EDRi-Gram, 1 April 2026

Key Takeaways

• EU Parliament fast‑tracks AI Omnibus, weakening safeguards
• Deportation Regulation creates EU‑wide ICE powers
• MEPs reject mass‑surveillance ePrivacy derogation
• Greek courts convict spyware vendor executives, setting precedent

Summary

The European Parliament rushed a vote on the AI Omnibus proposal, accelerating a deregulation trajectory that critics say erodes safeguards for high‑risk AI systems. At the same time, legislators approved a controversial Deportation Regulation that would give the EU powers akin to a continental ICE, expanding device seizures and cross‑border data sharing. Despite these setbacks, MEPs rebuffed a mass‑surveillance ePrivacy derogation, and Greek courts delivered a landmark conviction of Intellexa‑linked spyware executives, marking the first criminal ruling of its kind in the EU.

Pulse Analysis

The EU’s accelerated legislative agenda is reshaping the digital rights landscape at a breakneck pace. By pushing the AI Omnibus through a plenary vote and launching trilogues within hours, lawmakers signal a "move fast, break things" mindset that sidesteps thorough impact assessments. This approach risks diluting the GDPR’s protective mechanisms, leaving consumers and businesses exposed to opaque algorithmic decisions and inadequate redress pathways. Industry observers warn that such regulatory shortcuts could undermine trust in European tech markets, potentially driving innovation abroad.

Parallel to deregulation, the EU’s securitisation drive materialises in the newly passed Deportation Regulation, effectively granting a Europe‑wide enforcement arm reminiscent of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The law authorises house raids, device confiscations, and extensive data sharing across borders, raising alarms about privacy erosion and discriminatory profiling. Civil‑society groups argue that this framework not only contravenes fundamental human rights but also sets a precedent for other member states to adopt similarly draconian measures, threatening the bloc’s reputation as a champion of digital freedoms.

Nonetheless, resistance is emerging. The European Parliament’s decisive rejection of the ePrivacy derogation—often dubbed "Chat Control 1.0"—demonstrates that lawmakers can still rally against mass‑surveillance proposals despite pressure from the Commission and Council. Moreover, the Greek courts’ conviction of Intellexa‑linked individuals in the Predatorgate scandal marks a historic judicial milestone, signaling that spyware vendors can be held criminally accountable. These victories, coupled with coordinated campaigns like "We Keep Us Safe," suggest a growing capacity for civil society and institutions to counterbalance the EU’s aggressive policy thrusts, offering a cautious optimism for the future of digital rights in Europe.