Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sophie in't Veld @sophieintveld.bsky.social · 49m

Not the first time…there was the bugging of the EU Council building in 2003, “Operation socialist” in 2013 when UK secret services hacked Belgacom, more recently MEPs, EU Commissioners and staff targeted with spyware. Whenever a member state is behind it, the EU goes 🤐🙊🙉🙈

Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 17h

I'm just wondering: if the European Commission is unable to deal with Hungarian spying and infiltration in Brussels, how are they expected to handle the more powerful and threatening Russian or Chinese espionage?

5 6

Sophie in't Veld @sophieintveld.bsky.social · 2h

‼️ Spyware used against key actor in shake-up of the Italian banking sector, contested by the government. After spyware abuse to silence political opponents, we are entering a whole new era, with potentially massive economic effects in the EU single market. Will @ec.europa.eu finally wake up?!

Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 2h

NEW: ⚠️ Andrea Orcel, CEO of UniCredit – one of 🇮🇹 Italy’s largest and most influential banking groups – was also targeted with Graphite #spyware by the Israeli firm #Paragon Solutions, according to @irpimedia.eu & @lastampa.bsky.social.

✍️ @faffa42.bsky.social

irpimedia.irpi.eu/paragon-colp...

4 6

Sophie in't Veld @sophieintveld.bsky.social · 15h

The @europarl.europa.eu has to do its job as democracy watchdog and hold the Commission to account. “Loyalty to national interests cannot trump the EU’s general interest, or the edifice will crumble when threatened from all sides, including within it” says @alemanno.bsky.social

Alberto Alemanno @alemanno.bsky.social · 17h

Is Olivér Várhelyi still fit for the job as EU Commissioner after espionage allegations?

(Spoiler: von der Leyen can withdraw confidence and Hungary may lose the Commissioner post until 2029) open.substack.com/pub/albertoa...

Can Olivér Várhelyi still serve as EU Commissioner?

Von der Leyen may withdraw confidence in Várhelyi and the Council not fill his vacancy

open.substack.com

9 10

Sophie in't Veld @sophieintveld.bsky.social · 1d

Interesting contrast with the refusal of the EU Commission to investigate #spyware attacks on dozens of EU officials, most likely committed by member states.

Jorge Liboreiro @jorgeliboreiro.bsky.social · 1d

The European Commission will set up an internal working group to investigate the allegations of Hungarian espionage.

"The Commission takes such allegations very seriously, and we remain committed to protecting Commission staff, information and networks from illicit intelligence gathering actions."

Jorge Liboreiro @jorgeliboreiro.bsky.social · 2d

💥 Bombshell investigation: Hungary operated an illegal network of spies to infiltrate the EU institutions while Olivér Várhelyi, who's currently a European Commissioner, served as chief ambassador.

3 11

Reposted by Sophie in't Veld

EPF @epfsrr.bsky.social · 2d

🎧🚨 New episode of The Right to Decide out now!

Listen to the new epissode on abortion rights in Europe.

Host @sophieintveld.bsky.social talks with Polish MEP @joannasw.bsky.social about bans, backlash, and the power to decide over your own body!

🔗 youtu.be/OjOD7pkZNpo

"Abortion Rights in Europe" Episode 1 - The Right to Decide

YouTube video by European Parliamentary Forum

youtu.be

3 3

Sophie in't Veld @sophieintveld.bsky.social · 2d

Indeed! The answer is that national leaders are in a battle against Europe: they want a powerful Europe without giving it power.

rikwinkel.bsky.social @rikwinkel.bsky.social · 2d

In 40 years time, people will look back and ask themselves why it took the Europeans so long to get their act together. Or wonder how they could squander all the opportunities.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Unity is desperately needed, but the EU prefers turf wars to facing down Russia | Paul Taylor

Failure to agree a common defence strategy risks emboldening Vladimir Putin. The squabbles have to stop, says Paul Taylor of the European Policy Centre

www.theguardian.com

1 5 30

Sophie in't Veld @sophieintveld.bsky.social · 2d

Sommige namen van politieke partijen zijn ook heel misleidend. Bijvoorbeeld met het woord “democratie” of “vrijheid” erin. 😒

1 4

Sophie in't Veld @sophieintveld.bsky.social · 3d

In @standaard.be beweert jurist Joris Van Cauter dat rechters niet bestaande rechten verzinnen inzake asielrecht, en zo feitelijk wetgeving scheppen www.standaard.be/opinies/will.... Er zit geen enkele inhoudelijke onderbouwing bij deze beschuldiging. Factcheckje misschien, @standaard.be?

Willen we echt dat de rechters het land regeren?

In een democratische samenleving is het fundamenteel dat het parlement de begroting goedkeurt en beslist over de besteding van de publieke middelen, schrijft Joris Van Cauter. De juridisering daarvan is gevaarlijk en zelfs intimiderend.

www.standaard.be

1 2

Sophie in't Veld @sophieintveld.bsky.social · 3d

👏 Another win in court for @dannymekic.nl against “X”. Great news! However, it once again highlights the laxity of the public authorities in taking on the tech giants, leaving it to citizens and civil society to litigate. Private enforcement for want of public enforcement www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...

Geen spreekverbod voor Mekic in zaak tegen X

Het gerechtshof Amsterdam heeft het verzoek van X (het voormalige Twitter) om een spreekverbod op te leggen aan Danny Mekic afgewezen. Jurist Mekic is al geruime tijd in een strijd verwikkeld met het ...

www.nrc.nl

10 18

Sophie in't Veld @sophieintveld.bsky.social · 4d

Governments realise there is total impunity for the abuse of spyware in the EU, so they will not shy away from using it as a tool against their critics and opponents. @ec.europa.eu @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu should be protecting the watchdogs of democracy in Greece, not its partisan friends.

Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 4d

A 23% increase in 🇬🇷state interceptions without justification, citing "national security", was recorded in 2024 according to the new annual report by privacy watchdog ADAE.

www.dnews.gr/eidhseis/pol...

Έκρηξη στις κρατικές υποκλοπές με επίκληση της «εθνικής ασφάλειας» – Σήμα κινδύνου από την ΑΔΑΕ για έλλειψη ελέγχου στην ΕΥΠ - Dnews

Τρία χρόνια μετά το σκάνδαλο των υποκλοπών σημειώνεται εκ νέου αύξηση των συνακροάσεων που διενεργούνται με εισαγγελικές διατάξεις. Αύξηση 23% στις κρατικές υποκλοπές χωρίς αιτιολογία, με επίκληση της...

www.dnews.gr

1 2 1

Reposted by Sophie in't Veld

Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 4d

How the EU refuses to talk about its Israel policy, more secrecy on Big Tech policy, and a new uproar over Ursula's texts - today we publish a new edition of our Secrecy Tracker newsletter. 👏 @ftm.eu @investigate-europe.eu @euobserver.com

Read it for free:
www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...

Israel info withheld, big tech secrecy & vanishing messages

Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism

www.ftm.eu

1 13 18

Sophie in't Veld @sophieintveld.bsky.social · 4d

The @consilium.europa.eu proposals for an EU deportation policy are fully modelled after ICE. @stevepeers.bsky.social @statewatch.bsky.social.

Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 4d

Plans to further reduce EU standards for expulsion of non-EU citizens, via @statewatch.bsky.social

Jonathan Tranter @jonathantranter.bsky.social · 7d

www.statewatch.org/news/2025/oc...

12 20

Sophie in't Veld @sophieintveld.bsky.social · 5d

Was bleibt von der Vision einer gemeinsamen EU Außenpolitik? Mit Trump sind die USA kein Garant für unsere Sicherheit mehr. Reicht Aufrüstung aus als Antwort? Ich nam Teil an der Diskussion mit @disoski.bsky.social @oezlemademirel.bsky.social @paulschmidt.bsky.social im 🎙️ Falter.at podcast

1 5

Sophie in't Veld @sophieintveld.bsky.social · 5d

Another major headache for Europe.

POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 5d

🚨 BREAKING: French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and his government have resigned.

Read the developing story: ow.ly/6uzZ50X6TAz

1

Sophie in't Veld @sophieintveld.bsky.social · 6d

“Waarom euro-obligaties wèl een goed idee zijn”. Als we dogmatisch en kortzichtig blijven vasthouden aan achterhaalde opvattingen en vooroordelen, worden we steeds meer de speelbal van Trump. IJzersterk stuk van @marikestellinga.bsky.social www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...

2 8

Sophie in't Veld @sophieintveld.bsky.social · 8d

Interesting contrast: government leaders rejecting EU funded drone walls, while embracing EU funded anti-migrant walls. 😒

POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 8d

The European Commission’s drone wall idea is showing cracks before intercepting its first Russian intruder.

Von der Leyen’s ‘drone wall’ plan crashes into EU reality

Europe’s latest defense debate is splitting countries demanding immediate protection from Russia and those further from the threat.

ow.ly

1 7 11

Sophie in't Veld @sophieintveld.bsky.social · 8d

Onverbloemde chantage door Meta. Niet voor het eerst. Eerder zette FB ineens het bestrijden van kindermisbruikbeelden stop omdat de EU met regels kwam die Meta niet bevielen. Techreuzen breken doorgaans onbekommerd de wet, en hebben een dikke oorlogskas voor de boetes.

NRC @nrc.nl · 8d

Meta wekt verwarring en woede bij overheid en ngo’s met advertentieverbod voor ‘maatschappelijke kwesties’

Als reactie op nieuwe Europese regel weigert Meta vanaf maandag in de EU niet alleen politieke reclame, maar ook advertenties over ‘maatschapelijke kwesties’. Wat dat precies inhoudt, is onduidelijk.

www.nrc.nl

1 5 9

Sophie in't Veld @sophieintveld.bsky.social · 9d

Nederland schouder aan schouder met Orbàn. Zeg mij wie uw vrienden zijn, en ik zeg u wie u bent 🙄. We hebben een echte keuze op de 29e.

NRC @nrc.nl · 9d

Schoof botst met Europese collega’s in Kopenhagen over Oekraïense EU-kandidatuur

Hongarije blokkeert gesprekken over de toetreding van Oekraïne tot de EU. Om die blokkade te omzeilen, wordt een aanpassing van de procedure voorgesteld. Maar daar is premier Schoof faliekant tegen.

www.nrc.nl

6 16 40

Sophie in't Veld @sophieintveld.bsky.social · 9d

Maybe national governments should show the same zeal when it comes to the elimination of national barriers in the internal market….

1 3

Sophie in't Veld @sophieintveld.bsky.social · 10d

Robust action by Polish parliament to investigate the abuse of spyware for political purposes. If only @eppgroup.bsky.social were equally relentless in seeking justice for the abuse of spyware by other EU governments, of Greece, Italy or Spain. A new @europarl.europa.eu inquiry committee is needed

Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 11d

Former 🇵🇱Polish justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro was on Monday forcibly brought by police from a plane at Warsaw’s Chopin Airport to testify before a parliamentary commission investigating the use of Pegasus #spyware by the former Law & Justice (PiS) government.

notesfrompoland.com/2025/09/30/f...

Former Polish justice minister taken by police from plane to testify before spyware investigation

notesfrompoland.com

6 10

Sophie in't Veld @sophieintveld.bsky.social · 12d

Moldova showing us how it is done: the democratic pro-European forces in Moldova win the elections, against aggressive election interference by the Kremlin. Thank you Moldova for being an inspiration to Europe! 🇲🇩🇪🇺

2 7 59

Reposted by Sophie in't Veld

Lena Rohrbach @artepovera.bsky.social · 15d

Join us?

💥Workshops w/ @papertrailmedia.de @amnesty.de @interseclab.bsky.social

💥Dig. Security Clinic w/ @accessnow.org, @pressefreiheit.bsky.social&Tact. Tech

💥Panel w/ @donncha.is @sophieintveld.bsky.social @davidyambio.bsky.social @anjaosterhaus.bsky.social

&Art by @forensicarchi.bsky.social

Weißer Text auf schwarzem Grund: Digital Surveillance: How States are Spying on the Resistance, mit Logos von HAU und Amnesty International

1 22 33

Sophie in't Veld @sophieintveld.bsky.social · 15d

The harassment of @panayote.bsky.social of the Greek Helsinki Monitor must stop. For years he has been the target 🎯 of the authorities. He is punished for defending European values. @ec.europa.eu @europarl.europa.eu @eucopresident.consilium.europa.eu should speak out

Panayote Dimitras @panayote.bsky.social · 15d

4 5

Sophie in't Veld @sophieintveld.bsky.social · 15d

Political capture of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office by national governments. National governments are annoyed by the highly effective fight against corruption by #EPPO and try to neuter it. Law professors ring the alarm bells in open letter 👇 We should all support EPPO

Laurent Pech 🇺🇦 @profpech.bsky.social · 15d

"First case of its kind" for the office, which investigates major financial crimes across the EU

Reminder: For the Belgian, Bulgarian and Portuguese nominations, the Council decided to overrule the independent panel’s ranking without any justification/transparency

www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...

1 6 6

Reposted by Sophie in't Veld

EPF @epfsrr.bsky.social · 15d

🎧🚨 New Podcast Alert!
"The Right to Decide"is our brand-new #podcast exposing how sexual and reproductive rights are under attack across #Europe — and why this fight is about much more than health! #SRHR

🎙️ Hosted by former MEP @sophieintveld.bsky.social

youtu.be/kMRzpTsJIRo?...

The Right to Decide (TEASER) - A Podcast on Sexual and Reproductive Rights

YouTube video by European Parliamentary Forum

youtu.be

3 3