iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Two activists face up to 20 years in prison for reporting on distress cases and arrivals of people to Greece. The case also targets two Cameroonian asylum seekers after they arrived by boat on the island of Kos. Read more in the article by Melissa Pawson: buff.ly/DQzIuOI

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Join us on 13 October in Brussels for #PrivacyCamp26! Romain Lanneau (representing Statewatch and Front-LEX) will be on the panel: “Resisting Europol and the new age of digital policing in Europe.” Register by Tuesday, 5 October at 23:59 buff.ly/ShG53sy

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Europol could have your data without you even knowing. And the newly proposed Europol regulation would mean even fewer restrictions on what they can do with it. The EU police agency is set to receive unprecedented access to personal data related to current and potential cross-border investigations.

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New Europol proposal pushes for deregulation and more AI in policing - Statewatch

Under a new proposal, Europol is set to receive unprecedented access to personal data related to current and potential cross-border investigations. It’s part of a wider plan to expand the use of AI…

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

According to Probable Futures research project, police forces are experimenting with 70 AI technologies in total. This is happening without any laws, regulations, oversight or transparency to govern the use of this tech. Read more: buff.ly/iJK11ot

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England and Wales: Growing gap between power and regulation of police AI - Statewatch

Police and legal agencies in England and Wales are actively using at least 27 AI technologies, according to an academic study.

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

The head of the UK’s College of Policing said the police need AI injected into their daily work “like heroin into the bloodstream.” He also thinks the National Centre for AI in Policing should spread AI tools “like wildfire through policing.”

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England and Wales: Growing gap between power and regulation of police AI - Statewatch

Police and legal agencies in England and Wales are actively using at least 27 AI technologies, according to an academic study.

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

We’ve obtained and published an “action file” on Syria, which shows that the EU is planning to deport more people there. This isn’t just a document. It reveals the EU’s attempts to exert its influence while the country’s political situation is still precarious. Read more: buff.ly/MiIA8GQ

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New files reveal EU plans to accelerate deportations to Syria - Statewatch

A secretive EU working group on external migration control has a new file on Syria – and deportations post-Assad are its primary goal

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

We plan to appeal, and make this clear: If the EU is planning to coerce countries by withholding aid—just to push their agenda—the public deserves to know about it.

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

We sought access to any discussion about these plans via freedom of information requests (FOIs). In response, the EU Commission identified 11 documents—but withheld access to all of them.

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Among these were plans to make access to development funding conditional: countries could either go along with the EU's migration agenda or lose access to aid. That means forcing countries to install migration control procedures and accept deported individuals.

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

The EU has blocked the release of files which may outline plans to pressure countries into migration deals by withholding aid. Last summer, the Commission proposed new ways to divide funding for non-EU countries.

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Spanish agents went undercover to spy on activists. The Catalan newspaper La Directa exposed them. Now, the Spanish Data Protection Agency has demanded La Directa remove the information and pay a fine of up to €7,000. Read more: buff.ly/utCJMpY Support La Directa: buff.ly/qNjqSw4

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

3/ And the public institutions? These are universities, government departments, health bodies, energy providers, police, and militaries. European taxpayers should demand that their money not be handed to a genocidal state. Together, we must demand that public institutions uphold justice.

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

2/ As the value of many contracts has been kept secret, we can't know for sure who the biggest spenders are. But according to the available data, it is: 1. Estonia 2. Hungary 3. Denmark 4. Spain 5. Poland 6. Czech Republic 7. Romania 8. Sweden 9. Netherlands 10. Croatia

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Within two years of October 2023, the number of contracts between Israeli companies and public institutions in the EU grew to 112. The total value in that period is estimated at nearly €1.6 billion.

The EU stars swirl around Benjamin Netanyahu's head, with the shadow of the Euro symbol at his back. A text box displays the text from the caption, labeled "news" under the category "collusion and crime"

A table indicates the top 10 EU member states by calue of contracts with Israeli companies. The biggest spender is Estonia, with 11 contracts and a total value of 816,460,719 euros. The lowest of the 10 is Croatia, with 7 contracts of a 31,508,263 euro value. The contracts included in this table are those from January 2022 to July 2025.

Text asks, what public institutions are involved? It answers: universities, government departments, health bodies, energy providers, police, and militaries.

With a gavel in the background, the text declares: European taxpayers should demand that their money not be handed to a genocidal state.
Together, we must demand that public institutions uphold justice.

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

4/ Later this year, the government is due to introduce legislation to govern the police use of facial recognition technology. But at the moment, there isn't any specific legal basis governing police use of AI technologies in England and Wales. Read more: buff.ly/FXQ7pT4

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

3/ At the same time, a senior police chief has said the technology should be spread like "wildfire" throughout policing. Among the technologies in use is a video analytics software produced by an Israeli-founded company called Briefcam.

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

2/ A report published by the project in June warns of “an increasing gap between technological capability and the conditions required for its legitimate, reliable, and responsible use.”

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

1/ A recent academic project, Probable Futures, mapped 70 uses of AI in the criminal justice system. These range from emergency call handling and evidence assessment to crime ‘prediction’ and automated analysis of video footage.

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

4/ We've just posted an article submitted to us by a contributor, Stevan Tatalović, focused on how these schemes are benefitting the Western Balkans and what it means for migration policy in Europe. Read it here: buff.ly/dolVB3N

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

3/ These schemes see people brought into European countries—often after they pay significant up-front costs—to fill labour vacancies with minimal protections and visas tied to their employment.

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

2/ These schemes are usually presented as neutral, evidence-based responses to both labour shortages and the need for migration pathways. And yet, the reality is they are putting more people into precarious and exploitative positions.

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

1/ The border has not disappeared—it has been transformed. Politicians talk about the need for "legal migration pathways" (while at the same time pushing deportations) and development agencies and private consultancies apparently have the answer: Circular Labour Mobility Schemes.

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

The data shows the range of public institutions that hold contracts with Israeli companies. European taxpayers should demand that their money not be handed to a genocidal state. Together, we must demand that public institutions uphold justice. Read the overview & access the data: buff.ly/P4Lsg6t

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All Posts Archive - Statewatch

We rely on your support to keep our work independent and free to access.

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

The public wants to see an end to support for a state that: • commits war crimes • commits crimes against humanity • stands accused of genocide and apartheid. And public institutions should be responsive to the demands of the public.

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All Posts Archive - Statewatch

We rely on your support to keep our work independent and free to access.

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Public institutions in the EU hold hundreds of contracts with Israeli companies worth almost €2.7 billion. Trade sanctions or boycotts could have a profound impact on Israel’s economy and its ability to wage war. Yet, the EU has taken no meaningful action.

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Police in England and Wales are using live facial recognition to scan millions of faces. A law governing its use is on the way, but campaigners warn it won't be enough. Read more about the government's plans: buff.ly/iGEZnld Take action: buff.ly/lf0fSgT

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

The 17th issue of the #ExternalisationBulletin is out now. This bulletin includes details on: • The EU Border Mission in Libya; • The Frontex RECAPP app; • Disinformation campaigns around West Africa and more. It also makes 22 documents public. Read the issue: buff.ly/GPZsE2S

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

There are other changes, but this should help get you started. We also hope that you will have patience with us over the coming weeks as we fully adjust. If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know. Now go see it for yourself: www.statewatch.org

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

• Contributor bios: Few seem to know how small our team is, yet fewer still know about the many incredible people we are fortunate to call contributors. We knew that, with this new site, we wanted a way to feature this group and give each of them a place to collect the work they've submitted to us.

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

• Documents page: This is brand new. Many will know that we regularly publish a large number of government documents obtained through leaks or FOIs. Yet, until now, these have only been accessible via links embedded in articles. Now, we have a dedicated section on the site!

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

• Research page: This now contains all of our projects, reports, and bulletins, as well as an endless archive of our observatories, SEMDOC, and Statewatch Journals. We wanted to make it easier to see what we are still actively working on, and give a home to our huge online archive.

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

• Articles page: All of our news, analysis, statements and more can be found in this new consolidated section. The new dedicated search and simpler filtering system should make it easier to find what you need.

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

We're excited to announce that we've just launched our new website. Here's a quick rundown of the biggest changes 🧵

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Just leaked: New agreement between EU naval mission and Libya’s eastern forces (link below) We've obtained and published a ‘technical arrangement’ between the EU’s naval mission Operation Irini and the ‘eastern forces’ of Libya under General Khalifa Haftar. Read and share: buff.ly/A7Q2sdj

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

They will meet this coming Wednesday to continue their discussions. In the meantime, you can now find the full text on our website: buff.ly/DFxBNTq

statewatch.org

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Instead, it looks like the Parliament, Council, and Commission still want to: • enable the deportation of children; • give national police forces extensive grounds for violence; • put in place wide grounds for imprisonment; and • enable states to weaken safeguards in 'emergency' situations

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Just leaked: We've obtained one of the latest working documents of the deportation regulation (a.k.a. "returns regulation”), by the EU Parliament, the EU Council, and the EU Commission. From what we can tell so far, no improvements have been made, despite relentless campaigning.

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Stefania Maurizi @smaurizi.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

@statewatch.bsky.social: "data exchanged under the proposal [#EBSP] could be used for a wide range of purposes by the US. This includes preventing or arresting people travelling to the US who have expressed opposition to US policies in EU" www.computerweekly.com/news/3666430...

computerweekly.com

Europe and US negotiate deal to share citizens’ biometric data, UK also approached | Computer Weekly

The UK has received a request from the US to share biometric data of citizens, as Europe negotiates a similar deal with US Department of Homeland Security.

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Nicholas Beuret @nicholasbeuret.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Race & Class made a video for our paper!

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Sea-Watch (international) @en.sea-watch.org · 11/05/2026

🔴 SHOTS FIRED Our Sea-Watch 5 is being shot at by the EU-funded so-called Libyan coastguard. Our crew just finished rescuing 90 people, but Libyan militias are still following us. They expressed the intent to abduct us to Libya!

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

We've just published the Commission's proposal for EU-US data exchange. What they suggest would violate EU law. Access the document and read the full analysis by Romain Lanneau: buff.ly/8HLpLfT

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

Both agencies have a history of acting beyond the law to prevent people from migrating to Europe, with little to no repercussions. If Europol's new director follows suit, the Europol regulation's recent reform may shield them from adequate oversight. Read more, from Romain Lanneau: buff.ly/dXxZbaR

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

Europol is hiring a new director to replace Catherine de Bolle. At the same time, Frontex's former director faces a French court for complicity in crimes against humanity.

Collage of Europol building, jail cell bars and Catherine de Bolle's eyes in colours of black green and orange in the backdrop. A box of text reads: will europol’s new director put a stop to the agency’s unlawful practices? signs point to no.

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

€27.1 million in hidden funds by the EU. Does that sound right to you? Read more about IrpiMedia's investigation and find the full report, "Financing the Violence", produced in collaboration with SOS Méditerranée, here: buff.ly/d6RXTHY

Image description:
A hand holds a wad of euros in front of an ocean scene. Text reads, "Revealed: EU funding backed an attack on a humanitarian search-and-rescue ship
The so-called Libyan coast guard fired on SOS Méditerranée’s ship in August 2025. IrpiMedia has since traced the money that enabled the episode—back to an EU program with millions in hidden funds."

A factsheet outlines the details of the EU program, called Support to Integrated Border and Migration Management in Libya, or SIBMMIL. It explains that this is the program that funded the Houn 664: a vessel of the so-called Libyan coast guard that caused an estimated €194,000 in damage to the humanitarian ship. Ominously, there is no publicly available information on 44% of the total budget—equating to €27.1 million in hidden funds.

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

The UK Labour Party came to power in July 2024 promising change and an end to 14 years of the right-wing rule seen under the Tories. Instead, it has since entrenched some of the Tories’ worst overreaches—and added some more of its own. Read more and view the timeline here: buff.ly/bwvxM5p

UK prime minister Keir Starmer looms behind a timeline mapping the steady decline of rights under his party since 2024. The pictured examples include the proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist group, sweeping reforms to policing to increase use of biometrics analysis and AI, and the recent arrest of Qesser Zuhrah, the youngest of the Filton 24. The full timeline can be found at the link.

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Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Sorry @tobyvogel.bsky.social we had some site issues this morning, but the link should work now. Otherwise you can find the new issue listed here: www.statewatch.org/outsourcing-...

statewatch.org

Statewatch | Outsourcing borders: Monitoring EU externalisation policy

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