Dear supporters,<\/p>\n
Last week, a chill down the digital rights community\u2019s spine \u2013 and it wasn\u2019t because of the unexpected snow in Brussels.<\/p>\n
The European Commission\u2019s Digital Omnibus proposals finally landed \u2013 and they were as appalling as expected. The proposals massively threaten EU\u2019s core digital protections, especially targeting the GDPR, the ePrivacy Directive and the AI Act. This move – and the overall deregulation agenda \u2013 clearly panders to corporate and Big Tech interests, rather that prioritising people and communities. These changes would lower safeguards, expand intrusive data access, and give governments and corporations more leeway to track, profile, and automate decisions about all of us.<\/p>\n
Rest assured, we\u2019re not taking this sitting down. Earlier this month, we came together with 126 civil society organisations and unions to tell the European Commission that we see their \u2018simplification\u2019 attempts for what they really are \u2013 the biggest rollback of digital fundamental rights in EU history, being carried out using non-democratic mechanisms. On the day of the Digital Omnibus launch, thanks to our collective action with People vs Big Tech and WeMove Europe, the EU quarter in Brussels was buzzing with mobile billboards calling on European Commission\u2019s President Ursula von der Leyen to stop giving in to pressure and to stand up for Europe\u2019s citizens and democracy.<\/p>\n
We will continue our ardent efforts to ensure that Europe\u2019s digital future is protected. We do not need fewer rules: we need the political will to enforce the digital rulebook that is already in place.<\/p>\n
Read about this and much more in the latest edition of EDRi-gram:<\/p>\n
Privacy & Data protection
\nPress Release: Commission\u2019s Digital Omnibus is a major rollback of EU digital protections
\nEU adopts Digital Trade Agreement with Singapore despite warnings: a setback for digital rights and democratic oversight
\nWhy the Digital Omnibus puts GDPR and ePrivacy at risk
\nEurope is dismantling its digital rights from within
\nMass surveillance & AI
\nArtificial intelligence is not as artificial as you might think
\nOpen internet & inclusive technology
\nWhy age verification misses the mark and puts everyone at risk
\nEDRi’s Recommendations
\nJobs & Events<\/p>\n
A collage-style image showing three people looking at their smartphones. In the foreground, two hands hold a torn paper that reads \u201cEU digital rules\u201d. Behind them is the European Commission building surrounded by clouds,
\nwith small blue and purple squares scattered across a light blue background.
\nPress Release: Commission\u2019s Digital Omnibus is a major rollback of EU digital protections<\/p>\n
EDRi<\/p>\n
On November 19, the European Commission published two Digital Omnibus proposals, reopening the EU\u2019s core protections against harm in the digital age. This step risks dismantling the rules-based system that was hard-won over decades, endangering the very foundation of human rights and tech policy in the EU. Read more.
\nEU adopts Digital Trade Agreement with Singapore despite warnings: a setback for digital rights and democratic oversight<\/p>\n
EDRi<\/p>\n
The European Parliament has approved the EU\u2013Singapore Digital Trade Agreement, rejecting a motion to seek a Court of Justice opinion on its legality. This decision weakens the Union\u2019s capacity to safeguard privacy, data protection, and accountability over software systems, at a time when deregulation pressures are increasing across Europe. Read more.
\nWhy the Digital Omnibus puts GDPR and ePrivacy at risk<\/p>\n
Itxaso Dom\u00ednguez de Olaz\u00e1bal (She\/Her), Policy Advisor, EDRi<\/p>\n
On November 19, the Commission presented a \u201cDigital Omnibus\u201d package, a series of measures to allegedly ease administrative burdens for businesses across areas like privacy, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. This long-read looks into what the Omnibus to reopen the GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive really means, both on paper and in real life Read more.
\nEurope is dismantling its digital rights from within<\/p>\n
Itxaso Dom\u00ednguez de Olaz\u00e1bal (She\/Her), Policy Advisor, EDRi for Context<\/p>\n
The European Commission\u2019s new Digital Omnibus is presented as simple \u201cstreamlining\u201d, but in practice it dismantles key safeguards in the GDPR, ePrivacy rules and the AI Act. It would make access to device data easier, weaken limits on automated decision-making and lower protections against discriminatory AI. Read more.
\nSupport the EDRi-gram, donate today!
\n“Mass surveillance & AI”
\nThree people look thoughtful or concerned, overlaid with a \u201cI\u2019m not a robot\u201d CAPTCHA checkbox on a background of blue and purple squares.
\nArtificial intelligence is not as artificial as you might think<\/p>\n
Julia Kloiber (she\/her), Co-Founder and Managing Director & Zara Rahman (she\/her) Managing Director, EDRi member, SUPERRR Lab<\/p>\n
AI systems involve a huge amount of human effort, at the hands of millions of workers, often in Global South countries, working in precarious conditions. In this blog, EDRi member SUPERRR Lab dive into the lives of data workers, how they are exploited and undermined by tech companies, and how these workers are now collectively advocating for their rights. Read more.
\n“Open internet and inclusive technology”
\nA woman holds a phone displaying the text, “Are you under 18?” in a questioning manner.
\nWhy age verification misses the mark and puts everyone at risk<\/p>\n
Simeon de Brouwer (He\/Him), Policy Advisor, EDRi<\/p>\n
Age verification is a short-sighted, ineffective and dangerous way to protect young people form online harms. It is disproportionate when better alternatives are available, straightforward and rewarding to circumvent, and structurally impacts more people than it aims to protect. Read more.<\/p>\n
DO<\/p>\n
Stand up, Ursula<\/p>\n
People vs Big Tech, WeMove Europe, Avaaz, and EDRi<\/p>\n
Since returning to office, Donald Trump and his Big Tech cronies have launched a full-scale pressure campaign against the EU\u2019s digital laws. Right now, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the Commission are deciding whether to break up Google\u2019s illegal adtech monopoly or cave to escalating pressure from Donald Trump and Big Tech CEOs. Europe\u2019s digital laws were written to protect us. Now they risk being rewritten to protect them. Sign the petitions by WeMove Europe and Avaaz.
\nREAD<\/p>\n
Digital Rights Under Threat \u2014 The Impact of LinkedIn\u2019s Biased Moderation Amid Genocide<\/p>\n
EDRi member, 7amleh, Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media<\/p>\n
This report documents how LinkedIn\u2019s content moderation practices have disproportionately restricted Palestinian voices during the hostilities in Gaza. Based on fifteen user testimonies and interviews with LinkedIn and Microsoft employees, it highlights internal bias, account restrictions, content removals, and widespread self-censorship. Read more.
\nWATCH<\/p>\n
How X Spreads Hate Against LGBTI People in Poland<\/p>\n
EDRi observer, Amnesty International<\/p>\n
This documentary investigates how X has enabled the spread of targeted hate and abuse against LGBTI people in Poland. It reveals how the platform\u2019s failure to invest in Polish-language content moderation, disregard for human rights responsibilities, and non-compliance with the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) have created an unsafe and hostile environment for the LGBTI community. Watch the video. Content warning:\u202fThis video includes references to transphobia, suicide, self-harm, online abuse, violence and sexual violence.
\nLISTEN<\/p>\n
There are now more Big Tech lobbyists than MEPs<\/p>\n
EU Watchdog Radio by Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) and Counter Balance<\/p>\n
In this episode, CEO’s researcher Bram Vranken talks about their new report which uncovered that there are now more Big Tech lobbyists operating in Brussels than there are members of the European Parliament. The sheer muscle power these companies have to target legislation and to lobby decision makers is unheard of and it is worth reminding ourselves that Big Tech\u2019s lobby power only further entrenches its hold over key aspects of society. Listen to the podcast.
\n“Jobs and events”
\nLogos | Campaign Director | Remote (worldwide)<\/p>\n
Kamara | Senior Digital and Information Security Specialist | Unspecified<\/p>\n
Frontline Defenders | Event & Visa Assistant | Dublin, Ireland<\/p>\n
7amleh | Programs Manager | Haifa or Ramallah<\/p>\n
Liberties | Executive Director | Berlin, Germany<\/p>\n
noyb | Data Protection Lawyer | Vienna, Austria<\/p>\n
Wikimedia Foundation | Movement Communications Specialist | Remote<\/p>\n
Mozilla | Senior Integrated Marketing Manager | Remote, Germany<\/p>\n
Internet Society Foundation | Director, Administration and Travel Management & a Director, Fund Management and Compliance | Remote & Washington, District of Columbia
\n26\/28-11-2025\uff5cEuropean Young Innovators Festival\uff5cby WSA (World Summit Awards)<\/p>\n
04-12-2025\uff5cFinance For Society Forum 2025\uff5cby Finance Watch <\/p>\n
08-12-2025\uff5cSplinterCon in Paris\uff5cby eQualitie & National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS)<\/p>\n
10.11-12-2025\uff5cCollective Redress and Digital Fairness Conference\uff5cby University of Amsterdam<\/p>\n
10.11-12-2025\uff5cInternational Digital Rights Days\uff5cby Cities Coalition for Digital Rights<\/p>\n
10-12-2025\uff5ce-Society.mk 2025: Integrity at the core of digital transformation\uff5cby Metamorphosis Foundation<\/p>\n
27\/30-12-2025\uff5c39th Chaos Communication Congress (39C3)\uff5cChaos Computer Club (CCC) and volunteers<\/p>\n
23\/24-01-2026\uff5cPolitical Tech Summit\uff5cby Partisan<\/p>\n
28-01-2026\uff5cData Privacy Day\uff5cby Restena Foundation and the Digital Learning Hub<\/p>\n
30-12-2026\uff5cEU Open Source Policy Summit 2026\uff5cby Open Forum Europe<\/p>\n
16\/17-02.2026\uff5cThe DSA and Platform Regulation Conference 2026\uff5cThe DSA Observatory<\/p>\n
30\/31-03.2026\uff5cThe Palestine Digital Activism Forum (PDAF)\uff5cby 7amleh \u2013 The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media<\/p>\n
05\/08-05-2026\uff5cRightsCon 2026\uff5cby Access Now<\/p>\n
About us
\nEuropean Digital Rights is a dynamic collective of 50+ NGOs, experts, advocates and academics working to defend and advance digital rights across Europe. We advocate for robust and enforced laws, inform and mobilise people, promote a healthy and accountable technology market, and build a movement committed to digital rights in a connected world. Find EDRi on Mastodon for digital rights news updates. <\/p>\n
Support our work to defend your rights online.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dear supporters, Last week, a chill down the digital rights community\u2019s spine \u2013 and it wasn\u2019t because of the unexpected snow in Brussels. The European Commission\u2019s Digital Omnibus proposals finally landed \u2013 and they were as appalling as expected. The proposals massively threaten EU\u2019s core digital protections, especially targeting the GDPR, the ePrivacy Directive and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6156","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorised"],"yoast_head":"\n