental consent before logging in. Fortunately, almost all courts that have reviewed these laws have ruled that they violate the constitution. It's not just the courts telling these lawmakers they are wrong. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has filed briefs with courts across the country over the past year, explaining how these laws violate the freedom of speech of young people, as protected by the First Amendment.

This year, you may have heard how EFF has spoken out about our civil rights on NPR, BBC Radio, or through various podcasts. However, we also began in 2025 to share our message directly with listeners. In June, we revamped EFFector, our long-standing electronic newsletter, and launched a new audio edition to support this effort. EFFector, with its audio edition, provides a summary of the most important news about digital rights from the past week and features exclusive interviews with EFF lawyers, activists, and technologists.

Dit jaar heeft u wellicht gehoord hoe EFF zich uitsprak over onze burgerrechten op NPR, BBC Radio of via diverse podcasts. Maar we zijn ook in 2025 begonnen om onze boodschap rechtstreeks met luisteraars te delen. In juni hebben we EFFector, ons al jaren bestaande elektronische nieuwsbrief, vernieuwd en een nieuwe audio-uitgave gelanceerd om dit te ondersteunen. EFFector, met zijn audio-uitgave, geeft een overzicht van het belangrijkste nieuws over digitale rechten van de afgelopen week en bevat exclusieve interviews met juristen, activisten en technologen van EFF.

This year, you may have heard EFF sounding off about our civil liberties on NPR, BBC Radio, or any number of podcasts. But we also started sharing our voices directly with listeners in 2025. In June, we revamped EFFector, our long-running electronic newsletter, and launched a new audio edition to accompany it. Providing a recap of the week's most important digital rights news, EFFector's audio companion features exclusive interviews where EFF's lawyers, activists, and technologist

In early October, the organization Bits of Freedom, which advocates for digital human rights, filed a lawsuit against Meta. The organization demanded that Meta provide its users with the option to choose a news feed in apps like Instagram and Facebook that is not based on profiling. The court ruled in favor of Bits of Freedom and ordered Meta to modify its apps within two weeks. Meta claimed that such changes were not possible within that timeframe and requested a postponement from the Amsterdam Court of Appeal. The court has now issued its ruling.

In early October, digital human rights organization Bits of Freedom took Meta to court. The organization demanded that Meta offers its users on in apps such as Instagram and Facebook the option to choose a feed that is not based on profiling. The judge ruled in favour of Bits of Freedom and ordered Meta to modify its apps within two weeks. Meta claimed that such changes were impossible to deliver in that timeframe and asked the Amsterdam Court of Appeal for a postponement. The court has now rule

In het begin van oktober spande de organisatie Bits of Freedom, die zich inzet voor digitale mensenrechten, een rechtszaak aan tegen Meta. De organisatie eiste dat Meta haar gebruikers de mogelijkheid biedt om in apps zoals Instagram en Facebook een nieuwsfeed te kiezen die niet gebaseerd is op profilering. De rechter sprak in het voordeel van Bits of Freedom en veroordeelde Meta om haar apps binnen twee weken aan te passen. Meta beweerde dat dergelijke wijzigingen binnen die termijn niet mogelijk waren en vroeg het Gerechtshof in Amsterdam om een uitstel. Het hof heeft nu uitspraak gedaan.

DPC statement on LinkedIn AI Training

Government.

Under section 6, "Social Media," it is proposed to establish a mandatory age limit for the use of social media. As an alternative, section 6a-ii suggests a measure identical to section 6a, with the difference being that children under the age of 16 would be allowed to use social media if their parents or guardians explicitly grant permission.

Government

Onder paragraaf 6 'Sociale media' wordt voorgesteld een bindende leeftijdsgrens voor het gebruik van sociale media, en als variant 6a-ii "Maatregel identiek aan maatregel 6a, met als verschil dat kinderen onder de 16 sociale media wel kunnen gebruiken als ouders of verzorgers expliciet toestemmin...

Government

Kinderrechten Impact Assessment op Instagram

> Geen onzin, gewoon een opt-out: een gratis tool van noyb waarmee u snel en eenvoudig bezwaar kunt maken tegen Facebook! Gebruik de noyb-tool om u af te melden voor gerichte advertenties en verschillende andere zogenaamde 'legitieme belangen' die Meta claimt te hebben, op een eenvoudige en juridisch correcte manier.

> No bullsh*t opt-out: free noyb tool for quick and broad Facebook objections! Use the noyb tool to opt out of targeted advertising and various other claimed 'legitimate interestes' by Meta in a simple and legally sound way.

> Read through the most interesting developments at the intersection of human rights and technology from the Netherlands. This is the second update in this series.

> Thirteen non-EU countries sometimes accept “social media profiles and phone contacts” as evidence of identity for the purpose of deportations, according to an internal European Commission assessment of third country cooperation on readmission.

> Personal data protection and whistleblowing are two different topics — different regulations with different purposes, scope and requirements. But, in fact, they are closer than they seem, especially for practical reasons. Both data protection governance and whistleblowing systems are often exercised by the same unit —  the compliance department — or even by the same person. This solution offers several advantages, but also some problematic points that need to be highligh

Collectieve actie tegen drie bedrijven die onderdeel uitmaken van de Facebook-groep, gebaseerd op artikel 3:305a van het Burgerlijk Wetboek (oud). Verwerking van persoonlijke gegevens voor reclamedoeleinden zonder een daartoe gerechtvaardigde grondslag, zoals vereist in de Wet bescherming persoonsgegevens (Wbp) en de Algemene verordening gegevensbescherming (AVG). Ongelijke handelspraktijk. Zie ook: ECLI:NL:RBAMS:2021:3307.

Collective action against three companies of the Facebook group under Art. 3:305a BW (old). Processing personal data for advertising purposes without a basis as referred to in the Wbp and AVG. Unfair commercial practice. See also: ECLI:NL:RBAMS:2021:3307

Meta plant om de gebruiksvoorwaarden en privacyverklaringen voor gebruikers in het Verenigd Koninkrijk te wijzigen, meldt Bloomberg. Gebruikers van Facebook, Instagram en WhatsApp in het Verenigd Koninkrijk behouden hun datarechten onder de Britse Algemene Verordening Gegevensbescherming (AVG), terwijl het bedrijf gebruikersgegevens verplaatst buiten de jurisdictie van de Europese Algemene Verordening Gegevensbescherming (AVG). Een woordvoerder van Meta zei dat de wijzigingen, die gepland waren na het Brexit-akkoord van het Verenigd Koninkrijk in 2020, "de manier waarop we de gegevens van Britse gebruikers behandelen niet veranderen." Deze stap...

> Meta plans to change its terms of service and privacy notices for U.K. users, Bloomberg reports. U.K. Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp users will retain data rights under the U.K. General Data Protection Regulation while the company moves user data out of the EU General Data Protection Regulation's jurisdiction. A Meta spokesperson said the updates, which were planned following the U.K.'s 2020 Brexit agreement, "don't change the way we treat UK users’ data." The move als

21 Aw: portrait, which was not commissioned, is used. Is publication of the portrait not permitted because a reasonable interest of the person portrayed opposes it? No consent given by the person portrayed. Weighing up the interests is to the detriment of the person portrayed since he himself has also published the photos whose removal is claimed on his Facebook page.

21 Aw: Het portret, dat niet in opdracht is gemaakt, wordt gebruikt. Is de publicatie van het portret niet toegestaan omdat een gerechtvaardigd belang van de afgebeelde persoon daartegenin gaat? Er is geen toestemming verleend door de afgebeelde persoon. De belangenafweging is nadelig voor de afgebeelde persoon, aangezien hij zelf ook foto's heeft gepubliceerd waarvan hij op zijn Facebookpagina het verwijderen eist.

This article discusses the importance of privacy in the context of the recent Supreme Court ruling on abortion in the United States. The ruling has led to the potential for personal data, such as browsing histories and location data, to be used to prosecute women seeking abortions and those who assist them. The text argues that privacy is important because it protects individuals from abuses of power, and that the digital age has made the challenge of protecting privacy more formidable, but not