How a Swiss tech expert runs a global phone surveillance systemIn the decade since Edward Snowden’s leaks exposed the workings of the US and UK national surveillance apparatus, the market for spying services has fragmented and expanded into a start-up economy of location trackers, password crackers and data extractors.

On 8 May 2023, the Committee of Inquiry of the European Parliament investigating the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (PEGA) adopted its final report and recommendation, after 14 months of hearings, studies and fact-finding missions. https://edri.org/our-work/pega-committee-does-not-go-all-the-way-on-spyware-regulation/

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) has a major influence on climate action, climate change mitigation and the work of environmental defenders. It offers potential benefits, for example when it is used to enhance high-resolution mapping of deforestation, coral reef loss, and soil erosion. On the other hand, it poses

The European Commission’s plan for a “security-related information sharing system between frontline officers in the EU and key partner countries” should be scrapped, says a paper signed by 10 organisations, including Statewatch, who warn that it may aid political repression and underpin human rights violations. https://edri.org/our-work/

Meta's quarterly filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission show it's bracing for a stop on EU-U.S. data flows and a "substantial" EU General Data Protection Regulation fine. Meta said the formal enforcement order by Ireland's Data Protection Commission, due by 12 May, could force a halt

Following the burglary of a French logistics company in 2019, facial recognition technology (FRT) was used on security camera footage of the incident in an attempt to identify the perpetrators. In this case, the FRT system listed two hundred people as potential suspects. From this list, the police singled out

The bias encoded in artificial intelligence systems can’t be fixed with better data alone - it requires significant societal change. Meredith Broussard, a data journalist and academic, has written a new book called "More Than a Glitch: Confronting Race, Gender and Ability Bias in Tech," which highlights the real

Whistleblower reveals Netherlands’ use of secret and potentially illegal algorithm to score visa applicantsIn 2022, a report commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs concluded that the agency’s internal culture was riddled with structural racism. Some employees recounted being described as “monkeys” while others were continually asked to

tem of teacher recruitment in Italy, with the introduction of a GPS algorithm by former Minister of Education Lucia Azzolina. The algorithm evaluates teachers' CVs and preferences in location and class to match them with schools' vacancies. If the algorithm finds a better matching candidate, it selects them instead. With

The EDRi network published amendments and recommendations for the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) proposal calling for comprehensive protection for journalists, journalistic sources and human defenders against surveillance measures. https://edri.org/our-work/spyware-is-only-the-tip-of-the-iceberg-we-need-to-protect-journalists-from-all-forms-of-surveillance/

In the run up to the AI Act vote in the European Parliament, civil society organisations call on the European Parliament to prioritise fundamental rights and protect people affected by artificial intelligence systems. https://edri.org/our-work/civil-society-urges-european-parliament-to-protect-peoples-rights-in-the-ai-act/

Unpublished documents and inside sources give rare look into secretive AI system used to decide who is shirking workSpain has positioned itself as a leader in responsible AI within Europe. Yet promises of transparency have often fallen flat and public watchdogs have struggled to gain meaningful access to algorithms deployed

"Pay or Okay" - the beginning of the end? "PUR Abo" on derStandard.at illegal according to Austrian DPA https://noyb.eu/en/pay-or-okay-beginning-end

Meta (Facebook, Instagram) switching to "Legitimate Interest" for Ads After noyb complaints, Meta (Facebook and Instagram) is switching form an illegal contract to equally illegal "legitimate interests" for advertisement. noyb will take imminent action. https://noyb.eu/en/meta-facebook-instagram-switching-legitimate-interest-ads

The Wall Street Journal reports Meta intends to offer EU users the option to opt out of data processing practices for targeted advertising. The change will be exclusive to EU Facebook and Instagram users as Meta works to meet a compliance order from Ireland's Data Protection Commission concerning legal bases

The European Center for Not-for-Profit Law is concerned about safeguarding human rights and limiting the negative impacts of security technology on civil society. Therefore, they launched a report with partners as a step to investigate how technologies introduced in the name of security and counter-terrorism will impact civil society. https:

Majority of credit bureau "CRIF" database illegal Decision by Austrian DPA in noyb case: Data of millions of Austrians have to be deleted https://noyb.eu/en/majority-credit-bureau-crif-database-illegal

ENISA published a report that addresses standards of cybersecurity for artificial intelligence, and their relevance to ensure compliance with the upcoming EU AI Act. The increasing prominence of artificial intelligence (AI) in various industries has necessitated the establishment of comprehensive standards for cybersecurity.  In this context, ENISA published a report

European privacy rights group NOYB lodged a complaint with the Berlin Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information alleging multiple German political parties engaged in microtargeting of voters on Facebook during the 2021 campaign, Euractiv reports. While the EU General Data Protection Regulation does not expressly ban "microtargeting," it

Google seeks the dismissal of a U.K. lawsuit in London's High Court alleging it mishandled the medical records of 1.6 million patients, Reuters reports. In 2015, the Royal Free London National Health Service Trust transferred patient records to Google-owned artificial intelligence firm DeepMind Technologies, which was developing an

Political microtargeting on Facebook: an election promise just for you! noyb filed a series of complaints against several German political parties. The parties had used microtargeting on Facebook during the 2021 federal election and targeted potential voters. https://noyb.eu/en/political-microtargeting-facebook-election-promise-just-you

Cell phone not personal enough for GDPR protection?! Contradictory Decision: Traffic and location data are particularly sensitive data that require additional protection, at the same time they are not personal data at all?! https://noyb.eu/en/cell-phone-not-personal-enough-gdpr-protection

Germany's Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information published its 2022 activity report. The BfDI highlighted its enforcement work and the various data protection topics tackled, but noted its work showed "room for improvement in many laws and projects." Commissioner Ulrich Kelber said, "data protection can be adapted

Austrian DSB: Meta Tracking Tools Illegal Austrian Data Protection Authority (DSB) decided that the use of Facebook’s tracking pixel directly violates the GDPR and the so-called “Schrems II” decision on transatlantic data flows. https://noyb.eu/en/austrian-dsb-meta-tracking-tools-illegal

PimEyes, a tool purporting to help people track their web presence, is accused of scraping images of deceased persons to populate its database, Wired reports. A user, whose nonconsensual images were previously scraped into PimEyes' facial recognition database, found images of her deceased relatives, which she claimed were used to