The far-right majority in the Dutch parliament (BBB-FvD-JA21-PVV-SGP-VVD) has just designated “Antifa” a terrorist organization. This is a dark day for Dutch democracy and the final nail in the coffin of the VVD as a serious liberal democratic party.

Dat NL een extreemrechts land is geworden, is niet door die 20% tokkies die er nu eenmaal is. Maar door die 30% egoïstische kleinburgers die zwijgend meestemt.

Opgehitste extreemrechtse knokploegen trekken door de straten van Den Haag. Afschuwelijk. Mijn gedachten gaan uit naar de politiemensen, naar D66 en naar iedereen die moet vluchten voor dit geweld. Dit is fascisme. Dit zijn geen tijden om stil te zijn

The view from today’s office 😍 @defenddemocracy.bsky.social @webwatch.bsky.social

Commission and Council/EUMS appear not to care much about - once again and illegally - undermining the EU's rule of law toolbox for reasons of political expediency... If they do so, let's hope the European Parliament will - again - sue them for misuse of powers (see Case C-225/24 against Comm)

There’s already a lot of interest in WebWatch, the tech watchdog by Defend Democracy! Visiting The Hague and Amsterdam for meetings about the upcoming elections and what Defend Democracy will do to help. Stay tuned! #TK2025 #NLpol defenddemocracy.eu/webwatch-tec...

TLDR: Peter Thiel weaponizes Nazi philosophy and biblical scripture to reframe democratic opposition as cosmic evil—while building the surveillance state he claims to fear.

On this International #DemocracyDay, at #DefendDemocracy we are excited to launch WebWatch, our tech watchdog! Follow @webwatch.bsky.social ! More info: defenddemocracy.eu/webwatch-tec...

WebWatch, de nieuwe tech waakhond van Defend Democracy, start onderzoek naar mogelijke misleiding en manipulatie rond Nederlandse verkiezingen. #TK25 #NLpol #TK2025 web-watch.org/webwatch-sta...

at the center of the efforts to destroy civil society in russia, hungary, georgia and elsewhere is the stigmatization, harassment, & criminalization of NGOs. that's what this is about, a full-on assault on democratic debate & freedoms. this is not hyperbole. it's right here.

On International #DemocracyDay, Defend Democracy is launching WebWatch, our tech watchdog. First up, we will monitor, analyse and expose the (lack of) digital and information integrity of the Netherlands' elections on 29 October 2025. #EUsky #TK25 #tech

Musk is inciting violence on London's streets.Tommy Robinson is financed by US tech bros. These are all very direct attempts to destabilise the British state. Starmer needs to stand up to this. A government that doesn't defend its country's values against these blatant attacks is not doing its job.

Each alleged mass shooter is even more On the Computer All the Time than the previous one. Probably nothing to worry about there

With a few places left for our #DemocracyDrinks ! Check out the EU Commission speaker & register:

NEW: The anti-Trump protest happening right now on the streets of Washington DC is HUGE! It looks like tens of thousands have joined. This is the view from 16th Street - people stretching as far as the eye can see 👏

3/ ⚖️ Today’s decision reaffirms Europe’s unequivocal commitment to competition enforcement. Our job is to ensure that markets serve people and that dominant players do not abuse their power.

BREAKING: despite trade tensions with the US: EU hits Google with €2.95bn fine over abusing online advertising tech. www.ft.com/content/8f8b...

Rand Paul: "It might be ironic if in the end the protectionist flavor of the day - the tariffs we're putting on - brought together our enemies & ultimately led to the collapse of the reserve currency of the world... if you put a 50% tariff on Indian goods, India will become closer to China & Russia"

Kate's key questions on that "hearing": Why are we HERE? Why is HE here? Why aren't THEY here?

Europeans should also have their eyes open about the dismantling of the EU and the rule of law in Europe. Less brazen and noisy than in Trump’s America, but equally dangerous. Maybe even more so, as it attracts less attention. Are we sleepwalking into disaster again?

Kudos to EU Executive VP @teresaribera.ec.europa.eu for standing up to Trump on Big Tech: EU must be prepared to walk away from trade deal if the US retaliates against our digital laws. “We cannot play with our values just to accommodate the concerns of others.” www.ft.com/content/010c...

i find this image so fascinating. it is both a literal example of authoritarianism but also a second-hand reproduction of the aesthetics of other authoritarian states. it's like a simulacra of authoritarianism whose purpose is to attempt to make the simulacra real.

The Trump regime is using Putin’s playbook for illegal annexation of Greenland, which is territory of the European Union. Next step: sending “Little Orange Men” to “protect” the astroturfed separatist “movement”.

Today of all days was great timing for me to address politicians from the Baltic Sea Region on how the Tr*mp regime is distorting our European digital laws. Based on their own behaviour Trump+Vance+Rubio don't care about actual free speech – just using it as propaganda in a geopolitical power grab.

To paraphrase Winston Churchill: “You are given the choice between dishonour and trade war. Chose dishonour, and you will have a trade war anyway.”

"many ... wrongly believe there would be one clear unambiguous moment where we go from 'democracy' to 'authoritarianism.' Instead, this is exactly how it happens — a blurring here, a norm destroyed there, a presidential diktat unchallenged. Then you wake up one morning and our country is different."

No one would be confused about what's happening if you saw it in another country. No one.

The law requires "verification for all users, not just those accessing age-restricted content." This is a bad time for people who need anonymity to be subjecting their online activities to scrutiny.

Have you noticed it's already half a year of "peace talks" where russia talks about anything but peace — while the killing has only intensified? That's all you need to know about "diplomatic means" to end this war.

Declaring a fake emergency as an excuse to deploy the military to police civilians is one of the most canonical examples of authoritarian takeovers. Overseas, people see clearly what Trump is doing. Here in America most people — especially those with power or influence — are in denial.

Important for Europe to recognise that the current strategy isn't working Months of private lobbying and glowing praise hasn't brought Trump on side. It took Putin only days to kill the prospect of US sanctions Let's not spend another six months wishing for an America that doesn't exist

🔥 "Trump’s incompetence on Russia is matched only by Europe’s incompetence on Trump." Fully agree, @berlinbridge.bsky.social berlinbridge.substack.com/p/europe-sto...

Europeans have come to detest immigrants and can no longer explain why in any rational fashion. Islamist terrorism has declined to nearly nothing. Crime is low. Immigrants have jobs and so do locals. Only remaining one is blaming them for the housing shortage which is gibberish

No shame. No future.

Incredible perversion of the purpose and the standing interpretation of the act

The world is watching. And so is Defend Democracy. #HandsOff #DefendDemocracy #PeopleVsBigTech

This is exactly the point. The Commission played its cards terribly but only because this is what members states pushed it to do, with neither demonstrating vision of a strong and united Europe and the courage to defend it

Would normally regard this as conflict of interest.

Found at Utrecht train station: a book from the radio host my grandfather listened to every Sunday at lunch time. I was too young to understand a thing, but “The State of the World” must have been my first encounter with geopolitics. It will always be linked to my grandmother’s tomato soup.

The US withdrawal from UNESCO, like the January withdrawal from WHO, will help China consolidate its hold over the language and practices of the UN system. I wrote about China's UN strategy back in 2020 www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...

Leading with hope, not fear 💚 #HoldTheLine

Here is #DefendDemocracy 's July newsletter! 📰 Read this edition: crm.defenddemocracy.eu/civicrm/?civ... ✏️ Sign up for future editions: defenddemocracy.eu/newsletters/ ✅ Join our democracy defenders & stay tuned!

Civilians cannot be targets. Never. The images from Gaza are unbearable. The EU reiterates its call for the free, safe and swift flow of humanitarian aid. And for the full respect of international and humanitarian law.

Looking forward to my last event before summer recess 😊 visegradinsight.eu/online-event...

There was a time when the US would stand tall in the defense of freedom and democracy. No more. We will now congratulate the winner but “avoid opining on the fairness or integrity of an electoral process, its legitimacy.” Putin will love it! www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Does the EU have the courage to take and enforce adequate structural measures to defend democracy against the weaponisation of digital platforms? @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu @hennavirkkunen.bsky.social @michaelmcgratheu.bsky.social

Digital engineering creates not just far-right voters; it manufactures far-right candidates. Does the EU have the courage to take and enforce adequate structural measures to defend democracy against the weaponisation of digital platforms? New analysis: defenddemocracy.eu/poland-2025-...

Justice is not optional – it's essential. On #InternationalJusticeDay, we recall @ECHR_CEDH’s recent ruling: Russia is responsible for widespread, flagrant human rights abuses in Ukraine since 2014. Peace begins with truth and accountability.

I've had this headline rattling around in my brain since January and I finally wrote it. Been hearing too many people in the startup world buying into the neoractionary nonsense that maybe a little light fascism is good for silicon valley. It's not. It's very, very bad.

11 years ago today, Russia murdered 298 people on flight MH17. 196 of them were my compatriots 😢 MH17 is Netherlands' 9/11. Putin blamed it on Ukraine & never showed regret. 11 years later, it remains our duty to seek justice & to stop Russian aggression. www.politico.eu/article/russ...