Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialThe Good Lobby @thegoodlobby.wsocial.eu · 28/09/2026🚨 Should a company whose tools are widely used for surveillance and AI warfare have a place in Europe's public services? Over 100 organisations and unions from 30 countries, including The Good Lobby, say no. Read more 👉 thegoodlobby.eu/time-to-say-... 033 3
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialSOMO - Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations @somoamsterdam.bsky.social · 10/09/2026Von der Leyen dreams of European AI. Her actions say: US tech control ⚠️ EU wants to: → Fast-track data centres across Europe → Bypass environmental regulation → Override public participation rights All to build infrastructure that will mostly belong to and serve... US financial giants & Big Tech 186 8
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialWolfie Christl @wchr.bsky.social · 09/09/2026Germany's domestic intelligence agency, the Verfassungsschutz, refers to the sale of mobile app location data as a "grave privacy intrusion" and warns that foreign actors may use the data to approach or attack individuals in the security/defense industries: www.verfassungsschutz.de/SharedDocs/p... 12614 26
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialJoanna Bryson @j2bryson.bsky.social · 22/08/2026AI is NOT advancing. It is BEING advanced. Silicon Valley are the ones who determine how much of their own efforts go into making systems manageable. This kind of reporting does NOT help ensure they do that right. Shame on @timothygartonash.substack.com.web.brid.gy #AIEthicstheguardian.comWould even an AI disaster on the scale of Hiroshima be enough to make humankind protect itself? I fear not | Timothy Garton AshIt’s clear here in Silicon Valley that AI is advancing faster than humans’ ability to control it. That means even sober prophecies seem optimistic, says Guardian columnist Timothy Garton Ash 1137 13
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialSOMO - Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations @somoamsterdam.bsky.social · 30/06/2026🚨 Breaking: Major Israeli companies use the Netherlands as a hub for their international investments. Our new investigation reveals how the Netherlands plays a crucial role in the flow of capital to and from Israel. Read on for our key findings. (thread) www.somo.nl/the-netherla... 21622 22
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialWaag Futurelab @waag.org · 29/06/2026European digital ID wallets advance big tech monopoly, not European sovereignty. "[Citizens] are forced to use Google software, if they want to use the wallet," says Danny Lämmerhirt, Senior researcher at Waag Futurelab. Read more and learn what you can do: waag.org/en/article/e... 45036 50
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialJon Worth @jonworth.eu · 17/06/2026No one should be shocked in the slightest that @wsocial.eu appeals to @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu It is *precisely* W's strategy to go after people like that The firm has been pitching to the politically connected, promising "real people" (i.e. ID checks for accounts) to those who don't know better 2439 43
fafasnaps.bsky.social @fafasnaps.bsky.social · 09/06/2026News from Apple's strategy: get journalists in a room and get their VP marketing brief them on why the EU Commission is the reason Siri AI isn't coming to Europe. Or: 4,5 trillion $ tech company cannot figure out how to adapt software for a 440M consumers market www.numerama.com/tech/2271421...numerama.comLe coup de gueule d'Apple contre l'Europe : le nouveau Siri ne sera pas lancé sur les iPhone français à cause du DMAÀ Cupertino pour la WWDC 2026, Numerama a pu discuter avec Greg Joswiak, vice-président d'Apple, de la réglementation européenne et de son impact toujours plus fort sur la disponibilité des nouveautés... 000 0
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialTech Policy Press @techpolicypress.bsky.social · 27/05/2026When it comes to AI, the EU simply has to stop buying into self-interested corporate narratives around the AI Race – whether they come from the US or the EU – as synonymous with the public interest, writes Margarida Silva.buff.lyWhy “Made in Europe” Won’t Fix AI’s Deeper ProblemsThe EU's drive to embed AI everywhere, all of the time, risks significant costs for the environment, public budgets, and workers, writes Margarida Ramos. 0117 11
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialWolfie Christl @wchr.bsky.social · 28/05/2026"U.S. forces deployed to war zones have been targeted using commercially available location data" Just like I, @johnnyryan.bsky.social and others warned. US Senator Wyden says it's time to "start treating the adtech industry as a national security threat". Agreed. www.reuters.com/business/med...reuters.comExclusive: Pentagon says US military personnel are reportedly being targeted using location dataIt's an illustration of how the global surveillance economy is shaping the battlefield. 22215 22
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialTim Newman @tnewmsblues.bsky.social · 21/05/2026Excited to share V2 of our project mapping the data work part of the AI supply chain. This update includes: 📍A new interactive network graph including data work companies, their clients and investors; 📍Profiles of some of the major companies: 📍47 new companies in the database. DataWorkLandscape.orgdataworklandscape.orgData Work LandscapeTech companies in the AI industry are powered by workers who develop, train, test, and maintain AI systems. We’re shining a light on this shadowy industry. 1168 16
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialOpen Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 18/05/2026The UK data watchdog is all bark, no bite. From failing to investigate complaints to forgoing regulatory action in favour of a slap on the wrist, the ICO isn't doing its job. It's time that the regulator is overhauled, because data protection laws only work if they're enforced. Read our blog ⬇️openrightsgroup.orgThe ICO isn’t doing its job – why the data watchdog needs to be resetThe Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is currently missing its Commissioner, after unspecified HR complaints about John Edwards. 12321 23
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialmichael veale @michae.lv · 06/05/2026if screen time isn’t a useful concept, who benefits from it? this new paper argues that it’s tech firms (shift the heat off their design), govs (doing something!) and researchers (£££) journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/... 0173 17
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialSOMO - Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations @somoamsterdam.bsky.social · 06/05/2026A German newspaper reports that @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu has personally intervened to postpone the fine against Google for violating the Digital Markets Act. We call on the EU Commission president to enforce the DMA and fine Google without further delay. 🚨 static1.squarespace.com/static/5e449... 21613 16
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialVas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 05/05/2026“Under pressure to deliver in the fight against serious cross-border crime, Europol built and operated a shadow data analysis platform containing large volumes of sensitive information, which operated without key legal and technical safeguards.” www.computerweekly.com/news/3666425...computerweekly.com‘They protect the law while breaking it’: Inside Europol’s shadow IT system | Computer WeeklyUnder pressure to deliver in the fight against serious cross-border crime, Europol built and operated a shadow data analysis platform containing large volumes of sensitive information, which operated ... 23139 39
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialWolfie Christl @wchr.bsky.social · 20/04/2026ICE entered into another 1-year $12.2m contract for a system that looks a lot like surveillance tech based on advertising/app data, according to public records reported by The Lever. The system/program, called 'SAFE HAVEN', aims to track, locate and profile migrants and 'extremists', among others. 21711 17
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialWolfie Christl @wchr.bsky.social · 09/04/2026We publish a major @citizenlab.ca report on Webloc, an ad-based mass surveillance system that monitors the movements and personal characteristics of hundreds of millions people globally based on data obtained from mobile apps and digital advertising. Customers include ICE, El Salvador, and Hungary. 1114110 114
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialTech Policy Press @techpolicypress.bsky.social · 26/03/2026Almost two-thirds of Europeans polled believe that replacing American tech services with European alternatives is a good idea, but those surveyed are divided if that shift is realistic, according to YouGov research shared with Tech Policy Press. Contributing editor Mark Scott details key findings.techpolicy.pressAlmost Two-Thirds of Europeans Back Replacing US Tech, Poll FindsEU leaders are pursuing digital sovereignty plans to reduce the 27-country bloc’s dependence on the United States, writes Mark Scott. 296 9
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialWolfie Christl @wchr.bsky.social · 03/03/2026I told Forbes that it's extremely dangerous when governments buy personal data and use it for warrantless surveillance, even more so if such data is fed into opaque and often dysfunctional AI systems, where errors, bias and lack of accountability can magnify the harm: www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...forbes.comOpenAI Blurs Its Mass Surveillance Red Line With New Pentagon ContractAnthropic saw a surveillance problem and walked. OpenAI saw an opportunity and signed. Now, Sam Altman is under fire for struggling to explain how OpenAI’s contract is any safer. 1105 10
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialLobbyControl Tech @lobbyctrl-tech.bsky.social · 02/03/2026"Putting a former Meta lobbyist in charge of rewriting Europe's privacy rules – the so-called GDPR – is unacceptable" www.brusselstimes.com/1992574/ex-m...brusselstimes.comEx-Meta lobbyist put in charge of EU's digital rules: 'Tech oligarchy writing its own rulebook'Pressure is growing to drop the appointment of a former Meta lobbyist, elected as an MEP in 2024, from a file which could rewrite the EU's regulation of US tech giants. 012 2
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialUlrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 21/02/2026giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... How Palantir captured the UK Ministry of Defencegiftarticle.ft.comHow Palantir captured the Ministry of DefenceInsufficient details about the US data intelligence company’s recent contract have been made public 211163 111
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialWolfie Christl @wchr.bsky.social · 17/02/2026One more nail in the coffin of the idea of interoperable software and digital services regulated by markets dominated by unaccountable platform giants. With today’s actually existing infrastructure, non-technical people simply can’t use 'apps', 'extensions' et al without putting themselves at risk. 013 3
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialWolfie Christl @wchr.bsky.social · 17/02/2026"A security researcher has identified 287 Chrome extensions that allegedly exfiltrate browsing history data for an estimated 37.4 million installations" Recipients: data brokers like Similarweb. Roughly 1% of Chrome users affected. Just don't use extensions 😢 www.theregister.com/2026/02/11/s...theregister.comSecurity researcher finds 287 Chrome extensions leaking data: Add-ons with 37M installs leak visited URLs to 30+ recipients, researcher says 189 9
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialPeople Vs Big Tech @peoplevsbigtech.eurosky.social · 12/02/2026Out now: SOMO presents the Big Tech Lobby Playbook 🔍🚨 It exposes how Big Tech’s corporate lobbying is in a league of its own. These giants don’t just engage with lawmakers and policy processes - they shape the environment in which laws are imagined and debated. Read more: somo.nl/big-tech-lob...somo.nlThe Big Tech Lobby Playbook - Rewriting digital rules globally - SOMOThis series of articles by SOMO dives into specific examples of Big Tech lobbying and how they helped shape laws and politics in their favour. 059 9
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialWolfie Christl @wchr.bsky.social · 30/01/2026ICE "agents are tapping into a database, built by the data analytics company Palantir, that combines government and commercial data to identify real-time locations for individuals they are pursuing, the current and former officials said" www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/t...nytimes.comHow ICE Already Knows Who Minneapolis Protesters Are 095 9
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialJohnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 25/01/2026The latest evidence that broadcasting people’s movements and intimate data in the Real-Time Bidding online advertising system is truly dangerous. www.wired.com/story/ice-as...wired.comICE Asks Companies About ‘Ad Tech and Big Data’ Tools It Could Use in InvestigationsA new federal filing from ICE demonstrates how commercial tools are increasingly being considered by the government for law enforcement and surveillance. 58172 81
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialCassim Montilla @cassim.montilla.fr · 24/01/2026Microsoft a accepté de livrer des clés de chiffrement Bitlocker stockés dans son cloud aux autorités américaines techcrunch.com/2026/01/23/m...techcrunch.comMicrosoft gave FBI a set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops: Reports | TechCrunchThe FBI served Microsoft a warrant requesting encryption recovery keys to decrypt the hard drives of people involved in an alleged fraud case in Guam. 12112 21
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialStefano Marinelli @bsd.cafe · 21/01/2026They say AI isn’t profitable. That’s not true. Twice just this past week, I’ve been contacted and paid to fix problems caused by developers who relied on AI to configure servers. #AI 11917 19
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialCorporate Europe Observatory (CEO) @corporateeurope.org · 14/01/2026🎁 Just before the holidays, the EU Commission granted Big Tech its Christmas wish-list: an unprecedented attack on our digital rights. Together with @lobbycontrol.bsky.social we have mapped how the Digital Omnibus closely matches Big Tech lobby demands. 👉 corporateeurope.org/en/2026/01/a...corporateeurope.orgArticle by article, how Big Tech shaped the EU’s roll-back of digital rights | Corporate Europe ObservatoryIn a new analysis we trace Big Tech's fingerprints on the Digital Omnibus proposals - a major deregulation of EU digital laws including the GDPR and the AI Act. They are helped in this attempt by the ... 17981 81
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialWolfie Christl @wchr.bsky.social · 19/12/2025The German government completely refuses to tell parliament whether German federal police uses unlawfully processed mass behavioral/location data from digital advertising for surveillance purposes or not. Highly problematic in terms of democratic accountability. netzpolitik.org/2025/sicherh...netzpolitik.orgSicherheitsbehörden und Databroker: Bundesregierung macht Datenkauf zum StaatsgeheimnisDie Bundesregierung verweigert Transparenz darüber, ob deutsche Sicherheitsbehörden bei Datenhändlern einkaufen. Die Frage ist brisant, denn für den Kauf gäbe es keine sichere Rechtsgrundlage. Das zei... 01410 14
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialWolfie Christl @wchr.bsky.social · 18/12/2025"Le Monde was able to pinpoint the identities, home addresses and daily routines of several dozen people working for sensitive official entities" including French intel, military, nuclear weapon bases, power plants. Digital advertising is a security threat, exhibit X. www.lemonde.fr/en/pixels/ar...lemonde.frHow French spies, police and military personnel are betrayed by advertising dataUsing easily accessible advertising data, Le Monde was able to pinpoint the identities, home addresses and daily routines of several dozen people working for sensitive official entities. 01919 19
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialKaroline @karoline.bsky.social · 29/11/2025"All of this falls apart if humans don't adopt the tech. This is why you've seen Meta cram its lame chatbots into WhatsApp and Instagram. This is why Notepad and Paint now have useless Copilot buttons on Windows. This is why Google Gemini wants to "help you" read and reply to your emails."windowscentral.comAnalysis: OpenAI is a loss-making machine, how can it survive?Don't call it a bubble! Loss-making monster OpenAI is on the hook for $1.4 trillion (with a T) in compute commitments. How can this go on? 29663022257 6.3K
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialBrian Merchant @bcmerchant.bsky.social · 03/12/2025Spotify is garbage on every count: Its treatment of artists, its ICE advertising, the CEO's investment in military AI, its leading role in the commodification and AI slopification of music, its terrible audio quality—you name it. So I quit, and put together a complete guide to getting off Spotify:bloodinthemachine.comHow to quit SpotifyThis Black Friday, here's a guide to finding the best Spotify alternative 7953272834 5.3K
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialThe Good Lobby @thegoodlobby.wsocial.eu · 27/11/2025@ombudsman.europa.eu has ruled that the Commission committed maladministration in preparing Omnibus I - confirming concerns raised by The Good Lobby and civil society. This is an important reminder that EU policymaking must respect the rule of law. 👉 More: thegoodlobby.eu/omnibus-i-fo... 067 7
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialMargarida Silva @margaridasilva.bsky.social · 12/11/2025🚨The EU Commission wants to slash the pillar of our digital rights, all to prop up AI companies 🚨 www.politico.eu/article/brus... No doubt the biggest winners will be US Big Tech that for years fought against our privacy rules and now stand to dominate AI development 👉 www.somo.nl/the-real-win...politico.euBrussels knifes privacy to feed the AI boomDraft proposals obtained by POLITICO show EU is breaking sacred privacy regime to placate industry. 144 4
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialKris Shrishak @krisshrishak.bsky.social · 14/11/2025The European Commission uses ChatGPT outputs in public documents. @iccl.bsky.social has filed a complaint to the European Ombudsman as this use likely violates Commission's own guidelines and its obligation under EU treaties www.iccl.ie/news/europea...iccl.ieEuropean Commission breaches own AI guidelines by using ChatGPT in public documentsICCL has filed a complaint to the European Ombudsman against the European Commission for its use of generative AI in public documents, which likely violates its own guidelines and its obligation under... 116775 167
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialFabio Chiusi @fabiochiusi.bsky.social · 14/11/2025“A recent response from the European Commission to our access to documents request not only revealed that the President of the Commission was repeating the words of tech CEOs, but it also accidentally divulged the Commission’s use of generative AI in public documents.” 🤦♂️ 01016 16
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialJohnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 12/11/2025As we write in The Guardian this morning, the Commission’s plan to gut EU digital rules will hurt Europe’s startups and give U.S. tech an unassailable advantage, confirming Europe as a digital vassal. Piece by George Riekeles and I. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...theguardian.comThe EU has let US tech giants run riot. Diluting our data law will only entrench their power | Johnny Ryan and Georg RiekelesThe GDPR is Europe’s defence against digital oligarchy and child harm. Deregulation plans are misguided, say Johnny Ryan and Georg Riekeles 210166 101
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialKris Shrishak @krisshrishak.bsky.social · 10/11/2025Scientists and scholars in AI and its social impacts call on von der Leyen to retract #AIHype statement. @olivia.science @abeba.bsky.social @irisvanrooij.bsky.social @alexhanna.bsky.social @rocher.lc @danmcquillan.bsky.social @robin.berjon.com & many others have signed www.iccl.ie/press-releas...iccl.ieScientists call on the President of the European Commission to retract AI hype statementExperts in AI call on the President of the European Commission to retract unscientific AI hype statement she made in the budget speech. 4216146 216
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialMarvin H2G2 - Soutien aux scientifiques ! @marvinh2g2.fr · 08/11/2025🇺🇸 Meta transforme la fraude en modèle économique. Des documents internes révélés par Reuters montrent que le géant de Menlo Park préfère ne pas trop supprimer les publicités frauduleuses sur ses plateformes car elles rapportent plus que toutes les amendes que les états pourraient leur infliger⬇️ 1/6reuters.comMeta is earning a fortune on a deluge of fraudulent ads, documents showMeta projected 10% of its 2024 revenue would come from ads for scams and banned goods, and it internally estimates that its platforms show users 15 billion scam ads a day, company documents show. 24430 44
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialJohnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 07/11/2025European Commission considering big cuts to the GDPR to boost Europe's tech sector. This would a mistake, aiding U.S. and Chinese tech giants at EU firms' expense. www.iccl.ie/digital-data...iccl.ieCutting GDPR will harm EU tech competitivenessGrave cuts to the GDPR would aid U.S. and Chinese tech giants at Europe’s expense 1711 11
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialJohnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 06/11/2025Big story from Sky news. It is a mistake to think the DSA alone is going to fix this. This requires more, including and most particularly enforcement of GDPR Art 9 news.sky.com/story/the-x-...news.sky.comElon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows howElon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how 54938 49
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialLobbyControl Tech @lobbyctrl-tech.bsky.social · 05/11/2025New report by @BEUC: Increased consumer choice after eighteen months of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) www.beuc.eu/news/first-b... But the Commission needs to take enforcement to "the next level" to ensure that gatekeepers comply fully.beuc.euFirst bloom: new report shows increased consumer choice after eighteen months of the Digital Markets ActIn July 2025, the European Commission opened a consultation to gather feedback on the impact and effectiveness of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and its ability to face emerging challenges. Our review ... 012 2
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialAaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 05/11/2025Mamdani: "New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants, and as of tonight, led by an immigrant." 597497469718 49.7K
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialNorman @noaasm.bsky.social · 04/11/2025Another chilling investigation results regarding data brokers and real-time bidding highlighting how real-time bidding is not only a general data protection issue, but also poses serious national security threats. netzpolitik.org/2025/databro...netzpolitik.orgDatabroker Files: Targeting the EUPrecise locations and revealing movement patterns: the mobile phone location data of millions of people in the EU is up for sale. Collected supposedly only for advertising purposes, this data can also... 11010 10
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialEvgeny Morozov @evgenymorozov.bsky.social · 30/10/2025I have a new essay - on the emptiness of sovereignty rhetoric behind "sovereign AI" - in the November issue of Le Monde Diplomatique. English version, paywalled, is here mondediplo.com/2025/11/03techmondediplo.comSovereignty for saleSubscribers // by Evgeny Morozov (Le Monde diplomatique - English edition, November 2025) 1328 32
fafasnaps.bsky.social @fafasnaps.bsky.social · 29/10/2025Working on the European health data space, it's hard not to notice the lenghts interest groups will go to have a seat at any table, including the legislator's. Great work from @lobbycontrol.bsky.social !! 000 0
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialJohnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 29/10/2025Lobbying for tech is booming corporateeurope.org/en/2025/10/b...corporateeurope.orgBig Tech lobby budgets hit record levels | Corporate Europe ObservatoryNew figures show that the digital industry as a whole is now spending €151 million a year on lobbying the EU, a major increase to what was already considerable firepower. 113 3
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialJohnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 28/10/2025We filled a complaint against Ireland to the European Commission today. Ireland has appointed an ex-Meta lobbyist as its new Data Protection Commissioner. This will be interpreted by the tech industry as a signal of impunity. The European Commission must intervene. www.iccl.ie/digital-data...iccl.ieComplaint v Ireland to European Commission re process appointing ex-Meta lobbyist as Data Protection CommissionerIreland's appointment process lacked procedural safeguards against conflicts of interest and political interference and may be interpreted by the tech industry as a signal of impunity 414878 148
Reposted by @fafasnaps.bsky.socialChloé Woitier @chloew.bsky.social · 26/10/2025L'IA au bureau, entre perte de temps et perte de sens www.lemonde.fr/m-perso/arti... 814439 144