More than 20 years ago, the internet was just starting to affect people daily lives. EDRi was founded around a vision of Europe that protects the open internet and upholds people’s rights in the digital world. 

Today, as technology has weaved itself into the fabric of our lives and our societies, EDRi’s mission has never been more relevant. We have grown to be a dynamic and resilient collective of more than 50 civil society organisations, activists and academics working to defend and advance rights and freedom in the golden age of surveillance. We work in the EU, Europe, and beyond. 

We represent the interest of people in tech policies: our fingerprints are in all major EU laws regulating technology, internet platforms and online communication 

From the landmark EU Artificial Intelligence Act to the Digital Services Act or the technical nitty-gritty of how to protect encryption, the EDRi network advocates for privacy, data protection, free expression and assembly, equality, non-discrimination and other fundamental rights which are essential for every person to live a dignified life. 

Thanks to our advocacy, and the collective work with broad civil society coalitions, critical digital issues like the harms of surveillance ads, the dangers of facial recognition, the primacy of protecting encrypted communication, and abusive AI technology have made it to the lawmakers’ agenda. 

Amidst rising levels of Big Tech lobbying in Brussels, we represent the public interest. Every day in our work, we challenge private and state actors who abuse their power to control or manipulate the public. 

EDRi’s vision for digital futures: technology that serves people, democracy, the planet 

EDRi works with many other organisations, from human rights, corporate accountability groups, to social, racial and climate justice organisations as well as with workers’ representatives. We recognise that our struggles against rising state authoritarianism, corporate power and the climate crisis are interconnected. 

Drawing on the wisdom and vision of our movement, EDRi puts forward a manifesto that establishes a positive vision for our digital futures. We demand approaches to regulating technology that are interwoven with rule of law, justice, the pillar of social rights, and sustainability matters. 

2024 is a key moment to turn our collective vision into reality together with committed and conscientious EU decision-makers. 

1 October: Civil society dialogue with new EU decision-makers 

On 1 October 2024, a collective of over 30 civil society organisations, will co-host the Tech and Society Summit in Brussels. This invite-only event will bring together key voices from civil society and EU decision-makers including newly-elected MEPs, to exchange views about policy at the intersection of technology, society, and the environment. We are looking forward to panels, conversations and actions that cover the enforcement of EU laws, challenges to Big tech’s power, climate, online information ecosystems, defence, policing, migration, and building a safe internet for all.