CDTEU Response to the EU Commission’s European Democracy Action Plan
In addition to our submission to the public consultation on the Digital Services Act (DSA) , the Centre for Democracy and Technology’s EU Office (CDTEU) responded to the European Commission’s consultation on the European Democracy Action Plan (Action Plan). The new Action Plan is a political priority for the Commission of President von der Leyen and will tackle some of the key challenges for European democracy. These include manipulation and external interference in elections, media freedom and pluralism, and the fight against disinformation.
In our response, we warn the Commission against the risks related to defining ‘political ads’ and advocate for clear transparency measures on all kinds of ads. Transparency will be a key element to enable watchdogs such as public authorities mandated to uphold electoral law and enforce electoral safeguards. In relation to the use of personal or demographic data to micro-target individual voters, we recommend more robust enforcement of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), as well as a further reflection on the need to make users more aware and in control. Moreover, we discuss the importance of ensuring that any new regulations of online campaigns comply with applicable EU and international laws and do not disproportionately restrict or hinder human rights. Finally, we discuss the role of selected content moderation practices in tackling disinformation or harmful content and reiterate some key points from our DSA submission such as the need for creating a harmonised, transparent, rights-protective notice-and-action framework.
Op-Ed: France’s Constitutional Council Ruling Tests the Limits of Social Media Bans
Read our analysis the legal and policy significance of the Constitutional Council’s decision on ongoing social media age restriction and age assurance debates ahead of the most-anticipated EU-wide approach on child online safety due by December 2026.
British Public Oppose Secret Surveillance Powers and Want Strong Protections for Encrypted Communications
CDT released nationally representative polling data revealing that a the British public are broadly concerned about the security, privacy, and free speech consequences of allowing law enforcement to access encrypted communications.
Responding to the EU-US Negotiations on Reciprocal Data Exchanges for Border Procedures
CDT Europe, together with 29 other civil society organisations and academics, sent an open joint letter to the Council of the EU regarding the worrying direction taken by the European Commission in the EU-US border negotiations with the U.S. government.
Open Joint Letter on a Public Reassessment of the EU-US Adequacy Decision
On 29 June, the US Supreme Court ruled that US President Trump can remove the leaders of independent agencies and commissions, overturning nearly 90 years of precedent limiting executive power. This decision raises serious questions about one of the key safeguards underpinning the EU-US Data Privacy Framework adopted in 2023: independent supervision.
