Defend Democracy

Kallas pitches new Iran sanctions Presented by Broadcom By NICHOLAS VINOCUR PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Contact us on X @gerardofortuna @NicholasVinocur | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser GOOD MONDAY MORNING. This…

What Europe are we defending?

“The only way you define that is by including civil society organisations.”

@eesc-president.bsky.social

#DefendDemocracy #EUCivilSociety #WeAreEU🇪🇺

www.politico.eu/newsletter/b...

Today we contributed to a roundtable with senior EU stakeholders on tech sovereignty.

"We work at the nexus of democracy, security and technology, which is where hybrid warfare is taking place. The way out of the geopolitical mess starts with digital sovereignty."

#DefendDemocracy
#HandsOffOurEU🇪🇺

For the 5th year in a row, Defend Democracy's February event was dedicated to Ukraine.

I very much hope that next year we will not be commemorating Russia's ongoing aggression, but celebrating Ukraine's victory.

#DefendDemocracy
#HandsOffOurEU🇪🇺
#StandWithUkraine🇺🇦

Here is #DefendDemocracy 's February newsletter!

📰 Read this edition: crm.defenddemocracy.eu/civicrm/?civ...

✏️ Sign up for future editions: defenddemocracy.eu/newsletters/

✅ Join our democracy defenders & stay tuned!

"The US may have abandoned its role in leading the rules-based order. But that doesn't mean that system is dead.

There is every reason to hope that middle powers take up the leadership mantle instead."

By Ivo Daalder, former US ambassador to NATO:

www.politico.eu/article/look...

#DefendDemocracy

Als vissen die niet weten hoe cruciaal water is, beseffen wij niet dat de samenleving waarin we ons bewegen onder druk staat. Van buiten, en van binnen. Ja, ook onze vrije democratie kan kapot. In sommige Europese landen zien we dat al, nu zien we tekenen in de VS. Goed dat Defend Democracy bestaat.

Will 2026 bring peace & justice for Ukraine?

We discussed this and 'democratic security' with Ukrainian Ambassador Zayats, Head of @coe.int in Brussels & former foreign policy adviser to Ukraine's National Security & Defence Council.

Also nice to visit CoE Brussels HQ!

www.coe.int/en/web/porta...

BREAKING: TikTok's addictive design breaches EU law.

(Features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, highly personalised recommender system.)

We should be in control of our own time & attention, not Big Tech, be it 🇨🇳🇺🇸🇪🇺

#DefendDemocracy
#HandsOffOurEU

ec.europa.eu/commission/p...

Police raid Elon Musk’s X office in France Paris prosecutors described raids as part of a ‘constructive approach’ to ensure platform complies with French law.

BREAKING: Europol & Paris cybercrime unit raid Musk X office in France.

"Investigations range from sexually explicit deepfakes, aiding the distribution of child sexual abuse material to the dissemination of Holocaust-denial content."

#DefendDemocracy
#HandsOffOurEU

www.politico.eu/article/poli...

Netherlands' coalition accord ticks a lot of boxes, including strengthening democracy, digital sovereignty, and resilience against hybrid threats. Will they walk the talk?

Support our work; it is more needed than ever.

Donate: defenddemocracy.eu/get-involved...

#DefendDemocracy #HandsOffOurEU 🇪🇺

Here is #DefendDemocracy 's January newsletter!

📰 Read this edition: crm.defenddemocracy.eu/civicrm/?civ...

✏️ Sign up for future editions: defenddemocracy.eu/newsletters/

✅ Join our democracy defenders & stay tuned!

BREAKING: EU Commission launches investigation into:

* Grok spreading illegal content in the EU (including fake sexual images and child abuse material)

* X's recommender systems as systemic risks

ec.europa.eu/commission/p...

#DefendDemocracy
#HandsOffOurEU🇪🇺

We agree: "European Democracy Shield is an important step but EU Commission’s level of ambition does not yet match the scale of the threat we face. Defending democracy is a long-term strategic task that must be backed by political will and adequate resources."

www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...

Kallas pitches new Iran sanctions Presented by Broadcom By NICHOLAS VINOCUR PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Contact us on X @gerardofortuna @NicholasVinocur | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser GOOD MONDAY MORNING. This…

What Europe are we defending?

“The only way you define that is by including civil society organisations.”

@eesc-president.bsky.social

#DefendDemocracy #EUCivilSociety #WeAreEU🇪🇺

www.politico.eu/newsletter/b...

Onze brief aan de Informateur:

Stel een Minister van Digitale Zaken aan
Maak toetsen aan de Grondwet mogelijk
Richt een Nationaal Democratiefonds op
Investeer in lokale democratie
Voer een Lobbyregister in

Defend Democracy ism @democratiecoalitie.bsky.social

democratiecoalitie.nl/onze-brief-a...

We signed this statement in solidarity with European researchers sanctioned by the U.S.

"All those who defend democracy and freedom need to stand together, and we the undersigned stand with those wrongfully sanctioned here."

#DefendDemocracy
#HandsOffOurEU🇪🇺

alliance4europe.eu/supporting-d...

#DefendDemocracy
#HandsOffOurEU
#WeAreEU🇪🇺

Here is #DefendDemocracy 's December newsletter!

📰 Read this edition: crm.defenddemocracy.eu/civicrm/?civ...

✏️ Sign up for future editions: defenddemocracy.eu/newsletters/

✅ Join our democracy defenders & stay tuned!

"EU can't compete with US tech ON THEIR TERMS."

Weakening digital regulation in EU will NOT create a level playing field, @ec.europa.eu. It will just allow US tech to sweep European tech off the field.

Germany blames Russia for cyberattack on air safety, election interference | Euractiv Germany on Friday summoned the Russian ambassador

Germany blames Russia, summons Russian ambassador for two cyberattacks:

* air traffic safety
* election interference

#DefendDemocracy

www.euractiv.com/news/germany...

While it acknowledges the systemic risk European #democracy faces, the European Democracy Shield falls short of addressing its root causes.

Our founder Alice @stollmeyer.bsky.social interviewed MEP @alexandrageese.bsky.social:

www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/a-shield-wit...

Thanks to 'From Regulation to Resilience' co-host @eu2025dk.bsky.social

Thank you to great speakers:
@meredithmeredith.bsky.social
@johnnyryan.bsky.social
@robin.berjon.com
@mollymckew.bsky.social

Thanks for support:
@boelleu.bsky.social
@fnfeurope.bsky.social

defenddemocracy.eu/events/4-dec...

#Regulation4Resilience: connect the dots between tech regulation & security!

"Digital platforms are used for hybrid campaigns."

"EU can't compete with US tech ON THEIR TERMS."

"Post-reality US is what happens when tech is unregulated."

"Ireland is a Trojan Horse."

"Digital Omnibus is sabotage."

Trump's new National Security Strategy – an existential threat to EUrope

"Pro-European liberal forces need to finally wake up: Trump's America is not an ally but an adversary to Europe's freedoms and fundamental values."

#DefendDemocracy #HandsOffOurEU

www.epc.eu/publication/...

Big thanks to the Danish EU Presidency for co-hosting our event ‘From Regulation to Resilience’.

Great speakers connected the dots between digital laws, democracy and security — a timely topic.

Stay tuned for quotes & pics next week!

#Regulation4Resilience

defenddemocracy.eu/events/4-dec...

EU fines Elon Musk's X/Twitter €120mn for transparency violations.

Good EU effort to limit deceptive practices on social media.

"Our objective is not a fine. When platforms offer solid commitments, we accept them. If they do not, we take action."

ec.europa.eu/commission/p...

Great speech by EU EVP @teresaribera.ec.europa.eu on why Europe must stand up for its values. Don't join a race to the bottom, but hold the line!

Grateful to engage with her and EU Commissioner @michaelmcgratheu.bsky.social on urgently defending democracy against hybrid, illiberal and tech treats.

For our resilience and security we need MORE, not LESS, regulation of our digital infrastructure.

Excited to debate with Meredith Whittaker, Johnny Ryan, Robin Berjon & Molly McKew. Stay tuned!

Supported by @boelleu.bsky.social & @fnfeurope.bsky.social

defenddemocracy.eu/events/4-dec...

Children should be at least 16 to access social media, say MEPs | News | European Parliament MEPs are calling for ambitious EU action to protect minors online, including an EU-wide minimum age of 16 and bans on the most harmful addictive practices.

BREAKING: European Parliament calls for EU-wide minimum age of 16 to access social media, video sharing platforms and AI companions, and proposes bans on the most harmful addictive practices.

#DefendDemocracy #PeopleVsBigTech

www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...