Our work in the European Union

A pro EU demonstration in Italy where a member of the crowd holds up an EU flag int he centre of the image

Image: MikeDotta / Shutterstock

The European Union is a political, economic and social union between 27 member states, founded on the values of respect for human dignity and rights, freedom, democracy and the rule of law.

There are a variety of ways the EU can promote those values and objectives, and doing so has the potential to set global standards around the world. 

ARTICLE 19 works directly with legislators, policy makers, regulators, relevant stakeholders and partners, including consumer and civil society organisations, to ensure that EU rules and frameworks  uphold its stated commitments to human rights, particularly the right to free expression and the right to information. We do so mainly through advocacy, research, and the shaping of policy proposals.

Among others, our advocacy is focused on ensuring that the right to free expression is respected both online and offline; that digital and media markets operate in the interest of the citizens and are compatible with democratic resilience; that new technologies comply with international human rights standards; and that Europe is a place where free, independent and pluralist media can thrive and journalists can hold power to account without fear of harassment or intimidation. 

Platform and digital markets regulation

Big tech companies exercise unprecedented power to decide what we see and access, how we interact with each other and what we can and cannot say online. 

With no accountability and driven by an exploitative business model, the actions of those companies have led to human rights violations, including gross violations of privacy, freedom of expression and non-discrimination. 

ARTICLE 19 has long argued that successful regulation of digital services must place protection of human rights and free speech online at its core. We also believe that taming corporate power in the digital markets with competition law and policy is crucial to ensuring people have genuine choice around their activities online. 

Platform and digital markets regulation resources

EU: ARTICLE 19 leads call for stronger EU guidelines against abusive practices by dominant companies
05.11.2024 3 min read

EU: ARTICLE 19 leads call for stronger EU guidelines against abusive practices by dominant companies

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EU: For Algorithmic Pluralism
25.09.2024 10 min read

EU: For Algorithmic Pluralism

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EU: Political posturing vs. human rights – Breton’s flawed vision for DSA enforcement
19.08.2024 4 min read

EU: Political posturing vs. human rights – Breton’s flawed vision for DSA enforcement

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International: Competition authorities’ intent to share insights on AI policy a positive step
29.07.2024 3 min read

International: Competition authorities’ intent to share insights on AI policy a positive step

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European Commission: Apple must comply with the Digital Markets Act
08.07.2024 1 min read

European Commission: Apple must comply with the Digital Markets Act

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EU: Platforms’ election risk mitigation measures must put human rights first
25.03.2024 5 min read

EU: Platforms’ election risk mitigation measures must put human rights first

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EU: Submission to European Commission on competition and generative AI
25.03.2024 10 min read

EU: Submission to European Commission on competition and generative AI

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EU: Joint call for effective Digital Markets Act enforcement
08.02.2024 1 min read

EU: Joint call for effective Digital Markets Act enforcement

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EU: Submission to European Commission on Microsoft-OpenAI ‘partnership’
30.01.2024 24 min read

EU: Submission to European Commission on Microsoft-OpenAI ‘partnership’

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EU: Call for precise interpretation of Digital Services Act
18.01.2024 5 min read

EU: Call for precise interpretation of Digital Services Act

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EU: Digital Services Act infringement proceedings against X (Twitter)
19.12.2023 5 min read

EU: Digital Services Act infringement proceedings against X (Twitter)

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Enforcement of Digital Markets Act: Symposium
17.11.2023 2 min read

Enforcement of Digital Markets Act: Symposium

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France: Civil society takes EU’s dangerous terrorist content regulation to court
09.11.2023 3 min read

France: Civil society takes EU’s dangerous terrorist content regulation to court

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Europe: Digital Markets Act takes a stand against user profiling
19.09.2023 1 min read

Europe: Digital Markets Act takes a stand against user profiling

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EU: Political Advertising Proposal is well-intentioned yet concerning
23.08.2023 5 min read

EU: Political Advertising Proposal is well-intentioned yet concerning

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EU: DSA doesn’t permit the arbitrary blocking of online platforms
02.08.2023 3 min read

EU: DSA doesn’t permit the arbitrary blocking of online platforms

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EU: Digital Services Act does not provide a green light for platform blocking
26.07.2023 7 min read

EU: Digital Services Act does not provide a green light for platform blocking

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EU: Human rights-centred Digital Services Act must include global voices
11.07.2023 6 min read

EU: Human rights-centred Digital Services Act must include global voices

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Digital Markets Act: Submission on gatekeeper compliance reports
11.07.2023 1 min read

Digital Markets Act: Submission on gatekeeper compliance reports

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EU: Civil society must play a role in Digital Markets Act implementation
31.05.2023 3 min read

EU: Civil society must play a role in Digital Markets Act implementation

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EU: Telecom interests must not trump human rights
23.05.2023 4 min read

EU: Telecom interests must not trump human rights

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EU: European Commission must guard against exploitative abuses
11.05.2023 3 min read

EU: European Commission must guard against exploitative abuses

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EU: network fees threaten consumer rights and choice
03.05.2023 9 min read

EU: network fees threaten consumer rights and choice

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EU: Ensure robust civil society involvement to enforce Digital Services Act
02.05.2023 4 min read

EU: Ensure robust civil society involvement to enforce Digital Services Act

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Taming the Titans podcast: Momentum is Building – So Where Now?
28.02.2023 1 min read

Taming the Titans podcast: Momentum is Building – So Where Now?

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Podcast: Taming the Titans
15.02.2023 2 min read

Podcast: Taming the Titans

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Taming the Titans podcast: Hope on the Horizon
14.02.2023 1 min read

Taming the Titans podcast: Hope on the Horizon

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Taming the Titans podcast: Big Tech to Titan Tech
07.02.2023 1 min read

Taming the Titans podcast: Big Tech to Titan Tech

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EU: More transparency needed in merger control
30.01.2023 3 min read

EU: More transparency needed in merger control

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EU: Rules for political advertising must protect democracy and human rights
01.11.2022 2 min read

EU: Rules for political advertising must protect democracy and human rights

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Twitter: What Elon Musk must do if he really wants to protect free speech
28.10.2022 4 min read

Twitter: What Elon Musk must do if he really wants to protect free speech

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EU: Participation of civil society in competition law enforcement crucial
19.10.2022 3 min read

EU: Participation of civil society in competition law enforcement crucial

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Digital markets: Why competition is good for freedom of expression
27.07.2022 5 min read

Digital markets: Why competition is good for freedom of expression

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EU: Ensure effective enforcement of Digital Markets Act
28.06.2022 4 min read

EU: Ensure effective enforcement of Digital Markets Act

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EU: Protect privacy and free expression by withdrawing Internet law
08.06.2022 10 min read

EU: Protect privacy and free expression by withdrawing Internet law

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EU: Dangers of the proposed regulation to fight child sexual abuse online
13.05.2022 4 min read

EU: Dangers of the proposed regulation to fight child sexual abuse online

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EU: Fix Digital Markets Act flaws to protect competition and users’ rights
19.04.2022 2 min read

EU: Fix Digital Markets Act flaws to protect competition and users’ rights

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EU: Digital Services Act crisis response mechanism must honour human rights
13.04.2022 8 min read

EU: Digital Services Act crisis response mechanism must honour human rights

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EU: ARTICLE 19’s recommendations for the Digital Services Act trilogue
25.02.2022 8 min read

EU: ARTICLE 19’s recommendations for the Digital Services Act trilogue

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Technology and surveillance

The development of new technologies brings with itself a lot of promise but it can also have grave consequences for human rights and democracy. 

The unchecked development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence, biometric and other surveillance technologies threaten our fundamental rights. Certain practices, such as indiscriminate or arbitrarily-targeted use of facial recognition in public spaces should never be allowed as they are simply incompatible with democratic values and human rights 

ARTICLE 19 advocates for EU regulation which ensures transparency and oversight, and protects our rights to privacy and data protection; the right to freedom of expression; rights to free assembly and association; and the rights to equality and non-discrimination. 

Technology and surveillance resources

EU: For Algorithmic Pluralism
25.09.2024 10 min read

EU: For Algorithmic Pluralism

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Slovakia: Use of Pegasus a threat to democracy and human rights
09.09.2024 8 min read

Slovakia: Use of Pegasus a threat to democracy and human rights

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EU: Modest step taken as AI law comes into effect
01.08.2024 4 min read

EU: Modest step taken as AI law comes into effect

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International: Competition authorities’ intent to share insights on AI policy a positive step
29.07.2024 3 min read

International: Competition authorities’ intent to share insights on AI policy a positive step

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EU: AI Act fails to set gold standard for human rights
04.04.2024 25 min read

EU: AI Act fails to set gold standard for human rights

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EU: Open letter on security-cloaked threats to encryption
11.01.2024 7 min read

EU: Open letter on security-cloaked threats to encryption

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EU: AI Act negotiators must not trade away our rights
08.12.2023 7 min read

EU: AI Act negotiators must not trade away our rights

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Europe: Micro-targeting and conflict of interest raise serious ethics questions 
25.10.2023 2 min read

Europe: Micro-targeting and conflict of interest raise serious ethics questions 

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EU: Court denies full transparency about emotion recognition
07.09.2023 7 min read

EU: Court denies full transparency about emotion recognition

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EU: Artificial Intelligence Act must do more to protect human rights
18.04.2023 9 min read

EU: Artificial Intelligence Act must do more to protect human rights

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Europe: Journalists must be better protected as press freedom declines
15.03.2023 5 min read

Europe: Journalists must be better protected as press freedom declines

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Emotion (Mis)Recognition: is the EU missing the point?
02.02.2023 9 min read

Emotion (Mis)Recognition: is the EU missing the point?

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EU: Pegasus spyware Inquiry must hear the voices of human rights defenders
25.05.2022 7 min read

EU: Pegasus spyware Inquiry must hear the voices of human rights defenders

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EU: Authoritarian technological surveillance versus fundamental rights
10.05.2022 5 min read

EU: Authoritarian technological surveillance versus fundamental rights

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EU: AI development for military and national security must uphold rights
24.03.2022 1 min read

EU: AI development for military and national security must uphold rights

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EU: Research into biometric technologies must be transparent
22.02.2022 6 min read

EU: Research into biometric technologies must be transparent

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EU: Risky biometric technology projects must be transparent from the start
16.12.2021 7 min read

EU: Risky biometric technology projects must be transparent from the start

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EU: NSO Group tech must be on global sanction list
03.12.2021 9 min read

EU: NSO Group tech must be on global sanction list

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EU: Put fundamental rights first in AI Act
01.12.2021 2 min read

EU: Put fundamental rights first in AI Act

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Europe: Artificial Intelligence Act must protect free speech and privacy
22.10.2021 21 min read

Europe: Artificial Intelligence Act must protect free speech and privacy

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EU: Action needed to tackle spyware abuses after Pegasus revelations
15.09.2021 7 min read

EU: Action needed to tackle spyware abuses after Pegasus revelations

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Media and journalism

In recent years, the attacks on journalists in the EU have increased at a worrying rate and governments have made more attempts to curtail independence of media outlets. 

Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) continue to threaten public watchdogs, as powerful individuals use their money and influence to discourage journalists from reporting on public interest topics. 

ARTICLE 19 works to ensure that the EU creates robust protections for journalists and media freedom. We support the development of anti-SLAPPs regulation and of regulatory frameworks that guarantee media plurality, freedom and independence.

Media and journalism resources

Europe: Calling for stronger safeguards for journalists as we commemorate Daphne’s assassination
15.10.2024 3 min read

Europe: Calling for stronger safeguards for journalists as we commemorate Daphne’s assassination

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Poland: Rigorous reforms in media sector are still required
20.09.2024 5 min read

Poland: Rigorous reforms in media sector are still required

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Poland: International advocacy mission to assess media freedom reforms
10.09.2024 2 min read

Poland: International advocacy mission to assess media freedom reforms

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Croatia: International mission to assess media freedom challenges
09.09.2024 2 min read

Croatia: International mission to assess media freedom challenges

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Croatia: Decriminalise insult and defamation
05.08.2024 18 min read

Croatia: Decriminalise insult and defamation

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Italy: Calls for constructive dialogue on media freedom recommendations
02.08.2024 4 min read

Italy: Calls for constructive dialogue on media freedom recommendations

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Europe: Rule of law report shows the need to enforce stronger safeguards
30.07.2024 13 min read

Europe: Rule of law report shows the need to enforce stronger safeguards

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Italy: Silencing independent media underscores democratic drift
29.07.2024 2 min read

Italy: Silencing independent media underscores democratic drift

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EU: New Commission must prioritise media freedom
19.07.2024 3 min read

EU: New Commission must prioritise media freedom

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Joint Statement for the EU-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue
04.07.2024 2 min read

Joint Statement for the EU-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue

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Italy: Decline in media freedom demands EU action
25.06.2024 7 min read

Italy: Decline in media freedom demands EU action

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Greece: Who ordered Greek journalist’s murder?
25.06.2024 3 min read

Greece: Who ordered Greek journalist’s murder?

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Croatia: Repeal criminal penalty for disclosure of ‘non-public’ information
13.06.2024 5 min read

Croatia: Repeal criminal penalty for disclosure of ‘non-public’ information

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Slovakia: Cease attacks on journalists and satirists amid growing tensions
06.06.2024 4 min read

Slovakia: Cease attacks on journalists and satirists amid growing tensions

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Croatia: Swift response vital as Nacional magazine staff face death threats
04.06.2024 5 min read

Croatia: Swift response vital as Nacional magazine staff face death threats

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Italy: Silencing the fourth estate and democratic drift
22.05.2024 7 min read

Italy: Silencing the fourth estate and democratic drift

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Italy: Rising threats to media freedom as political pressure intensifies
08.05.2024 3 min read

Italy: Rising threats to media freedom as political pressure intensifies

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Poland: Key reflections and action points from the Anti-SLAPP Conference
30.04.2024 8 min read

Poland: Key reflections and action points from the Anti-SLAPP Conference

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Italy: Petition against attacks on Domani newspaper
23.04.2024 5 min read

Italy: Petition against attacks on Domani newspaper

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Greece: Redouble efforts to bring justice for Giorgos Karaivaz
09.04.2024 4 min read

Greece: Redouble efforts to bring justice for Giorgos Karaivaz

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Slovakia: European Commission must intervene in the STaR wars
27.03.2024 6 min read

Slovakia: European Commission must intervene in the STaR wars

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