Europe Shouldn’t “Move Fast and Break Things” With Fundamental Rights
The European Union is considering the Digital Omnibus, a package that would simplify its digital rules but also roll back key safeguards in the GDPR, ePrivacy and the upcoming AI Act. The proposals would narrow the definition of personal data, permit broader use of automated decision‑making, and shift compliance to self‑assessment by firms. Critics warn that these changes could enable unchecked tracking, AI‑driven credit or hiring decisions, and continued use of sensitive data without robust oversight. The debate highlights a clash between regulatory simplification and the protection of fundamental rights.
Open Letter: EU Lawmakers Must Safeguard the AI Act
A coalition of 41 civil‑society organisations and AI experts has issued an open letter urging the European Commission, Parliament and Council to reject the AI Omnibus. They argue the proposal goes far beyond the Commission’s limited mandate for technical tweaks...
The Court of Justice of the European Union Condemns France’s Police Profiling Practices
On 19 March 2026 the Court of Justice of the European Union issued the “Comdribus” judgment, declaring France’s statutory collection of fingerprints and photographs of suspects disproportionate and contrary to EU law. The ruling emphasizes that biometric data are “sensitive” and may...
Safeguarding Democratic Lawmaking: EDRi’s Contribution to Commission Consultation on Better Regulations
The European Commission has opened a consultation to overhaul its Better Regulation framework, which is intended to make EU lawmaking more evidence‑based, transparent and inclusive. Digital‑rights group EDRi submitted a response warning that the proposed changes risk eroding democratic safeguards...
The Digital Omnibus Reopens the EU Data Acquis Before It Has Even Been Tested
The European Union’s Digital Omnibus proposal folds the Data Governance Act, Open Data Directive and other recent statutes into the 2023 Data Act, turning it into the central hub for data access, reuse and governance. While marketed as simplification, critics...
How Can the EU Protect Children Online While Dismantling the Very Rules Designed to Keep Them Safe?
EU policymakers are intensifying focus on child safety online, but recent proposals risk eroding the very safeguards built into the Digital Services Act, AI Act and GDPR. A coalition of over 300 civil‑society organisations warns the Digital Omnibus simplification could...
EFFecting Change: Can’t Stop the Signal
The Electronic Frontier Foundation and Amnesty International are co‑hosting a livestream titled “Can’t Stop the Signal” on April 16, 2026, to examine the surge in government‑imposed internet shutdowns. The event will focus on Iran’s recent nationwide blackout, which has been used to...
A Practical Guide to Joint Investigations: Lessons Learned From One Year of the Civic Journalism Coalition
The Civic Journalism Coalition, launched in February 2025 by EDRi, ECNL and Lighthouse Reports, has released a practical guide titled “Working the story together” to help journalists and civil‑society groups conduct joint investigations. Over the past year the coalition built...
EDRi-Gram, 1 April 2026
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...
New Study Reveals How Young People Are Influenced by Gamification Features on Snapchat
A March 2026 Bits of Freedom study surveyed 300 teens aged 13‑21 about Snapchat’s gamification features. Eighty‑six percent actively maintain Snapstreaks, and 25 % have paid roughly €0.99 (≈ $1.07) to restore a broken streak. Over half of interviewees would drop Snapstreaks, friend...
EDRi-Gram, 18 March 2026
EU lawmakers are simultaneously tightening and expanding digital surveillance measures. The European Parliament’s LIBE committee approved a new Deportation Regulation that will broaden data collection and movement restrictions across the bloc, while the same Parliament cut eight months from the...
Five Lessons From Three Years of Risk Assessments Under the Digital Services Act
The European Center for Not‑for‑profit Law (ECNL) examined three years of Digital Services Act (DSA) risk assessments submitted by Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and X, finding that despite longer reports, they still suffer from vague risk statements, weak focus on...
Artificial Insecurity: How AI Tools Compromise Confidentiality
Access Now’s March 2026 report warns that AI tools built on large language models suffer glaring security flaws that jeopardize data confidentiality, integrity and availability. Recent breaches – from DeepSeek’s exposed chat database to OpenAI’s leak of user metadata – illustrate how...
Court Again Rules in Favour of Bits of Freedom: Freedom of Choice for Instagram and Facebook Users Remains Intact
On 11 March the Dutch Court of Appeal upheld a prior judgment in favor of digital‑rights group Bits of Freedom, confirming that Meta must continue offering Dutch Instagram and Facebook users a choice between an algorithmic feed and a chronological, non‑profiling...
The Digital Omnibus: A Step Back From the Brink, but the Risks Remain
The European Council’s first compromise on the Digital Omnibus has stripped out the most controversial GDPR amendments, including changes to personal data definitions, scientific research scope, and Article 22 safeguards. However, the draft still contains provisions that could dilute transparency obligations,...
