Joint statement of various stakeholders regarding the importance to uphold net neutrality in the ongoing negotiations about the Digital Networks Act. 

In response to our open letter to the eIDAS implementing acts from March 2026 the European Commission replied to us. We publish their letter and our response to it. 

Jury agreement and NDA with the German SPRIND about their relying party hackathon in 2026. Similar to previous agreement in 2024.

Stellungnahme zur Änderung (89/ME), Allgemeine Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetz, Verwaltungsstrafgesetz von epicenter.works

Open Letter to the European Commission from 10 Digital Rights and Consumer Organisations concerning privacy problems in the eIDAS Implementing Acts. 

Analysis of the 4th batch of eIDAS implementing acts based on the public consultation. 

The currents drafts fail to address critical outstanding privacy concerns in the EUDI Wallet and eIDAS ecosystem. In several respects, the situation would even deteriorate. For example, by introducing  sensitive biometrical information into the minimal data set, making the EUDI Wallet even less safe to use than it already is. We urge the Commission and Member States to change course and finally take privacy risks and the users’ interests into consideration.

Together with 28 civil society organisations including EDRi, noyb, Access Now and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, we are urging the EU Commission and Parliament to stop deregulating digital protections. Big Tech is using its power to dominate markets, undermine our rights and water down laws, dressed up as "competitiveness". We are urging strong enforcement of GDPR and DMA, real alternatives to Big Tech, and a robust Digital Fairness Act.

We have joined numerous civil society organisations and independent experts in signing an open letter calling for the protection of key transparency safeguards in the EU AI Act.

Input by epicenter.works on the Call for Input by BEREC for further guidance on 5G network slicing: www.berec.europa.eu/en/public-consultations-calls-for-inputs/call-for-input-for-further-guidance-on-5g-network-slicing . 

Today the EU Commission released the Digital Networks Act. We provide a first analysis of the official proposal with a focus on net neutrality and consumer protection. 

Read the blogpost for a summary. 

Der Untersuchungsausschuss ist eines der wichtigsten Instrumente einer funktionierenden Demokratie. Politische Vertreter:innen werden zur Verantwortung gezogen und Missstände wie Korruption und Machtmissbrauch können aufgedeckt werden. Trotz des enormen öffentlichen Interesses, gibt es für Bürger:innen und damit den (potentiellen) Wähler:innen der Politiker:innen, keine Möglichkeit sich unmittelbar selbst einen Eindruck von dem Geschehen zu verschaffen.

Wir fordern dieses Recht der Österreicher:innen jetzt mit einem Individualantrag vor dem Verfassungsgericht ein. Dies ist der zweite Versuch mittels einer Beschwerde an den Verfassungsgerichtshof das Ziel zu erreichen. Der erste Schriftsatz ist hier zu finden. 

Mit diesem Schreiben regen wir an zu prüfen, ob hinsichtlich der Datenverarbeitung „Worldcoin“/„World ID“ durch die World Network (Europe) GmbH, Mies-van-der-Rohe-Straße 6, 8080 München, Deutschland, die Voraussetzungen für den Erlass einstweiliger Maßnahmen im Sinne des Art. 66 Abs. 1 DSGVO vorliegen. 

Die folgende Analyse des aktualisierten Entwurfs der Regierung zur Umsetzung der NIS2-Richtlinie fokussiert auf die größten Kritikpunkte und gibt Empfehlungen für dringend notwendige Anpassungen.

Wir äußern uns kritisch in beiliegender Stellungnahme gegen die geplante Legalisierung von Videoüberwachung zur Verkehrsberuhigung in den Innenstädten Österreichs im Zuge der 36. StVO Novelle. 

127 civil society organisations and unions are urging the European Commission to halt its planned Digital Omnibus, warning that the proposals would weaken core EU laws like the GDPR and AI Act, and represent the biggest rollback of digital rights in EU history.

Submission in the Call for Evidence of the European Commission regarding the Digital Fairness Act. This initiative aims to tackle problematic practices such as: unfair commercial practices related to dark patterns, misleading marketing by influencers ,addictive design of digital products. Attached you can find the completed questionnaire, where we also explain why chat control is not an effective way to protect minors.

Unser jährlicher Transparenzbericht.

Alle jährlichen und monatlichen Transparenzberichte findet ihr hier.

Our annual transparency report.

Please find all annual and monthly transparency reports here.

Together with numerous organisations, we warn that the UN Convention Against Cybercrime (UNCC) poses serious risks to human rights across all borders. As some states head to Hanoi for the UNCC signing ceremony from October 25-26 2025, we urge them to refrain from signing and ratifying the treaty and to use the occasion to highlight the importance of safeguarding human rights when implementing this Convention.

We submitted in the call for evidence from the European Commission about the Digital Omnibus Package. 

Open Letter addressed to  Ms. Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President, Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy & the EU Heads of State and Government to keep AI Act Implementation on track and pass implementing legislation this year to ensure the protection of people’s rights in the EU.

Trotz wachsender Aufgaben wird die österreichische Datenschutzbehörde weiter kaputtgespart – epicenter.works und noyb ziehen deshalb mit einer Beschwerde vor die EU-Kommission.

Oxford-style Debatte zur These: „Kriminalität ist der Preis der Freiheit. Darknet, Überwachung und Anonymität“ mit dem Chef des Inlandsgeheimdienst, Professor für IT-Sicherheit, Vertreter der Staatsanwaltschaft und epicenter.works auf dem ISPA Summit 2025.

Stellungnahme von epicenter.works zur Novelle des Gesundheitstelematikgesetzes

Dieses Blankoformular soll es einfacher machen ein korrektes Auskunftsersuchen über die eigenen Daten zu stellen. Es basiert auf Artikel 15 der Datenschutz-Grundverordnung (DSGVO), welcher allen Menschen das Recht gibt einmal im Jahr gratis eine Auskunft über die zur eigenen Person gespeicherten Daten zu verlangen. Dieses Recht kann gegenüber staatlichen Stellen und privaten Unternehmen geltend gemacht werden. 

For the eIDAS ecosystem to be successful, it must offer added value for citizens/consumers, public administrations, and the economy.

To achieve this goal, political will must be accompanied by clear policy guidelines and close cooperation between all relevant stakeholders. Against this backdrop, we have, together with government, civil society, and industry, formulated five key demands that are essential for the success of the eIDAS ecosystem.

1. Increase digital literacy
2. Strengthen trust
3. Protect consumers
4. Leverage existing structures and make them more efficient
5. Promote use cases

Damit das eIDAS-Ökosystem erfolgreich wird, muss es einen Mehrwert für Bürger:innen/Verbraucher:innen, Verwaltung und die Wirtschaft bieten. 

Um dieses Ziel zu erreichen, braucht es neben dem politischen Willen klare politische Leitlinien und eine enge Verzahnung aller relevanten Akteure. Vor diesem Hintergrund haben wir gemeinsam mit Staat, Zivilgesellschaft und Wirtschaft fünf zentrale Forderungen formulieren, die essenziell für den Erfolg des eIDAS-Ökosystems sind.

1. Digitalkompetenz erhöhen
2. Vertrauen stärken
3. Verbraucher schützen
4. Bestehende Strukturen nutzen und effizienter gestalten
5. Anwendungsfälle fördern

Zum wiederholten Mal hat die Österreichische Liga für Menschenrechte im Rahmen des Universal Periodic Review (UPR) die Koordination einer gemeinschaftlichen Stellungnahme der österreichischen Zivilgesellschaft für den Menschenrechtsrat der Vereinten Nationen organisiert. Nach 5 Jahren muss sich Österreich 2025 erneut der universellen periodischen Überprüfung zur Lage der Menschenrechte im Land unterziehen. Dieses Mal ist der Bereich "Digital" neu dazugekommen, den wir bearbeitet haben. Wir fordern vom Staat unter anderem:

• Keine Legalisierung von Spionagesoftware für die Exekutive

• Richtlinienkonforme Umsetzung der NIS2-Richtlinie und verbesserte IT- Sicherheit

• Verbot der Gesichtserkennung im öffentlichen Raum im Zuge der Umsetzung des AI Acts der EU in Österreich

• Verbesserte Berücksichtigung der Menschenrechte im Zusammenhang mit der UN Cybercrime Convention

We submitted in the call for evidence from the European Commission about the upcoming Digital Networks Act. 

Please also find our submission to the questionnaire in the evaluation of the current regulatory landscape.

As the European Commission prepares an upcoming proposal for a Digital Networks Act (DNA), the 84 undersigned organisations and civil society groups wish to reaffirm their collective concern about the direction of ongoing discussions in the EU telecoms sector. 

Gemeinsam mit einem weltweiten Bündnis aus 50 NGOs aus 16 Ländern richten wir uns in einem offenen Brief direkt an die Nationalratsabgeordneten. Wir appellieren an ihr Gewissen, dem grundrechtsfeindlichen Entwurf zum Bundestrojaner nicht zuzustimmen. 

On behalf of the Spyware Coordination Group, a coalition of civil society and journalist organisations advocating for transparency, accountability, and the protection of fundamental rights in relation to spyware technologies, we call on European Union (EU) Institutions to take concrete action to respond to the growing threat posed by spyware, to enhance the security and resilience of our digital infrastructure and European cyberspace and address the proliferation of commercial spyware capabilities in the European Internal Market.

Open Letter of 47 Digital and Fundamental Rights Organizations: EU Commission needs to defend Fundamental Rights in Hungary and act against intrusive facial recognition systems intended to enact the ban of the Pride in Budapest.

Response to the Commission´s call for evidence for the revision of the Cybersecurity Act, intended to clarify the mandate of the EU Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) and improve the European Cybersecurity Certification Framework to achieve better resilience.

Submission to the European Commission's call for evidence on the re-introduction of mandatory and indiscriminate mass surveilance in the form of data retention of telecommunications data by service providers. 

The eIDAS transparency platform is intended to ensure that the EU's digital identity system (eIDAS) leaves no room for violations of fundamental rights, discrimination and manipulation. This is going to be made possible by creating transparency about which companies or institutions inquire about which information from users via the European Digital Identity Wallet.

Analysis of the 3rd batch of eIDAS implementing acts based on the public consultation.

We only have minor comments and recommendations for this batch focused on annual reporting of eIDAS supervisory authorities and peer review of electronic identification schemes.

Beschwerde an die Bundesnetzagentur wegen Verletzung der Netzneutralität durch die Deutsche Telekom. Ausgearbeitet durch die Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (vzbv), die Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte e. V. (GFF), Prof. Dr. Barbara van Schewick und epicenter.works. 

Hier findet sich der Annex zur Beschwerde. 

Annex zur Beschwerde an die Bundesnetzagentur gegen die Deutsche Telekom wegen Verletzung der Netzneutralität. 

Hier findet sich die Beschwerde.

Stellungnahme von epicenter.works zum Entwurf eines Bundesgesetzes  mit dem das Staatsschutz- und Nachrichtendienst-Gesetz, das Sicherheitspolizeigesetz, das Telekommunikationsgesetz 2021, das Bundesverwaltungsgerichtsgesetz und das Richter- und Staatsanwaltschaftsdienstgesetz geändert werden. 

This analysis and the proposed amendments are based on the second batch of implementing acts for the eIDAS regulation after their public consultation in the updated version.

We are extremely alarmed that the Commission has reversed course and made wallet relying party registration certificates optional again. This leaves users critically exposed and goes against the advice of the EDPS and 15 digital rights and consumer protection NGOs. Critically, the right to use pseudonyms is also unworkable in practice. We urge EU member states to vote against the current proposals in the Comitology meeting on 9 April 2025 and propose amendments to repair the drafts.

Oral intervention in the regional Preparatory Meeting Europe for the UN Crime Convention 2026 delivered by Tanja Fachathaler. 

Nach 155 Tagen der Verhandlungen wurde Anfang dieser Woche endlich die neue österreichische Regierung angelobt. Was die Vorhaben für Netzpolitik und digitale Grundrechte in den nächsten Jahren bedeute haben wir ausführlich analysiert, eingeordnet und anschaulich aufbereitet.

Sonntag Abend erhielten wir einen Leak des Verhandlungsprotokolls aus den laufenden Koalitionsvorgesprächen der FPÖ mit der ÖVP für die Bildung einer neuen Bundesregierung. Wir haben die wichtigsten netzpolitischen Punkte analysiert.

Zur Analyse

This analysis and the proposed amendments are based on the second batch of implementing acts for the eIDAS regulation after their public consultation in the updated version.

We welcome the decision of the Commission to make wallet relying party registration certificates mandatory.
However, we see significant omissions in the implementing act on relying party registration and a lack of clarity in the distinction between KYC and non-KYC use cases.
Moreover, we're alarmed about the blatant overreach in the implementing act on identity matching. The Commission proposal thus contradicts the eIDAS regulation and the agreement with the European Parliament.

To better understand these proposals, we refer to our consultation response for the previous version of the implementing acts in the second batch, the open letter about them signed by 15 digital rights and consumer protection organisations and our extensive work on this file over the past three years. 

Open Letter to the European Commission from 15 Digital Rights and Consumer Organisations concerning privacy and transparency problems in the eIDAS Implementing Acts. 

Read the Blogpost. 

Press Coverage in Politico (Brussels), MLEX (Brussels), Netzpolitik.org (Germany) and Tagesspiegel Background (Germany).

Together with 13 other civil society organiations, we urge the polish presidency of the Council of the EU to prioritise decisive action against the misuse of spyware technologies.

In a broad coalition representing civil society, business, academia, and technical organisations we are committed to preserving the open internet and a competitive telecoms market in Europe. Together, we encourage Executive Vice-President for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Henna Virkkunen to adopt an evidence-based approach to the announced Digital Networks Act (DNA) in an open letter.

Anlässlich der Koalitionsverhandlungen 2024 präsentieren wir ein Forderungspapier in dem wir die Parteien dazu auffordern unsere Privatsphäre zu verteidigen und keine Echtzeit-Überwachung durch KI im öffentlichen Raum zu zulassen. 

The High-Level Group on Access to Data for Effective Law Enforcement, also known as HLG Going Dark, presented its final report and recommendations for an agenda of maximal access to personal data. Their suggestions include new data retention rules across the EU and would mainstream backdoors in technologies and undermine encryption. The HLG's recommendations fail to do anything but foster dangerous policies that have been rejected by experts & courts before. We, a broad coalition of 55 civil society organisations, industry and professional associations, warn of these dangers and propose a better policy alternative in an open letter.

Anknüpfung an unseren ersten Brief an alle Parlamentsparteien vom 18. Oktober 2024 zu einem „Human Rights First“ - Ansatz, mit dem klaren Aufruf den Grund-, Freiheits- und Menschenrechte bei Gesetzesinitiativen vorrangig Bedeutung zu geben.

The proposed analysis and amendments are based on the second batch of implementing acts that are currently in public consultation. 

We are alarmed about the decision of the Commission to make wallet relying party registration certificates optional. Thereby, a core pillar of the safeguards regime of the eIDAS ecosystem is rendered meaningless. Furthermore, the relying party registry lacks important components to become a viable tool for independent academic and civil society oversight. Without further specifying the functionalities and data objects available to researchers, it would be hard to see this instrument being used in practice.

To better understand these proposals, we refer to our extensive, in-depth analysis of the five implementing acts, our reaction of the comitology meeting on 22 October and our previous work on this file over the past three years. 

Anlässlich der Koalitionsverhandlungen 2024 präsentieren wir ein Forderungspapier zu Freier Software im Bildungsbereich. Darin zeigen wir auf, wie Freie Software digitale Souveränität stärkt, Einsparungen für die öffentliche Hand ermöglicht und den Grundrechtsschutz fördert.

Anlässlich der Koalitionsverhandlungen zwischen ÖVP, SPÖ und NEOS veröffentlichen wir ein Forderugnspapier mit Maßnahmen rund um die umstrittene UN Cybercrime Convention. Der von Russland initierte internationale Vertrag wird im Dezember 2024 in der UN Generalversammlung zur Abstimmung gebracht und von Menschenrechtsorganisationen der ganzen Welt scharf kritisiert.

Anlässlich der Koalitionsverhandlungen 2024 äußern wir uns mit konkreten Vorschlägen für die Umsetzung der NIS2-Richtlinie der Europäischen Union in Österreich. Dieses Gesetz braucht einer 2/3 Mehrheit im Nationalrat und Österreich ist bereits säumig bei der Umsetzung der EU-Richtlinie. 

Anlässlich der Koalitionsverhandlungen 2024 äußern wir uns mit einem Forderungspapier zur Umsetzung des Rechts auf analoges Leben. Wir wollen damit einen konstruktiven Beitrag leisten für Maßnahmen gegen bestehende Diskriminierungen von älteren Menschen, Menschen mit Behinderung, niedrigem Einkommen oder wenig Affinität zu digitaler Technik. Das Dokument zeigt konkrete Reformschritte für die österreichische Rechtsordnung auf. 

Brief analysis of the relevant changes in the implementing acts on eIDAS Article 5a. 

The undersigned organizations and individuals representing civil society, academia, technical, and consumer organizations, wish to congratulate Henna Virkkunen on her nomination as Commissioner-designate for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy. With this letter we want to bring to her attention our concerns with ongoing efforts to undermine critical principles of net neutrality and to request that the European Commission refrain from intervening in the commercial dynamics of the Internet’s interconnection ecosystem.

The proposed amendments are based on the first batch of implementing acts in their updated version from 22. October 2024 and the second batch of non-paper drafts for Articles 5b, 5d, 5e, 11a, 45d, 45e and 45f. To better understand these proposals, we refer to our extensive, in-depth analysis of the five implementing acts, our reaction of the Comitology meeting on 22. October and our previous work on this file over the past three years.

Together with other organisations and individual experts, we urge all EU member states to
vote no when the draft UN Convention against Cybercrime comes to a vote at the General Assembly.

Grund-, Freiheits- und Menschenrechte müssen unabhängig von der politischen Ideologie die Grundpfeiler unserer modernen, österreichischen Gesellschaft sein. Gemeinsam mit der der Österreichischen Liga für Menschenrechte und 12 weiteren Organisationen stellen wir diese Forderungen in einem offenen Brief an die Vorsitzenden und Obleute aller österreichischen Parlamentsparteien.

The proposed amendments are based on the first batch of implementing acts in their updated version from 8. October 2024. To better understand these proposals, we refer to our extensive, in-depth analysis of the five implementing acts and our previous work on this file over the past three years.

In a civil society coalition we voice our deep concern about the worrying developments regarding the potential procurement of Spyware (in the case of Slovakia) and its use and regulation (in the case of Greece).

Our annual transparency report.

Please find all annual and monthly transparency reports here.

Unser jährlicher Transparenzbericht.

Alle jährlichen und monatlichen Transparenzberichte findet ihr hier.

The proposed amendments are based on the first batch of implementing acts from August 2024. To better understand these proposals, we refer to our extensive, in-depth analysis of the five implementing acts and our previous work on this file over the past three years.
 

Legal analysis by epicenter.works regarding draft of a federal law with which the State Protection and Intelligence Service Act (Staatsschutz- und Nachrichtendienstgesetz or „SNG“) is amended. The law aims to legalize government spyware in Austria. See https://bundestrojaner.at/

Stellungnahme zum Entwurf eines Bundesgesetzes, mit dem das Staatsschutz- und Nachrichtendienstgesetz geändert wird

This document is an analysis of the five draft implementing acts for the eIDAS European Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet from a human rights and data protection perspective. We are building on our extensive work on this dossier over the past three years and our most recent analysis of the ARF 1.4.

We found an alarming lack of important privacy safeguards in the implementing acts, despite such safeguards being required by the underlying eIDAS Regulation. It almost appears as if the implementing acts reflect the original proposal from the European Commission from June 2021, while turning a blind eye to safeguards added by the European Parliament and Council. 

Auf klimabonus.gv.at gab es eine kritische Sicherheitslücke. Wir haben das Klimaministerium nach der Meldung an uns umgehend kontaktiert, ausdrückliche Empfehlungen für das weitere Vorgehen ausgesprochen und einen Katalog mit noch zu klärenden Fragen zusammengestellt.

ZUM BLGOPOST

We stand united with 31 other civil society organisations as well as journalists' organisations in demanding immediate action to respect and protect the rights of all individuals in the EU from the pervasive threat of spyware. We want to shed a light on the threats that spyware poses on democratic values, public debate and healthy civic spaces. The level of intrusiveness of modern spyware tools further undermines the fundamental right to privacy and data protection, which makes them illegal under Union law.

Together with other civil society organisations, industry and the technical community we urge governments not to adopt or ratify the UN’s first landmark Cybercrime Convention unless substantial changes are made to address the serious and broad-based concerns in the final draft.

Feedback by epicenter.works  on BEREC’s draft report regarding the IP interconnection ecosystem

Stellungnahme im Rahmen des Begutachtungsverfahrens zur Novelle des Strafprozessänderungsgesetz 2024 (Handysicherstellung).

Der Untersuchungsausschuss ist eines der wichtigsten Instrumente einer funktionierenden Demokratie. Politische Vertreter:innen werden zur Verantwortung gezogen und Missstände wie Korruption und Machtmissbrauch können aufgedeckt werden. Trotz des enormen öffentlichen Interesses, gibt es für Bürger:innen und damit den (potentiellen) Wähler:innen der Politiker:innen, keine Möglichkeit sich unmittelbar selbst einen Eindruck von dem Geschehen zu verschaffen.

Wir fordern dieses Recht der Österreicher:innen jetzt mit einem Individualantrag vor dem Verfassungsgericht ein. Hier ist der neue Schriftsatz aus 2026.

In a joint open letter we urgently want to draw attention to the persistent critical flaws in the latest draft of the UN cybercrime convention and urge member states not to sign the convention in it's current form.

Together with 47 civil society organisations, we sent a joint statement to the Hungarian Council Presidency and a number of member state permanent representatives. We call on the Council and European Parliament to demand that the European Commission withdraw the draft CSA Regulation. Instead, EU member states should invest in prevention and support for victims and survivors.

Epicenter.works provides feedback on the White Paper ‘How to MasterEurope’s Digital Infrastructure Needs?’ published on 21 February.

Wir haben es in der Hand! Jeden Tag erkennen mehr Menschen, wie wichtig Digitalpolitik für ihr Leben ist – für ihre Kinder, für den Rechtsstaat. Je mehr Menschen mithelfen, gute Lösungen zu finden, desto besser. Thomas Lohninger am Internet Governance Forum Austria.

27.06.2024

Stellungnahme aus datenschutzrechtlicher Sicht im Rahmen des Begutachtungsprozesses zum Ministerialentwurf betreffend Bundesgesetz, mit dem das Schulorganisationsgesetz, das Schulunterrichtsgesetz, das Schulunterrichtsgesetz für Berufstätige, Kollegs und Vorbereitungslehrgänge, das Bildungsdokumentationsgesetz 2020 und das Schulpflichtgesetz 1985 geändert werden.

Data Protection Analysis of the technical implementation of the European Digital Identity Wallet according to the eIDAS regulation. Submitted to the official repository of the European Commission.

Our fundraising policy adopted by the General Assembly 20. June 2024. 

Unsere Fundraising Policy, beschlossen auf der Generalversammlung vom 20. Juni 2024.

Statt uns mit einer unabhängigen Cybersicherheitsbehörde zu schützen, schafft das neue IT-Sicherheitsgesetz mehr Überwachungsbefugnisse für den Innenminister. Wir waren heute beim Hearing im Innenausschuss, damit der Schutz unseres digitalen Lebens nicht zum Vorwand für anlasslose Massenüberwachung wird.

Stellungnahme im Rahmen des Begutachtungsverfahrens zur Novelle des Sicherheitspolizeigesetzes.

The European Commission has asked us to join the Ad-Hoc Technical Advisory Group for the implementation of the eIDAS Wallet. We have accpeted this invitation and had to sign the attached NDA. We publish all NDAs we sign for transparency reasons.

Im Begutachtungsverfahren zur Verbandsklagen-Richtlinie-Umsetzungs-Novelle (VRUN) geben wir folgende Stellungnahme ab. Rechtsunsicherheiten und Probleme für die praktische Umsetzung sollten noch dringend im Gesetzgebungsverfahren behoben werden.

Stellungnahme von epicenter.works im Begutachtungsverfahren zur Datenschutznovelle anlässlich der Neuregelung des Medienprivilegs.

Die deutsche Bundesregierung beauftragte die SPRIN-D Agentur zur Umsetzung von Prototpyen für die eIDAS Wallet. Dabei sollen open-source Prototypen ausgewählt und finanziert werden. Die Entscheidung über eingereichte Projekte erfolgt mittels einer Jury, in die epicenter.works berufen wurde. Beiliegende Juryvereinbarung inklusive Verschwiegenheitserklärung wurde deshalb von uns unterzeichnet und wird von uns aus Transparenzgründen veröffentlicht.

Joint reaction of Civil Society, Consumer Groups and Industry Associations to the Commission White Paper on the Future of the EU Telecom Market ahead of the next Telecom Council meeting.

The fundamental rights NGO epicenter.works reported a critical security vulnerability in the Epidemiological Reporting System (EMS) and was prosecuted for it. The case shows what is fundamentally wrong with IT security in Austria. The entire analysis, as well as a timeline and our letter to the Austrian Minister of Health:

Die Grundrechts-NGO epicenter.works hat eine kritische Sicherheitslücke im Epidemiologischen Meldesystem (EMS) gemeldet und wurde dafür strafrechtlich verfolgt. Der Fall zeigt, was beim Umgang mit IT-Sicherheit in Österreich fundamental falsch läuft. Die gesamte Analyse, sowie eine Zeitleiste und unseren Brief an den österreichischen Gesundheitsminister:

Stellungnahme von epicenter.works zum Ministerialentwurf betreffend dem Erlass eines Bundesgesetzes zur Gewährung eines hohen Cybersicherheitsniveaus von Netz-und Informationssicherheitssystemen.

Delivered by Sebastian Kneidinger on the 24th of April 2024 to the UN.

The current EU Council version of the Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) Regulation still includes mass surveillance and serious threats to encryption.  The fundamental flaws of the Commission ’s draft law and previous Council texts remain. We call on EU Member States not to agree to this dangerous EU Council position.

161 Civil Society Organisations call on MEPs to vote down the harmful EU Migration Pact.

READ THE STATEMENT

Together with 84 Civil Society Organisations we call on MEPs to uphold fundamental rights and reject the harmful Schengen Borders Code Recast.

We provide feedback to the ongoing negotiations of the Global Digital Compact of the United Nations.

Oral intervention delivered by Sebastian Kneidinger in the second Informal Consultation of the United Nations on a Global Digital Compact (GDC) – 1st of March 2024.

Open letter to the negotiators of the Single Currency Package that asks them to split the negotiations between the Right to Cash and the Digital Euro.

This report analyses the human safeguards developed for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) systems in EU law. We detail mechanisms that aim to foster trust and inclusion in these systems and provide for state of the art privacy-by-design. Nine key recommendations to mitigate concrete harm are exemplified in their effect and detailed with legal text:

1. Every citizen or resident of a country has a right to obtain digital identity free of charge. Use of the DPI is voluntary and horizontal obligations protect persons that are not using the system from being excluded, denied goods or services or disadvantaged in the private or public sector.

2. A user interacting on a DPI system always knows the identity of the other party before personal information is exchanged. Who is asking makes a difference. Any information category asked from a user must be in a public registry of all DPI use cases. Users can file complaints and companies can be excluded from the DPI ecosystem.

3. No personal information is shared without the users consent. A user can choose to comply with a request for information fully, not at all or partially by only selectively disclosing parts of the information they have been asked for.

4. A privacy-by-design architecture prevents the operating authority of the DPI to obtain information about concrete user behaviour, without that users consent. Daily interactions on the DPI are invisible for the government and connected companies.

5. A user interacting via the DPI with other parties is protected from tracking and profiling by privacy-enhancing technologies like pairwise-pseudonymous identifiers, zero-knoweldge proofs and unlinkability. A user cannot be identified with just one unique and persistent identifier.

6. Users have a right to use freely chosen Pseudonyms not linked to their real identity whenever there is no legal obligation that they have to identify themselves.

7. All DPI components must at be available open source for public scrutiny. Tax-payer funded DPI must be available under a free software licence.

8. A full list of transactions has to be available to the user of the DPI. This includes the identity of all parties the user interacted with, any information shared and means to request deletion.

9. Biometric authentication shall not be a precondition for using DPI. There must be a way to obtain a digital identity and use DPI without handing over biometrical information. Storage of biometrical information on a central server requires prior explicit consent from the user. Biometrical information has to be specially protected.

The 17 consumer protection, academic and civil society organizations want to highlight the need for open and meaningful connectivity for everyone and the systemic problems caused by the wide-spread proliferation of zero-rating all around the world.

This statement also references the important case in front of the Constitutional Court of Colombia.

Civil society coalition urges EU Member States and the European Parliament to put the interests of patients and EU citizens at the heart of the European Health Data Space (EHDS).

In an open letter from noyb, signed by multiple organisations, we urge the EDPB and all SAs to firmly oppose 'pay or okay' to prevent creating a substantial loophole in the GDPR. The EDPBs opinion will shape the future of data protection and the internet for years to come. It is of utmost importance that the opinion truly ensures data subjects a 'genuine and free choice' regarding the processing of their personal data.

Stellungnahme anlässlich des Runden Tischs am 16.02. im BMK zur geplanten Innenstadtüberwachung.

Together with other organisations and trade unions, representing patients, medical professionals, persons with disabilities, consumer and digital rights, we urge the Council of the EU to uphold European patients’ fundamental rights and agree on the right for opting out of the primary and, in particular, secondary use of medical records in the European Helath Data Space for all people in the EU.

Organisations - spanning civil society, industry, and the technical community - urge governments to consider withholding support for the treaty of the UN-Cybercrime Convention in its current incarnation. If adopted without major changes the risks of this treaty far outweigh its potential benefits.

UN Cybercrime Convention, Concluding Session – 29 January to 9 February 2024, New York
Intervention delivered by Tanja Fachathaler on behalf of Eticas Foundation.

Intervention held 05 February, morning meeting

More Information

This is an analysis from a citizens and human rights perspective of the draft report of the rapporteur Stefan Berger and the other amendments tabled on the proposal for a Regulation on the legal tender of euro banknotes and coins (2023/0208(COD)) in the lead Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON).

Recent developments have raised serious questions about the impartiality and commitment to the interests of European citizens of European Commissioner Thierry Breton. Therefore, we expressed our deep concerns regarding his potential industry capture in a recent open letter to all Members of the European Parliament and physically delivered it ourself.

WATCH THE VIDEO  DOWNLOAD THE POSTCARD

Over 100 organisations and individual experts from all around the world call on the state delegations participating in the concluding session of the United Nations (UN) Ad Hoc Committee to ensure that the proposed Cybercrime Convention is narrowly focused on tackling cybercrime, and not used as a tool to undermine human rights.

Im Vorfeld der Beschlussfassung des Informationsfreiheitsgesetzes in Österreich veranstalteten epicenter.works, das Forum Informationsfreiheit und der Verein Saubere Hände ein Pressegespräch.

Wir waren am 15. Jänner 2024 im Hearing des Verfassungsausschuss anlässlich der Beratungen zum neuen Informationsfreiheitsgesetz. Hier ist die Rede unseres Geschäftsführers, die auch online zu finden ist. Der gesamte Ausschuss wurde vom Parlament live übertragen.

Slides of the 37c3 talks on digital identity and our DearMEP tool. The digital identity talk was recorded and can be watched online.

Together with an international group of organisations and experts, we urge the Indian Department of Telecommunications to withdraw the Telecommunications Bill, 2023, and protect fundamental rights.

READ THE LETTER

EU lawmakers are being pressured by governments and security industry lobbyists to trade away our fundamental rights and freedoms. As the supposedly final negotiation on the EU’s landmark Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act drags on, together with 69 civil society organisations we call on lawmakers to unequivocally reject attempts to legalise dangerous and discriminatory police AI.

Civil society calls for an end to the expansion of EURODAC, the EU database for the registration of asylum-seekers. EURODAC, designed to collect and store migrants’ data, is being transformed into an expansive, violent surveillance tool that will treat people seeking protection as crime suspects. This will include children as young as 6 whose fingerprints and facial images will be integrated into the database.

Stellungnahme im Rahmen des Begutachtungsverfahren zum DSA Begleitgesetz mit dem der Digital Service Act der EU in Österreich umgesetzt und das Kommunikationsplatformen Gesetz(KoPlG) ersetzt wird.

Open Letter signed by over 500 academics and 40 NGOs from over 30 countries. The letter raises problems with the current draft and outlines safeguards to address them. It is addressed to the negotiators at the European Parliament and the current Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
A potentially updated version of the letter can be accessed via eidas-open-letter.org

There have been various improvements in the proposal for a European eID regulation (eIDAS) so far. However, civil society organisations still have concerns relating to Qualified Web Authentication Certificates (QWACs) in the eIDAS proposals. As far as these certificates are concerned, the proposal remains ambiguous, and risks undermining trust in browsers as a globally deployed element of the Internet ecosystem.

Find here our recommendations.

Ahead of the discussion on the future of telecommunications at the Informal Telecommunications Council on 23-24 October, the undersigned civil society, consumer protection and industry organisations wish to reaffirm their collective concern about the direction of ongoing discussions in the EU telecoms sector. In particular, we are concerned about any potential follow-up to continued calls by large telecom companies to reduce competition and introduce regulation imposing payment or negotiation obligations from content and application providers (CAPs) to telcos.

Civil society open letter to Commissioner Breton regarding the misuse of his DSA enforcement powers.

Unsere Stellungnahme zu den vorgesehenen Änderungen in der Telekommunikationsgebührenverordnung. Diese bedarf v.a. Konkretisierungen beim Begriff der „Funkanwendungen“. Außerdem sollte bei der Gebührengestaltung eine Ausnahme für Non-profit-Organisationen, Private und die Forschung vorgesehen werden und diese damit klar von kommerziellen Zwecken abgegrenzt werden.

We provide a scraped version of the consultation responses on network fees. Although the Commission delayed the publication of these responses for nearly five months, it was unable to publish a simple Excel/LibreOffice file. A server error prevented stakeholders from downloading these files from the Commission website. We can help and release here all 1562 submissions into the public record.

Together with 23 other civil society organisations, we express our grave concern about a global

policy trend to introduce a mechanism of direct payments (“network contribution”, “network fee”,

“fair share”) from content and application providers (CAPS) to telecommunication operators from

around the world.

Lawmakers are increasingly turning to age verification as a way to tackle online harms and

illegal activities, for example in the draft EU Child Sexual Abuse Regulation. But whilst the EU

age verification industry alone is reaching a value of several billion euros, there is a lack of

evidence that age verification measures improve the safety of children online.

On the other hand age verification threatens the privacy, data protection and free expression rights of children and adults alike. This can erode democratic freedoms that rely on anonymity online (e.g. journalism), violate children’s autonomy,

and disempower parents and guardians.

This paper represents the joint position of 20 civil society organisations.

We want to thank BEREC for investigating the inter-connection situation in Europe and to invite us to this workshop. The following written submission provides background and sources to our oral testimony. In the hearing we have the mandate to represent our umbrella organisation European Digital Rights (EDRi), but due to time constraints this paper is in the name of Epicenter.works only.

In the following section we will answer the BEREC questionnaire for civil society stakeholders.

We join over 60 human rights organisations to call on European lawmakers to ensure that the Artificial Intelligence Act is fully coherent with rule of law standards, including transparency, accountability, and access to justice.

Polizei und Migrationsbehörden setzen KI zunehmend für schädliche und diskriminierende Überwachung ein. Gemeinsam mit 114 zivilgesellschaftlichen Organisationen fordern wir die EU-Gesetzgeber auf, solche Anwendungen zu regulieren und die Grundrechte im AI-Act zu wahren. Denn der Einsatz solcher Technologien für die Polizeiarbeit und die Migrationskontrolle ist gefährlich für unsere Grundrechte, erhöht den Schaden für bereits diskriminierte Gruppen, ist invasiv und normalisiert Massenüberwachung.

The European Parliament is just about to vote on the draft report of the European Media Freedom Act. With this vote it has the unique opportunity to protect public access to independent, trustworthy reporting. To do so it must ban the use of spyware against journalists without exceptions. In this statement, together with 79 other organisations, we urge the Parliament to protect freedom of expression & core democratic values.

120 civil society organisations and 60 individual experts from around the world demand the immediate stop of facial recognition surveillance due to its wide-ranging dangers.

This policy paper analyses the legislative proposal from the European Commission on the establishment of a digital euro and the accompanying proposal on the legal tender of euro banknotes and coins, which were both released on 6th June 2023. Our analysis will focus on the fundamental rights aspects relevant to this legislation, its effect on citizens and a particular focus will be given to the privacy implications of each proposal.

We welcome the Right to Cash proposal and see it as a necessary step to tackle severe problems for financial privacy, financial literacy and the stability of the Eurozone. We support the proposal on the establishment of a digital euro as a much needed alternative to privacy invasive private digital means of payment, but only under the following three conditions:

• Firstly, that it brings a level of privacy as close as possible to cash payments, which has to be significantly better than current digital payment systems, also with regards to user privacy towards the ECB and payment service providers.
• Secondly, that this proposal does not undermine the stability of the Eurozone, in particular that (offline) payments in digital euro are protected from double spending.
• Thirdly, that it is built as a digital public infrastructure based on Free and Open Source Software, and open, inclusive and transparent standards and development processes.

Under these premises, this paper outlines risks we identified and proposes solutions where possible.

We were invited to an expert round table on the digital euro to the European Greens/EFA party in the European Parliament. These are the slides from our introductory presentation.

Police & migration authorities are increasingly using AI for harmful & discriminatory surveillance. Together with 114 civil society organisations, we are calling on EU lawmakers to regulate such uses & uphold fundamental rights in the AI-Act.

The use of such tech for policing and migration control is dangerous for our fundamental rights, increases harms against already discriminated groups, is invasive and normalises mass surveillance.

We urge EU lawmakers to ensure that the AI-Act prevents harms by including bans on unacceptably risky AI use, public transparency for police use of high-risk AI and regulation of AI use in policing, migration & national security that pose risk to human rights.

Together with over 80 human rights organisations we urge EU governments to say NO to the Child Sexual Abuse Regulation proposal until it fully protects online rights, freedoms & security.

The EU Commission has been exerting excessive pressure on EU States to adopt a technically dangerous position. Given the seriousness of the law & widespread criticism of the Commission's proposal, the Council of the EU cannot rush to make a hasty decision.

We outline the most important changes from a citizen and data protection perspective. Other crucial issues remain open in trilogue and can be found in our open letter to the negotiators from 4. September.

We can expect major decisions in the next negotiation session on 15 September 2023.

Our annual transparency report.

Please find all annual and monthly transparency reports here.

This paper explains the concept behind the DearMEP software. The online campaigning tool aims to make it easier for NGOs to connect citizens in their constituency to Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). It's a white-label, privacy-by-design, free software solution that can be adopted by other NGOs for their own issues, as long as they are voted in the plenary of the European Parliament.

On 4. September 2023 we sent this open letter to the negotiators of the digital identity reform of the EU (eIDAS) raising alarm about dangerous proposals put forward by the European Commission. In the current trajectory the European Digital Identity Wallet is not safe to use and we would caution citizens to refrain from it.

UN Cybercrime Convention, Sixth Session – 21 August to 1 September 2023, New York

Intervention delivered by Tanja Fachathaler on behalf of Eticas Foundation.

Gropus 11-15 of the Zero Draft, covering in particular Group 11 (mutual legal assistance), Articles 17, 29, 30, 40, 45 and 46.

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Intervention held 29 August, afternoon meeting

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UN Cybercrime Convention, Sixth Session – 21 August to 1 September 2023, New York

Intervention delivered by Tanja Fachathaler on behalf of Eticas Foundation:

Gropus 6-10 of the Zero Draft, covering in particular: criminalisation, cyber-dependent crimes (Group 9) and protection of personal data (Group 10).

Intervention held 25 August, afternoon meeting

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epicenter.works joins 55 other civil society organisations to call on the European Commission to effectively and meaningfully enforce the new Digital Services Act. This is a crucial step to protect democracy ahead of upcoming national and European elections.

Under this groundbreaking new regulation, the Commission can require companies to publish detailed plans of how they will deal with disinformation and other risks during 2024 elections. We urge the Commission to use this crucial opportunity to lead the way globally in demonstrating that platforms can bring their operations in line with democracy and human rights.

From August 25th 2023 Europe’s new Digital Services Act (DSA) rules kick in for the world’s largest digital platforms. For “Very Large Online Platforms” (VLOPs) and “Very Large Online Search Engines” (VLOSEs) there will be many new requirements. Among others: the responsibility to assess and mitigate against “systemic risks” in the design and implementation of their products and services. One of the major areas where platform design decisions contribute to “systemic risks” is through their recommender systems.

epicenter.works supports this briefing for the European Commission including a framework to tackle toxic recommender systems. This is to ensure that the Commission’s risk assessments are as robust and meaningful as possible. Safeguarding the democratic debate is crucial – especially before major European elections.

UN Cybercrime Convention, Sixth Session – 21 August to 1 September 2023, New York

Intervention delivered by Tanja Fachathaler on behalf of Eticas Foundation:

Gropus 1-5 of the Zero Draft: Article 5 (General Provisions on Human Rights) and Article 24 (Conditions and Safeguards)

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Intervention held 22 August, afternoon meeting

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Together with the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law we have sent this open letter to digital state secretary Florian Tursky on the ongoing negotiations on the AI Act on EU level and on the national AI strategy. In this letter we want to caution against the overly broad national security exception in the current draft, which risks removing the most troublesome AI systems out of the scope of the proposed legislation.

The Telecom Regulatory Authoritiy of India (TRAI) launched a consultation on net neutrality issues on July 7. Our submission in this consultation is based on our previous work on this issue.

Submission to the consultation on network fees by the Brazilian telecom regulator Anatel. Paper is supported by our portuguese sister organisation D3.

Statement from 67 NGOs to Digital Commissioner Breton on his recent alarming statements around blocking of social media platforms.

Over 150 civil society organisations demand that EU lawmakers put people first and ensure our fundamental rights in the AI Act.

Over 80 international civil society organisations, academics & IT experts warn the UK government about the threat that the Online Safety Bill poses to the security & privacy of billions of people who use apps like WhatsApp & Signal.

In an open letter with 26 other civil society organisations we demand that EU Lawmakers uphold human rights to privacy and free expression regarding the Regulation of Political Advertising.

Mandatory disclosure of unmitigated vulnerabilities undermines the security of digital products and the individuals who use them. Sadly, this is in the proposal of the EU Cyber Resilience Act. Together with 10 digital rights NGOs we highlight the problem with this open letter.

Together with 24 NGOS, academics and research institutions from all over the world we urge EU policy makers to reconsider the current trajectory of the reform of the eIDAS regulation.

The current trilogue negotiations on the new European digital ID have distinguished poorly between legitimate use cases and fraudulent or abusive scenarios. The regulation also lacks redress for national eIDAS authorities to act against bad actors and expel them from the eIDAS ecosystem. Privacy-respecting functions are not given preference over intrusive functions of the Wallet.

Policy makers can still get it right. However, the new digital identity wallet can only safely serve citizens if the regulation includes the proper safeguards.

Over 110 European civil society organisations signed a letter initiated by Civil Society Europe and Social Platform and addressed to Commissioners Hahn & Jourová on the decision to remove the contact details of all officials below Head of Unit level from the ‘Whoiswho’ directory. This is a step back for institutional transparency.

Durch zusätzliche Kompetenzmessung besteht die Gefahr einer missbräuchlichen Verarbeitung von Daten. Ergänzende Kompetenzerhebungen und „überfachliche Kompetenzen“ – was genau ist das und wieso sollen sozio-ökonomische Aspekte bei der Kompetenzerhebung mit Daten von Schüler:innen verknüpft werden? Auch eine Datenschutzfolgeabschätzung fehlt derzeit noch.

Wir reichen eine Stellungnahme ein.

The European Cyber Resilience Act has the potential to strengthen cybersecurity rules and to ensure more secure hardware and software products. To do so, however, the EU co-legislators have to effectively address the serious shortcomings of the EU Commission’s proposal.

Position paper by EDRi, epicenter.works, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Free Software, Foundation Europe, Privacy International and Vrijschrift.org.

Auch bei Verhandlungen über (Video-) Konferenz-Syteme müssen Grundrechte und Datenschutz voll gewährleistet bleiben. Wir reichen eine Stellungnahme zu Änderungen des Allgemeinen Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetzes u.a. ein.

In einem von Desinformation geprägten Zeitalter ist der leichte Zugang zu verlässlichen, unabhängigen Quellen ein wichtiger Anker. Hier spielen die öffentlich-rechtlichen Medien eine zentrale Rolle. Wir haben deshalb zur Novelle des ORF-Gesetzes mit Wikimedia Österreich eine Stellungnahme eingereicht, in der wir uns u.a. für eine unabhängige Finanzierung und eine unbefristete Verfügbarkeit der Inhalte stark machen.

Der EuGH hat zwar schon 2022 unsere Bedenken zur Fluggastdatenspeicherung bestätigt, aber wesentliche Fragen unbeantwortet gelassen. Wir haben eine Stellungnahme an das österreichische Bundesverwaltungsgericht eingereicht. Darin machen wir deutlich, warum wir die europäische PNR-Richtlinie als ungültig erachten und äußern unsere Bedenken zur Verfassungsmäßigkeit des österreichischen PNR-Gesetzes.

Stellungnahme von epicenter.works zur Novelle des Gesundheitstelematikgesetzes.

Positiv möchte wir eine umfassende Datenschutzfolgenabschätzung und die Einarbeitung vorheriger Kritik der DSB hervorheben. Problematisch sehen wir trotzdem die unklare datenschutzrechtliche Rollenverteilung und die unzureichenden Ausführungen zum Ausschluss von Betroffenenrechten.

Auch bezüglich der neu geschaffenen eHealth-Servicestelle bedarf es dringend Verbesserung, vor allem vor dem Hintergrund der Sensibilität der Daten, mit der sich diese Stelle befassen wird.

Epicenter.works ersucht die Datenschutzbehörde um Prüfung der vier aufgeworfenen Fragen aufgrund des dargestellten Sachverhalts und der rechtlichen Bewertung.

Stellungnahme von epicenter.works zum COVID-19-Überführungs-Gesetz. Leider fehlt im Gesetz eine Datenschutzfolgenabschätzung. Stattdessen gibt es vage Formulierungen. Der Schutz von sensiblen Gesundheitsdaten der Bevölkerung geht anders.

Offener Brief: Epicenter.works und acht weitere Organisation fordern Reform des Bestellverfahrens der Volksanwaltschaft

Anlässlich der Bestellung der Nachfolge von Volksanwalt Werner Amon, kritisieren Epicenter.works und acht weitere unterzeichnende Organisationen in einem offenen Brief den parteipolitischen Bestellmodus der Volksanwaltschaft. Die Organisationen fordern, das Auswahl- und Ernennungsverfahren zu überprüfen und zu reformieren und die Zivilgesellschaft eizubeziehen.

Österreich soll einen elektronischen Eltern-Kind-Pass bekommen (eEKP). Wir reichen eine Stellungnahme ein.

In unserer Analyse haben wir leider einige Mängel aus datenschutzrechtlicher Sicht festgestellt und einen eher sorglosen Umgang, wenn es um Gesetze bezüglich Gesundheitsdaten geht. Eine Datenschutzfolgenabschätzung wurde etwa ganz unterlassen. Nähere Ausgestaltungen wurden in diversen Bereichen einfach Verordnungen vorbehalten.

A very broad coalition of stakeholders has come together to publicly warn against introducing network fees via a joint statement. This includes many industries and sectors, consumers and civil society and a very broad alliance. For your background, you can find the latest version attached. It is accompanied by a supporting statement signed by a few MEPs, which you can also find attached.

This is an unprecedented alliance of stakeholders all united against one principle: introducing a mandatory network fee, or “fair share” contribution. This is clearly not just about big tech and big telcos. European SMEs, the creative industry, civil society and consumers all believe that there is no proof that there is a market failure to be addressed, and the solution proposed by large telecom providers would pose serious threats to competition, consumers’ freedom of choice, and the internet ecosystem as a whole. In light of this and many other concerns, the European Commission should launch a thorough and comprehensive impact assessment and evidence gathering exercise before jumping to hasty conclusions.

Österreich braucht dringend eine Meldestelle für Opfer von Verdachtsfällen von Polizeigewalt.

Stellungnahme von epicenter.works zum Ministerialentwurf vom 13.03.2023, mit dem eine „Ermittlungs- und Beschwerdestelle Misshandlungsvorwürfe“ geschaffen werden soll.

Die Analyse verdeutlicht leider, dass dieser den Forderungen der Zivilgesellschaft aus dem Jahr 2020 nicht nachkommt. Wir zeigen auf, was verbessert werden muss.

The UN Cybercrime Convention negotiations are coming closer to a final document. Together with 13 representatives of NGOs and experts in human rights, Thomas Lohninger and Tanja Fachathaler express the need for crucial changes in order for the convention to protect human rights and keep everyone safe. They therefore submit their recommendations on the chapter of international cooperation in the UN Cybercrime Treaty.

Eticas Foundation’s Oral Intervention on Chapter IX, Preamble

Delivered By Tanja Fachathaler on behalf of Eticas Foundation

Fifth Session - 11 to 21 April 2023

Intervention held April 20th between 13:00 and 13:30 PM

More Information: media.un.org/en/asset/k17/k17ybn9cjl

Stellungnahme zu Verschärfungen - Cyberkriminalität Begutachtungsverfahren zum Ministerialentwurf betreffend Strafgesetzbuch und Bundesgesetz gegen den unlauteren Wettbewerb

1984 – UWG, Änderung (Geschäftszahl: 253/ME)

Autor:innen der Stellungnahme für epicenter.works: Thomas Lohninger, Dominik Polakovics, Walter Hötzendorfer, Tanja Fachathaler

Veröffentlicht & eingereicht am 19.04.2023

Eticas Foundation’s Oral Intervention on Chapter V, Technical assistance

Delivered By Tanja Fachathaler on behalf of Eticas Foundation

Fifth Session - 11 to 21 April 2023

Intervention held April 18th between 16:15 and 17:00 PM

More Information: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k14/k14p680opo

Civil Society Response to the EU Commission's Exploratory Consultation on Network Fee's (aka Fair Share, Sending Party Pays).

Documents attached include a simplified guide to undertand this submission, as well as the verbose response from the EUSurvey tool. If you want to submit yourself to this consultation, the first document is more helpful.

Speech in response to the keynote of Executive Vice President of the European Commission Margrethe Vestager at the 20th anniversary of European Digital Rights (EDRi).

Check against delivery. 

Brussels, 21 March 2023

Public comments of epicenter.works about the current draft proposals for the reform of the eIDAS Regulation (Digital Identity, Electronic Identity, European Digital Identity Wallet). This policy brief analyses the first reading Position of the European Parliament and contrasts it with the Commission proposal and Council General Approach. We highlight the most important safeguards from a fundamental rights and data protection perspective.

We already provided analyses of the Council General Approach, the ITRE compromise amendments, the Architecture Reference Framework of the eIDAS expert working group and the original Commission proposal. In an open letter 39 civil society organisations, academics and independent experts from all around the world have called on the European Parliament to ensure the eIDAS reform respects fundamental rights and creates a trusted environment for user data.

Analysis of the first version of the architecture for the technical implementation of the eIDAS 2.0 European Digital Identity Wallet.

39 civil society organisations, academics and independent experts from all around the world send this letter to the lead negotiators and Presidents of the European Parliament to raise their concerns about the reform of the eIDAS regulation. 

These are the oral statements provided by Policy Advisor Tanja Fachathaler on behalf of Eticas Foundation in the plenary (and in informal groups) of the UN during the 4th session of the Ad Hoc Committee on the new Cybercrime Convention.

11.01.2023: Plenary statement on the procedural and law enforcement chapter of the draft UN Cybercrime Convention:

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13.01.2023: Plenary statement on criminalisation and the scope of the draft UN Cybercrime Convention:

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89 NGOs from more than 45 countries raise their voices in this civil society letter for a UN Cybercrime Treaty that strengthens human rights instead of undermining them.

15 NGOs issue this open letter to defend Net Neutrality from the European Commission plans to establish network fees.

We were invited as international experts to give testimony in front of the Constitutional Court of Colombia on a case about the constitutionality of zero-rating. The hearing is scheduled for the 18. November 2022. This is the presentation for the hearing and subsequently the written submission to the court.

Net Neutrality: Myths from the Telecom Industry and Responses from Civil Society.

A Guide to the Debate about Network Access Fees aka. “Fair Share”.

Netzneutralität: Mythen der Telekomindustrie und Antworten der Zivilgesellschaft.

Ein Guide zur Debatte über Netzgebühren aka. „Fair Share“.

Offener Brief an die deutsche Bundesregierung.

This binding resoltuion was adopted in the EU Subcommittee of the Austrian Parliament on the 3. November 2022 with the votes of EPP, Greens, S&D and Renew.

[Wien, 28.09.2022] Dokumente zur geplanten Videoüberwachung im 1. Bezirk in Wien

Juristische Stellungnahme im Begutachtungsverfahren zum Verordnungsentwurf des Bundesministers für Finanzen über die technische Ausgestaltung eines öffentlichen Warnsystems. Cell Broadcast Warnsystem gemäß § 125 (5) TKG 2021. An Staatssekretär Florian Tursky im Bundesministerium für Finanzen. 

Am 28.07.2022 haben wir bei der Staatsanwaltschaft Wien Anzeige gegen eine wiener Firma erstattet, die laut Medienberichten und Analysen von Microsoft illegale Angriffssoftware im In- und Ausland zum Einsatz brachte.

Article for the annual report of the French Telecom Regulatory Authority (ARCEP). Here is the full 2022 report in French and English.