iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

The Commission's reply to the Ombudsman is now online. Note the brazenness with which the Commission says it will not comply with the law, because... "cybersecurity". This has nothing to do with security, and everything with control. Full document here: www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/doc/corre...

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

⚡ News update on VDL's secret texts: The European Commission openly defies the European Ombudsman's call to stop auto-deleting the Commission president's text messages with EU leaders. It claims deleting texts was a "necessary cybersecurity measure". New scoop by @ftm.eu: www.ftm.eu/articles/eur...

ftm.eu

EU executive will keep deleting von der Leyen’s texts, despite watchdog warnings

Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Glückspielartige Mechanismen in Videospielen locken Gamer, darunter viele Minderjährige, Geld für virtuelle Objekte auszugaben. Die EU möchte der Spielebranche das Geschäft vermiesen - doch dagegen gibt es Lobbydruck in Brüssel. Koop @ftm.eu und @zeit.de: www.zeit.de/digital/game...

zeit.de

Lootboxen: Für einen Fußballstar wie Messi sparte sie sogar am Essen

Sie kaufen digitale Sammelkarten und verpulvern Tausende Euro. Viele Gamer verfallen den glücksspielartigen Mechanismen in Videospielen. Jetzt will die EU durchgreifen.

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

You might not know what a loot box is, but there's teenagers out there who will spent thousands of euros on them from their parent's credit card. Welcome to the fiercest Brussels lobbying battle you have never heard about, but which could completely re-shape the world of online gaming. 🧵

Illustration of a kid climbing into a box

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

The EU is working on a law to curb some of the video gaming industry’s most controversial practices. But the sector’s lobbyists are fighting back against the proposed rules, and have found an influential ally within Brussels. New story with Yannic Hannebohn/Die Zeit: www.ftm.eu/articles/tec...

ftm.eu

Tech giants fight EU crackdown on video games that push children to spend

The EU is working on a law to curb some of the video gaming industry’s most controversial practices. Campaigners warn that children are especially vulnerable to gambling-like features designed to enco...

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

From today's FTM newsletter: www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...

How to make Ursula join your socials

How did W Social, the new European social network, get the Commission president to join – and effectively endorse – it just months after its launch? W Social’s selling points are its built-in ID verification system and a strict “no bots” policy. According to documents we obtained, its founders pushed the Commission hard in lobby meetings.

And just like that, von der Leyen was on board, according to an internal memo. Yet, why W Social made the cut – while more established and comparable European decentralised networks such as Mastodon didn’t – is unclear from the files.

Alexander Fanta

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

She's been called "Israel’s most outspoken European ally". Now an EU watchdog is investigating the secrecy over Swedish MEP Alice Teodorescu Måwe's mystery donor after Follow the Money made a complaint. Full story (free to read): www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...

ftm.eu

EU watchdog probes secret donor behind pro-Israel MEP

Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Nur noch eine Woche! Hier wird das erste Jahr der Informationsfreiheit in Österreich von Expert*innen besprochen, Input aus dem Publikum ausdrücklich erwünscht, wird sicher sehr spannend. Kommt zahlreich!

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Lina Paulitsch @linapaulitsch.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Laut dem ungarischen Magyar-Medium "Kontroll" hat Sebastian Kurz 10.000 Euro pro Monat von der Modul Uni bekommen, die dem Fidesz-nahen MCC gehört. Kurz' Sprecher bestätigt eine "Kooperation mit dem MCC". www.falter.at/zeitung/2026...

falter.at

Geld aus Budapest für Sebastian Kurz: Wo woar sei’ Leistung?

Ein ungarisches Parteimedium berichtet von Honorarnoten, die Ex-Kanzler Sebastian Kurz über Umwege an ein Institut von Viktor Orbáns Fidesz-Partei gelegt haben soll. Was ist dran an der Info?

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Die andere Frage, etwas schelmisch, wäre, ob nicht jegliche Aufzeichnungen mit dieser Brille unter das Informationsfreiheitsgesetz fallen.

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Glasnost in Brussels? Last week, the Commission presented ideas to reform the EU's civil service, including the long-ailing transparency regime. But, while the paper acknowledged problems, it also made wild claims and used wrong figures: www.ftm.eu/articles/the...

ftm.eu

The Commission’s transparency problem, in its own words

Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

The new Secrecy Tracker newsletter is out! 📄 Commission hides reports about Gaza destruction of EU-funded aid projects 👩‍⚖️ EU judges hide potential conflicts of interest 📱 Von der Leyen's texting under scrutiny - again! HT @investigate-europe.eu @euobserver.com Read: www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...

ftm.eu

Commission buries Gaza audits as EU top court faces transparency backlash

Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism

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Pascal Hansens @pascalhansens.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Just out! Our investigation on the CJEU: more than 40% of judges have declared interests in big companies (such as Total, Boeing, Merck, etc.) Some have worked on cases involving sectors, sometimes even companies, where they hold interest. More here 👇 #CJEU www.investigate-europe.eu/posts/top-eu...

investigate-europe.eu

Top EU judges financial holdings raise troubling questions

More than 40 per cent of jurists at the Court of Justice have declared private financial interests, with some working on cases concerning industries where they hold shares. A new Investigate Europe in...

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

News alert: Ursula von der Leyen’s in hot water over text messages once again! Just earlier this month, the European Ombudsman told her not to auto-delete texts. Today, the watchdog is opening an inquiry into how VDL handled a confidential group chat with Starmer, Zelensky, Macron and other leaders.

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

This move baffled quite a few people, as there appears doubt as to whether W is really all that open source. I asked the Commission to explain their decision to join a new social network without significant usership (effectively an endorsement): www.asktheeu.org/request/deci...

asktheeu.org

Decision to join W social network - a Freedom of Information request to Communication

https://bsky.app/profile/vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu/post/3moiosz24yk2j I wish to obtain any document that explains this decision, such as internal communication explaining the advantages of W, or conta...

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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

The big news of today's #Huaweigate vote was NOT that @europarl.europa.eu lifted the immunity of Fulvio #Martusciello ⚡ but that it refused to waive the immunity of 3 other MEPs, saying there could be "fumus persecutionis" meaning Belgian prosecutors would've tried to politically damage MEPs 🧵 ⤵️

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Follow the Money EU @ftm.eu · 05/06/2026

Ursula von der Leyen and her fellow commissioners shouldn’t auto-delete text messages, the European Ombudswoman has decided. Even after Pfizergate, the EC President kept using the disappearing messages function on Signal to communicate with EU leaders like Emmanuel Macron. And that needs to change.

ftm.eu

EU watchdog says von der Leyen must not auto-delete texts

Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

⚡ EU watchdog warns against mass deletion of leaders' texts📱 Ursula von der Leyen is under fire once again over her texting. This time, the European Ombudsman told the Commission chief to stop auto-deleting her texts with EU leaders. Read the scoop (gift link): www.ftm.eu/articles/eu-...

ftm.eu

EU watchdog says von der Leyen must not auto-delete texts

Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism

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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

In case you missed our article about Manfred Weber’s (big fat Greek) raid on the European People’s Party, I just discussed it with @emmaduchatinier.bsky.social for the @ftm.eu podcast ⤵️

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Aufmacher @deraufmacher.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Wer braucht noch Magazinjournalismus, @christinapausackl.bsky.social? ⁩28.05.26 / 18:00 / Fischerstiege 1-7 SEE YOU THERE

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

News update: As our story published, xAI quietly changed its contact address again, to another office in Estonia. I'm taking bets on whether, this time, their "office" is for real.

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

PHANTOM OFFICE: Elon Musk’s AI company xAI that runs X chatbot Grok has quietly moved its official European point of contact for users to Estonia – to a building whose owner says it has no contract with the company or its representatives. Gift link: www.ftm.eu/articles/elo...

ftm.eu

Elon Musk’s AI firm directs complaints to dodgy address in Estonia

Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

SNEAKY - on 5 June the Council of the EU is holding a non-public event at its Brussels headquarters to mark the 25th anniversary of the EU’s transparency law, Regulation 1049/2001. Yes, you heard that right – there’s a closed-door event to celebrate transparency.

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Forum Informationsfreiheit @infofreiheit.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

In der Signal-Chatgruppe der EU-Außenminister*innen werden laut der EU-Außenbeauftragen Kaja Kallas wichtige Dokumente ausgetauscht und hochrangige Treffen vorbereitet. Auf eine IFG-Anfrage hieß es, diese Chats seien keine Nachrichten im Sinne des Gesetzes. /1

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fin @fin-io.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

Wir suchen juristische Unterstützung bei der Bekämpfung einer mühsamen Entscheidung der Erstinstanz, die selbst jegliche teilweise Informationserteilung bei diesen wichtigen Kaufverträgen ausschließt.

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Luise Quaritsch @luisequaritsch.eurosky.social · 07/04/2026

Foreign interference online continues to be an issue for election integrity and it is not clear if social media platforms are better equipped now than they have been in the past. Happy to have contributed some comments for this article by @alexfanta.bsky.social on the upcoming Hungarian elections⬇️

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

After reports about Russian meddling during the Romanian presidential elections, the EU Commission launched an investigation into TikTok. But more than a year later, and just days from a crucial vote in Hungary, the EU's probe is still open. What's taking so long? www.ftm.eu/articles/bru...

ftm.eu

Slow EU TikTok probe raises fears of foreign meddling ahead of Hungary vote

As Hungary heads to the polls on Sunday, reports about Russia interfering in the elections are gaining urgency – and so does a European Commission probe into whether social media platforms are doing e...

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

The whole social media ban for kids debate will become so much more fun when the kids realise that gaming platforms such as Roblox are likely classed as social networks (for instance, under the EU's Digital Services Act), and thus banned for them.

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Correction: I got this yesterday, unfortunately. The agreement on the procedure is not certain, might even be rejected. Apologies, I made a wrong assumption.

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

🚨 News alert on the long-stalled battle to pick the EU's next privacy chief, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS). Sources tell me the Council and the EP's LIBE committee agreed on breaking the gridlock through a voting procedure also used for picking a seat for the EU Customs Agency.

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Die Berichterstattung des Ö1-Morgenjournal zu dem Smartphone-Fasten-Experiment für Jugendliche löste bei mit ungewohnten Optimismus aus. Schön, daran erinnert zu werden, dass gesellschaftliche Probleme mit kollektivem Handeln angegangen werden können. Mehr davon.

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Könnt mich unter Häresie-Verdacht stellen, aber szenische Einstiege in journalistischen Texten, die keine Reportagen sind, nerven mich zunehmend. Bitte lasst das mit den langen Intros, kommt einfach zu Sache.

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Another day, another media outlet getting this wrong. No, the EU has not scrapped the combustion engine ban, at least not yet. It's an ongoing, highly contingent lawmaking process, not a fait accompli. And it's not a detail, either. Why do people not get that?

Politicians are unsure which way to turn. Last December, the European Commission scrapped a 2035 ban on selling new petrol or diesel cars. Instead, under pressure from Germany and Italy, it let manufacturers keep making cars with up to 10% of their current exhaust emissions past that date – in effect, a way to keep selling combustion engines.

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Stefan Kappacher @kappachers.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Ein Hoch auf Kollegen wie @maximilianwerner.at und @alexfanta.bsky.social die sich um die zeitgemäße Umsetzung der Infofreiheit in Ö bemühen. Der Terminkalender des Kanzlers und eine WhatsApp-Gruppe der Außenministerin als griffige Beispiele in den #Ö1 Morgenjournalen. sound.orf.at/radio/oe1/be...

sound.orf.at

Gerichtsverfahren um Offenlegung des Kanzler-Terminkalenders

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Maximilian Werner @maximilianwerner.at · 21/03/2026

Heute früh hat noch das Ö1-Morgenjournal (@kappachers.bsky.social) berichtet und mich unter anderem zu meinen Beweggründen für die Anfrage befragt – und @alexfanta.bsky.social hat darin schlaue Sachen gesagt!

oe1.orf.at

ORF-Radio

Das digitale Radioangebot des ORF. Alle öffentlich rechtlichen Radiosender Österreichs auf einer Plattform. Live und 7 Tage lang im Stream on Demand.

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Eva Sager @evasager.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Ich habe Journalist:innen gefragt, ob sie in ihren Arbeitsverhältnissen schon einmal Machtmissbrauch, unangemessenes Verhalten oder sexuelle Belästigung erlebt haben und ihre Antworten habe ich aufgeschrieben. Es ist noch viel zu tun. www.wienerzeitung.at/a/machtmissb...

wienerzeitung.at

Machtmissbrauch in der Medienbranche: „Wenn ich einen guten Arsch sehe, muss ich einfach draufhauen“ | WZ • Wiener Zeitung

Journalist:innen haben der WZ erzählt, in welchen Situationen sie sexuelle Belästigungen oder Machtmissbrauch erlebt haben. Auch in der Medienbranche besteht laut Gewaltschutzexpertinnen einiges an Ha...

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Deeply shocking and worrying. We need to stand up for colleagues Stephane, who has done a fantastic job investigating threats to the environment.

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George Greenwood @georgegreenwood.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Officials have been anonymously briefing about the threat of FOI laws to national security in the FT. I've written a blog on Relight My FOI as to why a crackdown on transparency using the vague excuse of China would be a bad move. relightmyfoia.blog/2026/03/18/p...

relightmyfoia.blog

Pitching for a new crackdown on transparency? The China excuse

Within freedom of information practice, national security has always been a key consideration, and you will really struggle to get information that could in any way risk national security, whatever…

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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Dear @politico.eu @gabrielgavin.bsky.social @maxgriera.bsky.social if you copy @ftm.eu reporting, it'd be nice to mention the original source

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Gateklons @gateklons.eurosky.social · 11/03/2026

"After the raids, Huawei was formally blacklisted from lobbying EU officials and suspended from membership in the tech industry’s flagship association, Digital Europe. Yet other Brussels players, such as the thinktank Bruegel and [CERRE], have kept Huawei on as a paying corporate member."

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

A year ago, the Huaweigate scandal rocked Brussels. But the prosecution of MEPs allegedly involved has hit a few roadblocks - including an embarrassing mistake by Belgian authorities: www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...

ftm.eu

Huaweigate, one year on: the latest from the scandal that rocked Brussels

Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

I increasingly feel that illustrating real research (of any kind) with AI images is a mismatch. If your findings are real, don't show fake pictures with them.

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Maximilian Werner @maximilianwerner.at · 02/03/2026

Die Stadthalle hat laut ihrer Umwelterklärung "diverse Radabstellplätze in unmittelbarer Umgebung". Aus Sicht der Stadt Wien handelt es sich dabei aber um eine geheime Info. Denn während das Dokument ungeschwärzt im Internet steht, wurde die Passage in einer Antwort auf meine IFG-Anfrage geschwärzt.

derstandard.at

Stadt Wien schwärzt Dokumente zum ESC, die ungeschwärzt im Internet zu finden sind

Wo steht die Organisation des Eurovision Song Contest 2026 aktuell? Dokumente der Stadt Wien, die DER STANDARD einsehen konnte, geben einen Einblick. Aber nur einen eingeschränkten

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Follow the Money EU @ftm.eu · 24/02/2026

Can MAGA stop Europe’s Big Tech crackdown? Trump allies are ramping up pressure on the EU’s tech laws. The U.S. imposed visa bans on NGO leaders and a former EU commissioner. Congress wants NGOs to hand over documents. If watchdogs are silenced, Europe’s ability to hold Big Tech accountable weakens.

ftm.eu

Trump allies target European NGOs in battle over Big Tech rules

Trump allies have waged an aggressive campaign against civil society and academics in the United States. Now, they're setting their sights across the Atlantic, threatening Europe's efforts to rein in ...

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

MAGA's war on European civil society is escalating. Visa bans for NGO leaders and former EU officials, plus congressional demands for documents - it's all about undermining the Digital Services Act to protect Big Tech. If Europe doesn't push back hard, "the law is dead." www.ftm.eu/articles/tru...

ftm.eu

Trump allies target European NGOs in battle over Big Tech rules

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Who cares if Trump & his allies attack a few European NGOs?, you might ask. You're wrong. We are seeing a campaign that doesn't just hurt a few NGOs. It strikes at the heart of the EU's tech laws, and European sovereignty. Inside MAGAs quiet campaign to undermine the EU: www.ftm.eu/articles/tru...

ftm.eu

Trump allies target European NGOs in battle over Big Tech rules

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Follow the Money EU @ftm.eu · 23/02/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘂 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘀: the EU attends Trump’s Gaza initiative after our reporting on the Tony Blair Institute’s lobbying, four years after Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine, the conflict endures – as does our scrutiny – and a Dutch government-backed report challenges EU migration plans.

ftm.eu

Newsletter | The EU attended Trump’s Gaza initiative. A match made in Munich?

Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

This is Reuters footage of Tony Blair arriving at this year's Munich Security Conference.

Tony Blair walking into the Munich Security Conference, shot by Reuters

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