Giacomo Zandonini
@giacomoza.bsky.social
Investigative journalist. Special mention European Press Prize 2024. Tech/borders/identities. [email protected]
Co-founder of Fada Collective
Co-founder of Fada Collective
My @statewatch.bsky.social's report on @heise.de👇
Unheilige Allianzen ohne Transparenz: #Europol forciert Kooperation mit US-Unternehmen wie #Clearview – und auch die „Drehtür“ funktioniert www.heise.de/news/Wie-Eur...
Wie Europol mit Microsoft, Palantir, Clearview & Co. auf Kuschelkurs geht
Statewatch beklagt eine unheilige Allianz zwischen Europol und US-Tech-Unternehmen, die massive Interessenkonflikte und Transparenzprobleme mit sich bringe.
www.heise.de
November 24, 2025 at 10:28 AM
My @statewatch.bsky.social's report on @heise.de👇
Reposted by Giacomo Zandonini
Die Zusammenarbeit zwischen #Europol und #US -Tech-Unternehmen ist - gerade in diesen Zeiten - schlicht Wahnsinn.
#Datenschutz, #Privatsphäre und #Grundrechte gehen immer weiter über Bord.
"Wie #Europol mit #Microsoft, #Palantir, #Clearview & Co. auf Kuschelkurs geht."
www.heise.de/news/Wie-Eur...
#Datenschutz, #Privatsphäre und #Grundrechte gehen immer weiter über Bord.
"Wie #Europol mit #Microsoft, #Palantir, #Clearview & Co. auf Kuschelkurs geht."
www.heise.de/news/Wie-Eur...
Wie Europol mit Microsoft, Palantir, Clearview & Co. auf Kuschelkurs geht
Statewatch beklagt eine unheilige Allianz zwischen Europol und US-Tech-Unternehmen, die massive Interessenkonflikte und Transparenzprobleme mit sich bringe.
www.heise.de
November 12, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Die Zusammenarbeit zwischen #Europol und #US -Tech-Unternehmen ist - gerade in diesen Zeiten - schlicht Wahnsinn.
#Datenschutz, #Privatsphäre und #Grundrechte gehen immer weiter über Bord.
"Wie #Europol mit #Microsoft, #Palantir, #Clearview & Co. auf Kuschelkurs geht."
www.heise.de/news/Wie-Eur...
#Datenschutz, #Privatsphäre und #Grundrechte gehen immer weiter über Bord.
"Wie #Europol mit #Microsoft, #Palantir, #Clearview & Co. auf Kuschelkurs geht."
www.heise.de/news/Wie-Eur...
Reposted by Giacomo Zandonini
Revealed: Europol is quietly building a vast AI-driven criminal data hub, sweeping up messages, biometrics, and other sensitive info with minimal oversight or transparency, raising major risks for privacy, civil rights, and biased policing. 👀
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Hungry for data: Inside Europol’s secretive AI program
Europol’s growing appetite for data and artificial intelligence is transforming European policing, largely out of public view, and without clear oversight.
wearesolomon.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Revealed: Europol is quietly building a vast AI-driven criminal data hub, sweeping up messages, biometrics, and other sensitive info with minimal oversight or transparency, raising major risks for privacy, civil rights, and biased policing. 👀
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
You can listen to some of our last investigative findings - with @balkanizator.bsky.social & @stavinoha.bsky.social - on Europol, and its opaque relation with the tech industry, on this podcast by Slovenian digital rights group Citizen D @drzavljand.bsky.social podcast.drzavljand.si/drzavljan-d/...
November 20, 2025 at 6:47 PM
You can listen to some of our last investigative findings - with @balkanizator.bsky.social & @stavinoha.bsky.social - on Europol, and its opaque relation with the tech industry, on this podcast by Slovenian digital rights group Citizen D @drzavljand.bsky.social podcast.drzavljand.si/drzavljan-d/...
Shall we care about Europol? The answer is... Read our latest investigation to catch a glimpse about what the agency is doing to accelerate the AI transformation of policing across the EU, with minimal safeguards. www.computerweekly.com/news/3666344...
Hungry for data: Inside Europol’s secretive AI programme | Computer Weekly
The EU’s law enforcement agency has been quietly amassing data to feed an ambitious but secretive artificial intelligence development programme that could have far-reaching privacy implications for pe...
www.computerweekly.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Shall we care about Europol? The answer is... Read our latest investigation to catch a glimpse about what the agency is doing to accelerate the AI transformation of policing across the EU, with minimal safeguards. www.computerweekly.com/news/3666344...
Reposted by Giacomo Zandonini
A big thank you to the experts+editors that supported this two years long effort: @annskaja.bsky.social @krisshrishak.bsky.social @lydiaemman.bsky.social @billgoodwin.bsky.social @nunomoniz.bsky.social @article19.bsky.social @gabrielgeiger.bsky.social and Seb. Klovig Skelton from CW.
November 13, 2025 at 8:14 AM
A big thank you to the experts+editors that supported this two years long effort: @annskaja.bsky.social @krisshrishak.bsky.social @lydiaemman.bsky.social @billgoodwin.bsky.social @nunomoniz.bsky.social @article19.bsky.social @gabrielgeiger.bsky.social and Seb. Klovig Skelton from CW.
Reposted by Giacomo Zandonini
Based on internal documents obtained from Europol and analyzed by data protection and AI experts, this investigation raises serious concerns about the implications of the agency’s program on people’s privacy and the lack of solid oversight in the development of AI models.
«Διψώντας» για δεδομένα: Το κρυφό πρόγραμμα AI της Europol
Η «δίψα» της Europol για δεδομένα και τεχνητή νοημοσύνη μετασχηματίζει την αστυνόμευση στην Ευρώπη, πίσω από κλειστές πόρτες και χωρίς ειδική εποπτεία.
wearesolomon.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Based on internal documents obtained from Europol and analyzed by data protection and AI experts, this investigation raises serious concerns about the implications of the agency’s program on people’s privacy and the lack of solid oversight in the development of AI models.
Reposted by Giacomo Zandonini
Btw 2020 and 2021 Europol landed enormous volumes of data as a part of three mega-hack operations that dismantled encrypted communication systems. This would become the starting point of the agency's AI ambitions. New investigation out with @giacomoza.bsky.social and @stavinoha.bsky.social
Hungry for data: Inside Europol’s secretive AI programme | Computer Weekly
The EU’s law enforcement agency has been quietly amassing data to feed an ambitious but secretive artificial intelligence development programme that could have far-reaching privacy implications for pe...
www.computerweekly.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Btw 2020 and 2021 Europol landed enormous volumes of data as a part of three mega-hack operations that dismantled encrypted communication systems. This would become the starting point of the agency's AI ambitions. New investigation out with @giacomoza.bsky.social and @stavinoha.bsky.social
Reposted by Giacomo Zandonini
We've found DHS is giving local cops a new facial recognition app to find immigrants. Point camera at face, tells the cop to detain person or not. The app is available on Google's Play Store. Google took down apps that report ICE sightings but now hosts this app
www.404media.co/cbp-quietly-...
www.404media.co/cbp-quietly-...
DHS Gives Local Cops a Facial Recognition App To Find Immigrants
The app, called Mobile Identify and available on the Google Play Store, is specifically for local and regional law enforcement agencies working with ICE on immigration enforcement.
www.404media.co
November 5, 2025 at 2:07 PM
We've found DHS is giving local cops a new facial recognition app to find immigrants. Point camera at face, tells the cop to detain person or not. The app is available on Google's Play Store. Google took down apps that report ICE sightings but now hosts this app
www.404media.co/cbp-quietly-...
www.404media.co/cbp-quietly-...
Reposted by Giacomo Zandonini
INBOX: @justfutureslaw.bsky.social and @ccrjustice.org sued the Trump admin to compel disclosure of ICE/CBP's use of surveillance tech developed by two Israeli companies, Paragon and Cellebrite, after the legal groups claimed the govt improperly denied initial FOIA requests to see the contracts.
October 30, 2025 at 4:12 PM
INBOX: @justfutureslaw.bsky.social and @ccrjustice.org sued the Trump admin to compel disclosure of ICE/CBP's use of surveillance tech developed by two Israeli companies, Paragon and Cellebrite, after the legal groups claimed the govt improperly denied initial FOIA requests to see the contracts.
It's a dense week ahead for Europol and with @statewatch.bsky.social we decided to publish the results of a long research into the agency's largely secretive links with the tech industry, moving on from its recently-launched Research and Industry Days. www.statewatch.org/analyses/202... -->
Statewatch | Behind closed doors: Europol’s opaque relations with AI companies
As part of its research into the expanding—and largely unchecked—use of AI by EU security agencies, Statewatch delves into largely uncharted territory: Europol’s links with the private sector. A surve...
www.statewatch.org
November 2, 2025 at 3:32 PM
It's a dense week ahead for Europol and with @statewatch.bsky.social we decided to publish the results of a long research into the agency's largely secretive links with the tech industry, moving on from its recently-launched Research and Industry Days. www.statewatch.org/analyses/202... -->
Reposted by Giacomo Zandonini
⚠️For years, the Big Tech front group Allied for Startups has been underreporting its lobby budget.
👏 Following a complaint by CEO and @lobbycontrol.bsky.social, Allied for Startups has now been forced by the EU Transparency Register to correct its registration.
👉 corporateeurope.org/en/media/6430
👏 Following a complaint by CEO and @lobbycontrol.bsky.social, Allied for Startups has now been forced by the EU Transparency Register to correct its registration.
👉 corporateeurope.org/en/media/6430
Allied For Startups asbl datacard on lobbyfacts.eu
Check out all LobbyFacts data on Allied For Startups asbl as extracted from the EU lobby transparancy register. Allied For Startups is the policy voice of startups in the EU and worldwide.
The organ...
www.lobbyfacts.eu
October 10, 2025 at 11:11 AM
⚠️For years, the Big Tech front group Allied for Startups has been underreporting its lobby budget.
👏 Following a complaint by CEO and @lobbycontrol.bsky.social, Allied for Startups has now been forced by the EU Transparency Register to correct its registration.
👉 corporateeurope.org/en/media/6430
👏 Following a complaint by CEO and @lobbycontrol.bsky.social, Allied for Startups has now been forced by the EU Transparency Register to correct its registration.
👉 corporateeurope.org/en/media/6430
Reposted by Giacomo Zandonini
👉 Up next: Freelancers and Newsrooms: Can We Collaborate Better?
When partnerships click, they deliver powerful investigations. When they falter, trust, payment and editorial control become flashpoints.
With Zlatina Siderova, @gpaccardo.bsky.social, Natalie Donback, and @giacomoza.bsky.social.
When partnerships click, they deliver powerful investigations. When they falter, trust, payment and editorial control become flashpoints.
With Zlatina Siderova, @gpaccardo.bsky.social, Natalie Donback, and @giacomoza.bsky.social.
September 25, 2025 at 8:44 AM
👉 Up next: Freelancers and Newsrooms: Can We Collaborate Better?
When partnerships click, they deliver powerful investigations. When they falter, trust, payment and editorial control become flashpoints.
With Zlatina Siderova, @gpaccardo.bsky.social, Natalie Donback, and @giacomoza.bsky.social.
When partnerships click, they deliver powerful investigations. When they falter, trust, payment and editorial control become flashpoints.
With Zlatina Siderova, @gpaccardo.bsky.social, Natalie Donback, and @giacomoza.bsky.social.
Reposted by Giacomo Zandonini
👀 Chatkontrolle: Kinderschutz oder Massenüberwachung?
- Europe Calling Webinar in 🇬🇧+🇩🇪.
Mit: @giacomoza.bsky.social, @pneutig.eupolicy.social.ap.brid.gy, @detlevsh.bsky.social & @alexandrageese.bsky.social & @friesmaximilian.bsky.social
💻 Anmeldung: t1p.de/t6sev
#Chatkontrolle #ChatControl
- Europe Calling Webinar in 🇬🇧+🇩🇪.
Mit: @giacomoza.bsky.social, @pneutig.eupolicy.social.ap.brid.gy, @detlevsh.bsky.social & @alexandrageese.bsky.social & @friesmaximilian.bsky.social
💻 Anmeldung: t1p.de/t6sev
#Chatkontrolle #ChatControl
September 29, 2025 at 11:01 AM
👀 Chatkontrolle: Kinderschutz oder Massenüberwachung?
- Europe Calling Webinar in 🇬🇧+🇩🇪.
Mit: @giacomoza.bsky.social, @pneutig.eupolicy.social.ap.brid.gy, @detlevsh.bsky.social & @alexandrageese.bsky.social & @friesmaximilian.bsky.social
💻 Anmeldung: t1p.de/t6sev
#Chatkontrolle #ChatControl
- Europe Calling Webinar in 🇬🇧+🇩🇪.
Mit: @giacomoza.bsky.social, @pneutig.eupolicy.social.ap.brid.gy, @detlevsh.bsky.social & @alexandrageese.bsky.social & @friesmaximilian.bsky.social
💻 Anmeldung: t1p.de/t6sev
#Chatkontrolle #ChatControl
Reposted by Giacomo Zandonini
For years Frontex gathered data and automatically passed it unlawfully to Europol. With @stavinoha.bsky.social & @lolahierro.bsky.social we investigated how this dragnet scooped up thousands of people, migrants and EU activists.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Frontex unlawfully shared thousands of people's personal data with Europol
Under the banner of fighting migrant smuggling, Frontex has collected, and unlawfully siphoned to Europol, personal data for years—quietly drawing thousands of migrants, as well as EU citizens aiding ...
wearesolomon.com
July 14, 2025 at 12:23 PM
For years Frontex gathered data and automatically passed it unlawfully to Europol. With @stavinoha.bsky.social & @lolahierro.bsky.social we investigated how this dragnet scooped up thousands of people, migrants and EU activists.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Reposted by Giacomo Zandonini
Frontex transfirió durante años ilegalmente a Europol datos de migrantes y activistas
elpais.com/internaciona...
elpais.com/internaciona...
Frontex transfirió durante años ilegalmente a Europol datos de migrantes y activistas
Una investigación de varios medios, entre ellos EL PAÍS, revela que la agencia europea de fronteras facilitó a la entidad policial información indiscriminada de miles de personas a partir de entrevist...
elpais.com
July 7, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Frontex transfirió durante años ilegalmente a Europol datos de migrantes y activistas
elpais.com/internaciona...
elpais.com/internaciona...
Reposted by Giacomo Zandonini
Here is how #Frontex unlawfully shared thousands of people’s personal data with #Europol
Investigation conducted by Solomon, the French newspaper Le Monde, the Spanish newspaper El País, and the German outlet Netzpolitik.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Investigation conducted by Solomon, the French newspaper Le Monde, the Spanish newspaper El País, and the German outlet Netzpolitik.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Frontex unlawfully shared thousands of people's personal data with Europol
Under the banner of fighting migrant smuggling, Frontex has collected, and unlawfully siphoned to Europol, personal data for years—quietly drawing thousands of migrants, as well as EU citizens aiding ...
wearesolomon.com
July 8, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Here is how #Frontex unlawfully shared thousands of people’s personal data with #Europol
Investigation conducted by Solomon, the French newspaper Le Monde, the Spanish newspaper El País, and the German outlet Netzpolitik.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Investigation conducted by Solomon, the French newspaper Le Monde, the Spanish newspaper El País, and the German outlet Netzpolitik.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Reposted by Giacomo Zandonini
❗In the name of 'combating migrant smugglers', the European Union's border agency, Frontex, spent years collecting information on migrants and civil society activists deemed 'suspect,' before passing it on to Europol.
Frontex unlawfully shared thousands of people's personal data with European police
In the name of combating migrant smugglers, the European Union's border surveillance agency spent years collecting information on migrants and civil society activists deemed 'suspect,' before passing ...
www.lemonde.fr
July 8, 2025 at 8:32 AM
❗In the name of 'combating migrant smugglers', the European Union's border agency, Frontex, spent years collecting information on migrants and civil society activists deemed 'suspect,' before passing it on to Europol.
Reposted by Giacomo Zandonini
For years, human rights advocates have warned of the criminalisation of migrants & activists at Europe’s borders.
With @balkanizator.bsky.social & @lolahierro.bsky.social we shed light on the opaque role of Frontex and Europol in drawing thousands into this dragnet.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
With @balkanizator.bsky.social & @lolahierro.bsky.social we shed light on the opaque role of Frontex and Europol in drawing thousands into this dragnet.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Frontex unlawfully shared thousands of people's personal data with Europol
Under the banner of fighting migrant smuggling, Frontex has collected, and unlawfully siphoned to Europol, personal data for years—quietly drawing thousands of migrants, as well as EU citizens aiding ...
wearesolomon.com
July 8, 2025 at 11:18 AM
For years, human rights advocates have warned of the criminalisation of migrants & activists at Europe’s borders.
With @balkanizator.bsky.social & @lolahierro.bsky.social we shed light on the opaque role of Frontex and Europol in drawing thousands into this dragnet.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
With @balkanizator.bsky.social & @lolahierro.bsky.social we shed light on the opaque role of Frontex and Europol in drawing thousands into this dragnet.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Great work by @stavinoha.bsky.social and @balkanizator.bsky.social shedding light on a widely overlooked (and unlawful) programme to feed Europol's database with data collected by Frontex, including those of activists and journalists.
For years, human rights advocates have warned of the criminalisation of migrants & activists at Europe’s borders.
With @balkanizator.bsky.social & @lolahierro.bsky.social we shed light on the opaque role of Frontex and Europol in drawing thousands into this dragnet.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
With @balkanizator.bsky.social & @lolahierro.bsky.social we shed light on the opaque role of Frontex and Europol in drawing thousands into this dragnet.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Frontex unlawfully shared thousands of people's personal data with Europol
Under the banner of fighting migrant smuggling, Frontex has collected, and unlawfully siphoned to Europol, personal data for years—quietly drawing thousands of migrants, as well as EU citizens aiding ...
wearesolomon.com
July 11, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Great work by @stavinoha.bsky.social and @balkanizator.bsky.social shedding light on a widely overlooked (and unlawful) programme to feed Europol's database with data collected by Frontex, including those of activists and journalists.
Reposted by Giacomo Zandonini
We are alarmed by Europol arrogating to itself the right to develop surveillance tools, which are likely to dramatically transform the landscape of policing across the EU, in almost complete secrecy. Yet, despite this opacity, political support for Europol is growing in Brussels and EU capitals.
Europol's deepening aversion to transparency
We are alarmed by Europol arrogating to itself the right to develop surveillance tools, which are likely to dramatically transform the landscape of policing across the EU, in almost complete secrecy. Yet, despite this opacity, political support for Europol is growing in Brussels and EU capitals.
euobserver.com
May 19, 2025 at 9:42 AM
We are alarmed by Europol arrogating to itself the right to develop surveillance tools, which are likely to dramatically transform the landscape of policing across the EU, in almost complete secrecy. Yet, despite this opacity, political support for Europol is growing in Brussels and EU capitals.
Reposted by Giacomo Zandonini
📖 Read about dangers of Europol's deepening aversion to transparency at the EU Observer: euobserver.com/migration/ar...
✍️ Sign the petition to call on Members of the European Parliament to reject the proposed reform of the Europol Regulation in its entirety: action.wemove.eu/sign/2025-05...
✍️ Sign the petition to call on Members of the European Parliament to reject the proposed reform of the Europol Regulation in its entirety: action.wemove.eu/sign/2025-05...
Europol's deepening aversion to transparency
We are alarmed by Europol arrogating to itself the right to develop surveillance tools, which are likely to dramatically transform the landscape of policing across the EU, in almost complete secrecy.…
euobserver.com
May 19, 2025 at 2:01 PM
📖 Read about dangers of Europol's deepening aversion to transparency at the EU Observer: euobserver.com/migration/ar...
✍️ Sign the petition to call on Members of the European Parliament to reject the proposed reform of the Europol Regulation in its entirety: action.wemove.eu/sign/2025-05...
✍️ Sign the petition to call on Members of the European Parliament to reject the proposed reform of the Europol Regulation in its entirety: action.wemove.eu/sign/2025-05...
Reposted by Giacomo Zandonini
For 4 years, with @giacomoza.bsky.social and @stavinoha.bsky.social we have been researching Europol's agenda about tech. While policy makers in Brussels prepare to give it more powers, we explain why it is important to keep in mind its problematic transparency record: euobserver.com/migration/ar...
Europol's deepening aversion to transparency
We are alarmed by Europol arrogating to itself the right to develop surveillance tools, which are likely to dramatically transform the landscape of policing across the EU, in almost complete secrecy. ...
euobserver.com
May 19, 2025 at 4:07 PM
For 4 years, with @giacomoza.bsky.social and @stavinoha.bsky.social we have been researching Europol's agenda about tech. While policy makers in Brussels prepare to give it more powers, we explain why it is important to keep in mind its problematic transparency record: euobserver.com/migration/ar...
In the past months, we kept researching on Europol and its little-known innovation programmes. This op-ed on @euobserver.com with @balkanizator.bsky.social zator @stavinoha.bsky.social explains why Europol needs to change its approach and allow scrutiny. euobserver.com/migration/ar...
Europol's deepening aversion to transparency
We are alarmed by Europol arrogating to itself the right to develop surveillance tools, which are likely to dramatically transform the landscape of policing across the EU, in almost complete secrecy. ...
euobserver.com
May 19, 2025 at 1:24 PM
In the past months, we kept researching on Europol and its little-known innovation programmes. This op-ed on @euobserver.com with @balkanizator.bsky.social zator @stavinoha.bsky.social explains why Europol needs to change its approach and allow scrutiny. euobserver.com/migration/ar...
Reposted by Giacomo Zandonini
In today's op-ed, @stavinoha.bsky.social , @balkanizator.bsky.social and @giacomoza.bsky.social raise the alarm about Europol's lack of transparency:
euobserver.com/migration/ar...
euobserver.com/migration/ar...
May 19, 2025 at 9:57 AM
In today's op-ed, @stavinoha.bsky.social , @balkanizator.bsky.social and @giacomoza.bsky.social raise the alarm about Europol's lack of transparency:
euobserver.com/migration/ar...
euobserver.com/migration/ar...