Outgoing 🇵🇱 EU Presidency's @kaziku.bsky.social: “It is an extremely uncomfortable situation for any @consilium.europa.eu representative to speak on a topic like #Pegasus, because we need to represent the position of 27 member states, which on such a comprehensive topic does not exist.” [1/5]

⚠️ In an open letter published today in response to recent #spyware abuse cases in 🇪🇺, a coalition of 12 civil society orgs (incl. @cdteu.bsky.social @accessnow.org @amnesty.org @efjeurope.bsky.social) call on EU institutions to take concrete action to respond to the growing threat posed by spyware. 👇

📺 WATCH: 'EU Action on Spyware & Surveillance' 🇪🇺EP event ft. @fcancellato.bsky.social @krzysztofbrejzamep.bsky.social @birgitsippel.bsky.social, @kaziku.bsky.social @ec.europa.eu's Audrius Perkauskas, @cdteu.bsky.social @silvperez.bsky.social @accessnow.org's Rand Hammoud. youtu.be/MD6RVn1vci0?...

We are alarmed by Europol arrogating to itself the right to develop surveillance tools, which are likely to dramatically transform the landscape of policing across the EU, in almost complete secrecy. Yet, despite this opacity, political support for Europol is growing in Brussels and EU capitals.

Of concern is that the Code of Practice appears to rest on the assumption that all CICCs can be used for a well-defined, lawful purpose. “We would caution States not to treat this COP as a green light to begin systematically relying on these tools,” says @cdteu.bsky.social's @silvperez.bsky.social.

📢 CDT Europe is hiring! We have two exciting employment opportunities: 🔹 Operations & Finance Manager (part-time) 🔹 EU Advocacy Intern (6-month paid internship) Passionate about digital rights & EU tech policy? Apply by April 23, 2025! Details ⬇️ cdt.org/careers/

@rightscon.org travelling to Africa next year! What a truly inspiring and overall wonderful experience this year has been. I go back to Brussels full of energy, ideas, and renewed motivation to keep fighting for #spyware regulation in the #EU. This community is unstoppable

MUST READ: @cdteu.bsky.social's @silvperez.bsky.social latest analysis looks at the impact of the White House’s dismissal of 3 Democratic members of the Privacy & Civil Liberties Oversight Board, which left the independent watchdog without a quorum & unable to function. cdt.org/insights/wha...

If you've been curious about how the recent PCLOB firings impact the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, I provide a detailed EU-specific overview in the blogpost below. #DPF #PCLOB #transatlanticdataflows

A “Democracy Shield” is just blah-blah as long as there is impunity for the use of #spyware by EU governments against their critics and opponents.

“One possible explanation is that Paragon believes the 🇮🇹Italians are lying, as the company can review client usage of its system when there are credible concerns of misuse or violations of its so-called "end user agreement," as was allegedly the case here.” www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...

Our @silvperez.bsky.social weighs in on this concerning story: "The longer the EU delays action, the greater the risk of becoming a safe haven for spyware companies. By setting up in the EU, these firms gain unrestricted access to the bloc and benefit from more favourable export controls."

Paragon Solutions, the Israeli spyware vendor linked to new surveillance of journalists and civil society, has set up shop in the 🇪🇺EU’s most powerful country: 🇩🇪 Germany and thus gaining unrestricted access to the bloc. My debut for @euractiv.bsky.social. 👇 www.euractiv.com/section/tech...

⚠️ Greece's Data Protection Authority says it is launching an investigation after WhatsApp informed it that Greek users are among those targeted by spyware #Paragon.

Paragon Solutions, whose military-grade spyware was allegedly used to target 90 journalists & civil society members, in 2 dozen countries, has terminated its client relationship with 🇮🇹 Italy, according a person familiar with the matter. ✍️ @skirchy.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

The firing of PCLOB members cripples its oversight & threatens privacy rights. Without a quorum, PCLOB can’t investigate intelligence overreach, undermining EU-U.S. data protections. Our director @silvperez.bsky.social explains what it means for fundamental rights in the EU 👇

CDT’s @silvperez.bsky.social in The Cyber Wire on how the changes to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board could impact the Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework (TDPF). thecyberwire.com/new...

“@silvperez.bsky.social stated that the TDPF ‘hinges on the PCLOB’s independence and operational capacity.’” thecyberwire.com/new...

“@silvperez.bsky.social continued by stating that ‘if the PCLOB is weakened or rendered non-functional, it undermines trust in the TDPF and the adequacy of protections for EU citizens’ data transferred to the US.’” thecyberwire.com/new...

On Jan. 27, President Donald Trump fired all of the Democratic members of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. Greg Nojeim and @silvperez.bsky.social write that this removal threatens the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework and puts civil liberties at risk.

❗️ Nearly 100 journalists and other members of civil society using WhatsApp were targeted by spyware owned by Paragon Solutions, an Israeli maker of hacking software, the company alleged today. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Former Secretary of Transportation--who was not on The Real World or Road Rules--weighs in on the President's efforts to blame the fatal air traffic accident on DEI.

“The credibility of the safeguards Europe has come to rely on as a prerequisite for allowing cross-border data flows ‘hinges on the PCLOB’s independence and operational capacity,’ @silvperez.bsky.social said.” therecord.media/poli...

“The PCLOB’s role in ensuring limited bulk data collection by U.S. intelligence agencies is vital for Europe, @silvperez.bsky.social said.” therecord.media/poli...

severely compromised. These developments should prompt EU policymakers to closely monitor the situation and seek assurances from the U.S. that robust oversight mechanisms will remain firmly intact. See the CDT US press release here: cdt.org/press/cdt-co... 3/3

Undermining the bipartisan & independent functioning of PCLOB jeopardises the oversight mechanisms necessary to uphold EU data protection standards. Without an independent & operational PCLOB, the EU’s confidence in the durability and effectiveness of the already fragile privacy safeguards is... 2/3

CDT Europe is deeply concerned by President Trump’s attempt to remove members of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB), a critical body for ensuring accountability and safeguarding the fundamental rights of EU citizens under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework. 1/3

Even if we lose 🇺🇸 U.S. leadership in the fight for collective responses to #spyware regulation, the fight must go on, writes @asaflubin.bsky.social. In this context, initiatives like the 🇬🇧🇫🇷Pall Mall Process become "even more vital." www.lawfaremedia.org/article/unpa...

A federal court in California has found that the installation of the notorious #spyware, Pegasus, violated the U.S. Computer Fraud and Abuse in a case that WhatsApp brought against NSO Group, which makes Pegasus. www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/u...

Together with other 13 civil society organisations, we've called on the Poland to live up to its international commitments regarding the proliferation of spyware by including specific action against spyware in its Presidency's programme. Full letter here cdt.org/insights/civ...

🚨NEW INVESTIGATION: When Kirill Parubets was released from a harrowing detention by 🇷🇺#Russia's FSB, he got his phone back.. It was covertly bugged with spyware... New @citizenlab.ca investigative collab w/legal aid org First Dept. READ: citizenlab.ca/2024/12/devi... #infosec #cybersecurity

US officials urge Americans to use encrypted apps amid cyberattack that exposed live phone calls nbcnews.com/tech/securit... via @nbcnews Meanwhile, in the EU, the Hungarian Presidency prepares to vote on a legislative proposal that introduces CSS to bypass encryption #EUCSAM

🚩 Last week, CDT Europe & @disinfo.eu hosted a webinar on #DSA Art.22 to explore the vetting process, benefits, and insights for #CSOs considering applying as Trusted Flaggers. cdt.org/insights/tru...

People are leaving Twitter because it’s not fun anymore and no one is obligated to be on a platform they don’t enjoy. It’s not rocket science.

“A member of 🇵🇱Poland’s central bank’s management board was detained by police on Monday to make him cooperate with a parliamentary investigation into the use of Pegasus #spyware under the previous government.” www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Ronan Farrow on surveillance spyware: ‘It threatens democracy and freedom’

A source at Paragon Solutions told @ronanfarrow.bsky.social that the deal with 🇺🇸 ICE "followed a vetting process, during which the company was able to demonstrate that it had robust tools to prevent other countries that purchase its #spyware from hacking Americans." www.newyorker.com/news/news-de...

Yesterday, CDT Europe held a workshop with the Spyware Coordination Group to discuss international efforts to regulate #spyware and reflect on Europe’s progress. Huge thanks to all members who joined and contributed to this crucial conversation! #StopSpyware

Why Transparency International EU decided to leave X: transparency.eu/why-transpar...

News to absolutely no-one. The Parliament does what it was expected to do since the nominations were announced. All the in-between was just noise and smokes. Can we please get to work now?

As the privacy community migrates to Bluesky, find below a comprehensive starter pack on spyware compiled by @vaspanagiotopoulos.com go.bsky.app/ECCGbqE

Very insightful thread by @jsrailton.bsky.social, extracting key elements from the unredacted filings published in connections to Whatsapp's court proceedings against NSO Group. #stopspyware

As more and more people are joining Bluesky, we decided to provide you with a first list of journalists working on tech and digital policy in the EU. Feel free to let us know which journalists to add/if you want to be added yourself! go.bsky.app/JRd4TeF