Bram Vranken
@bramvranken.bsky.social
Big Tech campaigner and researcher at @corporateeurope.org. Fighting corporate power ✊
Reposted by Bram Vranken
Is the EU giving away your personal data for AI?
Fewer cookies: Is the EU giving away your personal data for AI?
"External pressure from the US and from large platforms is obvious. They have pushed for years for looser data protection."
www.brusselstimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Is the EU giving away your personal data for AI?
Reposted by Bram Vranken
BREAKING: EU Commission President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu says “We are not fighting fossil fuels, we are fighting the emissions from fossil fuels”
She is parroting oil&gas industry lines, pushing unproven costly technologies like CCS + CO2 removals to keep using fossil fuels.
#FossilFreePolitics
She is parroting oil&gas industry lines, pushing unproven costly technologies like CCS + CO2 removals to keep using fossil fuels.
#FossilFreePolitics
a close up of a person petting a red parrot with the words headlikeanorange below it
ALT: a close up of a person petting a red parrot with the words headlikeanorange below it
media.tenor.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:56 PM
BREAKING: EU Commission President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu says “We are not fighting fossil fuels, we are fighting the emissions from fossil fuels”
She is parroting oil&gas industry lines, pushing unproven costly technologies like CCS + CO2 removals to keep using fossil fuels.
#FossilFreePolitics
She is parroting oil&gas industry lines, pushing unproven costly technologies like CCS + CO2 removals to keep using fossil fuels.
#FossilFreePolitics
Reposted by Bram Vranken
Last week Conservative & far right MEPs pushed through Omnibus package that weakens 3 corporate sustainability laws
Omnibus decision-making was clear corporate capture ⚠️
Legal experts warn that Omnibus I may be illegal 💥
Read more on 🔍 Deregulation Watch 🔎
www.corporateeurope.org/en/deregulat...
Omnibus decision-making was clear corporate capture ⚠️
Legal experts warn that Omnibus I may be illegal 💥
Read more on 🔍 Deregulation Watch 🔎
www.corporateeurope.org/en/deregulat...
Deregulation Watch | Corporate Europe Observatory
Check out our new posts on Deregulation Watch which helps civil society monitor new developments in the deregulation agenda, assess what’s at stake, and organise in defence of strong social, environme...
www.corporateeurope.org
November 21, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Last week Conservative & far right MEPs pushed through Omnibus package that weakens 3 corporate sustainability laws
Omnibus decision-making was clear corporate capture ⚠️
Legal experts warn that Omnibus I may be illegal 💥
Read more on 🔍 Deregulation Watch 🔎
www.corporateeurope.org/en/deregulat...
Omnibus decision-making was clear corporate capture ⚠️
Legal experts warn that Omnibus I may be illegal 💥
Read more on 🔍 Deregulation Watch 🔎
www.corporateeurope.org/en/deregulat...
Reposted by Bram Vranken
📰"The announced reform package is here, and the #EU Commission remains on a collision course: instead of simplifying data protection, it is eroding fundamental rights. Instead of helping European companies, it is accommodating #BigTech." (from German)
👉 netzpolitik.org/2025/digital...
👉 netzpolitik.org/2025/digital...
Digitaler Omnibus: Auf Crash-Kurs mit digitalen Grundrechten
Das angekündigte Reformpaket ist da und die EU-Kommission bleibt auf Konfrontationskurs: Statt den Datenschutz zu vereinfachen, schleift sie Grundrechte. Statt europäischen Unternehmen zu helfen, kommt sie Big Tech entgegen. Ein Kommentar.
netzpolitik.org
November 21, 2025 at 7:00 AM
📰"The announced reform package is here, and the #EU Commission remains on a collision course: instead of simplifying data protection, it is eroding fundamental rights. Instead of helping European companies, it is accommodating #BigTech." (from German)
👉 netzpolitik.org/2025/digital...
👉 netzpolitik.org/2025/digital...
Reposted by Bram Vranken
EU’s Digital Omnibus package threatens privacy and education by dismantling key protections. ETUCE calls this a dangerous deregulation agenda.
Read more: t.ly/c3jRN
#Education #DigitalRights #EU
Read more: t.ly/c3jRN
#Education #DigitalRights #EU
Stop the Rollback: EU Digital Omnibus endangers children’s and teachers’ rights
Brussels, 19 November 2025 – The European Commission published the Digital Omnibus package, a set of regulatory proposals aimed at “simplifying” and amending existing EU digital regulations, including...
t.ly
November 20, 2025 at 10:39 AM
EU’s Digital Omnibus package threatens privacy and education by dismantling key protections. ETUCE calls this a dangerous deregulation agenda.
Read more: t.ly/c3jRN
#Education #DigitalRights #EU
Read more: t.ly/c3jRN
#Education #DigitalRights #EU
Reposted by Bram Vranken
EU Commission spokesperson on tech. The difficulty here is that the Commission sent X a provisional finding of breach of the Digital Services Act 16 months ago, and has done nothing since. So why take this expression of concern seriously?
Grok’s antisemitic output is appalling.
It goes against Europe’s fundamental rights and values.
The DSA is clear: hate speech has no place online in Europe.
We already took action on GPAI risks, including X’s chatbot in March.
We are in touch with X: the company must act on its chatbots risks.
It goes against Europe’s fundamental rights and values.
The DSA is clear: hate speech has no place online in Europe.
We already took action on GPAI risks, including X’s chatbot in March.
We are in touch with X: the company must act on its chatbots risks.
November 20, 2025 at 4:51 PM
EU Commission spokesperson on tech. The difficulty here is that the Commission sent X a provisional finding of breach of the Digital Services Act 16 months ago, and has done nothing since. So why take this expression of concern seriously?
Reposted by Bram Vranken
In case you're wondering just how far corporate lobbyists have gone to get into COP30 to push the idea that AI will solve climate change (and never you mind about all the energy it guzzles)....
🔴 NEW - Corporate Giant KPMG Accused of ‘Sneaking’ into COP30
Several senior staff members have gained entry without disclosing their real employer.
📝 @rtakver.bsky.social
Several senior staff members have gained entry without disclosing their real employer.
📝 @rtakver.bsky.social
Corporate Giant KPMG Accused of ‘Sneaking’ into COP30
Multinational consulting firm KPMG has been accused of using underhand methods to gain access to this year’s COP30 climate summit. Critics allege that the firm has been using seemingly unaffiliated ad...
www.desmog.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:55 PM
In case you're wondering just how far corporate lobbyists have gone to get into COP30 to push the idea that AI will solve climate change (and never you mind about all the energy it guzzles)....
Reposted by Bram Vranken
Today the European Commission unveiled its Digital Omnibus Package, reopening and weakening core parts of the EU’s digital rulebook, including crucial safeguards in the AI Act. This is a seriously concerning shift for rights and accountability in Europe.
cdt.org/insights/cdt...
cdt.org/insights/cdt...
CDT Europe’s Statement on the Digital Omnibus Package
On 19 November, the European Commission published the Digital Omnibus Package; a twinset of proposals suggesting amendments to crucial laws underpinning the EU digital rulebook, including the General ...
cdt.org
November 19, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Today the European Commission unveiled its Digital Omnibus Package, reopening and weakening core parts of the EU’s digital rulebook, including crucial safeguards in the AI Act. This is a seriously concerning shift for rights and accountability in Europe.
cdt.org/insights/cdt...
cdt.org/insights/cdt...
Reposted by Bram Vranken
The European Commission seems to believe that rights are an obstacle to competitiveness and innovation, but real innovation means finding ways to make new technologies work for everyone’s benefit, writes Amnesty Tech's Joshua Franco.
Why Civil Society Is Sounding the Alarm on the EU’s Omnibus Rollback | TechPolicy.Press
Under the guise of “simplification,” a corporate-backed wave of weakening digital rules is underway that threatens all of our rights, writes Joshua Franco.
www.techpolicy.press
November 19, 2025 at 3:35 PM
The European Commission seems to believe that rights are an obstacle to competitiveness and innovation, but real innovation means finding ways to make new technologies work for everyone’s benefit, writes Amnesty Tech's Joshua Franco.
Reposted by Bram Vranken
🪚 The digital omnibus proposed by the Commission today is an unprecedented rollback of digital rights.
In secretive meetings, the Commission has given privileged access to tech lobbyists to shape its proposals.
👉 corporateeurope.org/en/2025/11/p...
In secretive meetings, the Commission has given privileged access to tech lobbyists to shape its proposals.
👉 corporateeurope.org/en/2025/11/p...
Preparing a roll-back of digital rights: Commission's secretive meetings with industry | Corporate Europe Observatory
The European Commission is undertaking an unprecedented roll-back of digital rights. In secretive meetings, the Commission has given privileged access to tech lobbyists to shape its proposals, in viol...
corporateeurope.org
November 19, 2025 at 1:54 PM
🪚 The digital omnibus proposed by the Commission today is an unprecedented rollback of digital rights.
In secretive meetings, the Commission has given privileged access to tech lobbyists to shape its proposals.
👉 corporateeurope.org/en/2025/11/p...
In secretive meetings, the Commission has given privileged access to tech lobbyists to shape its proposals.
👉 corporateeurope.org/en/2025/11/p...
Reposted by Bram Vranken
🚨 Brussels, today 🚨Ursula! Stand up for Europe – not for Trump’s tech bros!
As the EU unveils its “Digital Omnibus” today, we're rolling out billboards calling on @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu to stop bending to US and Big Tech pressure and enforce our digital laws #StandUpUrsula✊
As the EU unveils its “Digital Omnibus” today, we're rolling out billboards calling on @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu to stop bending to US and Big Tech pressure and enforce our digital laws #StandUpUrsula✊
November 19, 2025 at 9:51 AM
🚨 Brussels, today 🚨Ursula! Stand up for Europe – not for Trump’s tech bros!
As the EU unveils its “Digital Omnibus” today, we're rolling out billboards calling on @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu to stop bending to US and Big Tech pressure and enforce our digital laws #StandUpUrsula✊
As the EU unveils its “Digital Omnibus” today, we're rolling out billboards calling on @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu to stop bending to US and Big Tech pressure and enforce our digital laws #StandUpUrsula✊
Reposted by Bram Vranken
According to a document we obtained, EU member states seem ready to give US law enforcement authorities direct access to European police and immigration databases.
While some member states have concerns over specifics, none question the need for such an agreement.
Read more: buff.ly/qGEDeGK
While some member states have concerns over specifics, none question the need for such an agreement.
Read more: buff.ly/qGEDeGK
November 17, 2025 at 11:40 AM
According to a document we obtained, EU member states seem ready to give US law enforcement authorities direct access to European police and immigration databases.
While some member states have concerns over specifics, none question the need for such an agreement.
Read more: buff.ly/qGEDeGK
While some member states have concerns over specifics, none question the need for such an agreement.
Read more: buff.ly/qGEDeGK
Reposted by Bram Vranken
A cautionary tale about a European attempt to break free of US Big Tech which ended up being derailed by it.
If you want to solve a problem of corporate power, don't give seats on your board to the companies creating that problem.
If you want to solve a problem of corporate power, don't give seats on your board to the companies creating that problem.
A major five-year effort to build a technology base for Europe free of US influence flopped amid conflicting national strategies and powerful corporate lobbying.
Anatomy of a Franco-German tech misfire
As Europe debates how far to go in pivoting away from US Big Tech, a cloud initiative provides a cautionary tale.
www.politico.eu
November 17, 2025 at 10:31 AM
A cautionary tale about a European attempt to break free of US Big Tech which ended up being derailed by it.
If you want to solve a problem of corporate power, don't give seats on your board to the companies creating that problem.
If you want to solve a problem of corporate power, don't give seats on your board to the companies creating that problem.
Reposted by Bram Vranken
A major five-year effort to build a technology base for Europe free of US influence flopped amid conflicting national strategies and powerful corporate lobbying.
Anatomy of a Franco-German tech misfire
As Europe debates how far to go in pivoting away from US Big Tech, a cloud initiative provides a cautionary tale.
www.politico.eu
November 17, 2025 at 7:57 AM
A major five-year effort to build a technology base for Europe free of US influence flopped amid conflicting national strategies and powerful corporate lobbying.
Reposted by Bram Vranken
New wave of protests against Palestine Action ban set to be 'most widespread civil disobedience in modern British history'
These actions will also, once again, be in solidarity with the people of Gaza and the West Bank.
morningstaronline.co.uk/article/new-...
Info: wedonotcomply.org
These actions will also, once again, be in solidarity with the people of Gaza and the West Bank.
morningstaronline.co.uk/article/new-...
Info: wedonotcomply.org
New wave of protests against Palestine Action ban set to be 'most widespread civil disobedience in modern British history'
CAMPAIGN group Defend Our Juries announced a new wave of protests against the ban on Palestine Action today that is expected to be the “most widespread civil disobedience in modern British history.”Ac...
morningstaronline.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 12:51 PM
New wave of protests against Palestine Action ban set to be 'most widespread civil disobedience in modern British history'
These actions will also, once again, be in solidarity with the people of Gaza and the West Bank.
morningstaronline.co.uk/article/new-...
Info: wedonotcomply.org
These actions will also, once again, be in solidarity with the people of Gaza and the West Bank.
morningstaronline.co.uk/article/new-...
Info: wedonotcomply.org
Reposted by Bram Vranken
TACD warns: The European Commission’s Digital Omnibus reform could weaken major EU digital protections. Civil society groups in the United States and in Europe call on the Commission to halt these changes.
Streamlining or deregulation? TACD sounds alarm on EU Digital Omnibus
News
tacd.org
November 14, 2025 at 9:26 AM
TACD warns: The European Commission’s Digital Omnibus reform could weaken major EU digital protections. Civil society groups in the United States and in Europe call on the Commission to halt these changes.
Reposted by Bram Vranken
📣 BREAKING: One out of every 25 attendees walking around the #COP30 climate talks is a fossil fuel lobbyist.
New research from #KickBigPollutersOut reveals there are more than 1,600 in the UN negotiations in Brazil.
Here's a thread with the top findings 🧵
kickbigpollutersout.org/Release-Kick...
New research from #KickBigPollutersOut reveals there are more than 1,600 in the UN negotiations in Brazil.
Here's a thread with the top findings 🧵
kickbigpollutersout.org/Release-Kick...
November 14, 2025 at 8:43 AM
📣 BREAKING: One out of every 25 attendees walking around the #COP30 climate talks is a fossil fuel lobbyist.
New research from #KickBigPollutersOut reveals there are more than 1,600 in the UN negotiations in Brazil.
Here's a thread with the top findings 🧵
kickbigpollutersout.org/Release-Kick...
New research from #KickBigPollutersOut reveals there are more than 1,600 in the UN negotiations in Brazil.
Here's a thread with the top findings 🧵
kickbigpollutersout.org/Release-Kick...
Reposted by Bram Vranken
Our new mini-guide breaks down how soaring data centre demand, fuelled by AI, is straining energy systems and slowing the transition in Europe.
At #COP30, governments and tech giants need to realise data centres growth needs new and extra renewables, and can’t come at our planet’s expense.
At #COP30, governments and tech giants need to realise data centres growth needs new and extra renewables, and can’t come at our planet’s expense.
November 14, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Our new mini-guide breaks down how soaring data centre demand, fuelled by AI, is straining energy systems and slowing the transition in Europe.
At #COP30, governments and tech giants need to realise data centres growth needs new and extra renewables, and can’t come at our planet’s expense.
At #COP30, governments and tech giants need to realise data centres growth needs new and extra renewables, and can’t come at our planet’s expense.
Reposted by Bram Vranken
We joined 127 civil society organisations, trade unions and defenders of the public interest to express our alarm at the forthcoming EU Digital Omnibus proposals. These are part of a wide deregulation agenda
@ec.europa.eu is threatening hard won protections
Our letter
⬇️
edri.org/wp-content/u...
@ec.europa.eu is threatening hard won protections
Our letter
⬇️
edri.org/wp-content/u...
November 13, 2025 at 11:34 AM
We joined 127 civil society organisations, trade unions and defenders of the public interest to express our alarm at the forthcoming EU Digital Omnibus proposals. These are part of a wide deregulation agenda
@ec.europa.eu is threatening hard won protections
Our letter
⬇️
edri.org/wp-content/u...
@ec.europa.eu is threatening hard won protections
Our letter
⬇️
edri.org/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Bram Vranken
Turns out “don’t be evil” actually means “automate evil”
New: Google has chosen a side in Trump's mass deportation campaign. Google is hosting a CBP facial recognition app to hunt immigrants; no indication Google will remove. At same time Google takes down apps for reporting ICE sightings
“Big tech has made their choice”
www.404media.co/google-has-c...
“Big tech has made their choice”
www.404media.co/google-has-c...
Google Has Chosen a Side in Trump's Mass Deportation Effort
Google is hosting a CBP app that uses facial recognition to identify immigrants, while simultaneously removing apps that report the location of ICE officials because Google sees ICE as a vulnerable gr...
www.404media.co
November 14, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Turns out “don’t be evil” actually means “automate evil”
Reposted by Bram Vranken
127 civil society groups, unions & BEP urge the EU to stop the Digital Omnibus—the biggest rollback of digital rights in EU history. Protect GDPR, AI Act & privacy. Full statement: https://balancedeconomy.pulse.ly/ipgvhvmauf #DigitalRights
Balanced Economy Project Joins 127 Organisations to Oppose EU Digital Rights Rollback — Balanced Economy Project
For Hire:
balancedeconomy.pulse.ly
November 13, 2025 at 12:44 PM
127 civil society groups, unions & BEP urge the EU to stop the Digital Omnibus—the biggest rollback of digital rights in EU history. Protect GDPR, AI Act & privacy. Full statement: https://balancedeconomy.pulse.ly/ipgvhvmauf #DigitalRights
Reposted by Bram Vranken
🙌We are joining 127 organisations demanding the Commission to halt its highly damaging digital omnibus.
The Commission's leaked proposal threatens to:
❌Pause the AI Act
❌Weaken the GDPR to enable AI companies to hoover up personal data
This would be a major Big Tech win
👉 edri.org/wp-content/u...
The Commission's leaked proposal threatens to:
❌Pause the AI Act
❌Weaken the GDPR to enable AI companies to hoover up personal data
This would be a major Big Tech win
👉 edri.org/wp-content/u...
November 13, 2025 at 10:14 AM
🙌We are joining 127 organisations demanding the Commission to halt its highly damaging digital omnibus.
The Commission's leaked proposal threatens to:
❌Pause the AI Act
❌Weaken the GDPR to enable AI companies to hoover up personal data
This would be a major Big Tech win
👉 edri.org/wp-content/u...
The Commission's leaked proposal threatens to:
❌Pause the AI Act
❌Weaken the GDPR to enable AI companies to hoover up personal data
This would be a major Big Tech win
👉 edri.org/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Bram Vranken
We were promised that simplification was not going to lead to deregulation. Recent reports on the digital omnibus show otherwise. BEUC urged @michaelmcgratheu.bsky.social and @hennavirkkunen.bsky.social to keep protections under the GDPR and uphold the AI Act. Read our full letter: shorturl.at/zIfji
BEUC concerns on Digital Omnibus - keep protections under GDPR and uphold the AI Act
In this letter to Executive Vice-President Virkkunen and Commissioner McGrath, BEUC expressed its concerns with the recent public reports that the European Commission, in the upcoming Digital Omnibus ...
www.beuc.eu
November 13, 2025 at 8:16 AM
We were promised that simplification was not going to lead to deregulation. Recent reports on the digital omnibus show otherwise. BEUC urged @michaelmcgratheu.bsky.social and @hennavirkkunen.bsky.social to keep protections under the GDPR and uphold the AI Act. Read our full letter: shorturl.at/zIfji
Reposted by Bram Vranken
⚠️ Press freedom under attack ⚠️
Asking an uncomfortable question can cost you your job if you are a journalist at Agenzia Nova.
We stand in solidarity with @gabrielenunziati.bsky.social
theintercept.com/2025/11/04/j...
Asking an uncomfortable question can cost you your job if you are a journalist at Agenzia Nova.
We stand in solidarity with @gabrielenunziati.bsky.social
theintercept.com/2025/11/04/j...
A Journalist Asked Why Israel Isn’t Paying to Rebuild Gaza. It Cost Him His Job.
Italy’s Nova news agency confirmed it let reporter Gabriele Nunziati go for asking a European official about Israel at a press conference.
theintercept.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:57 PM
⚠️ Press freedom under attack ⚠️
Asking an uncomfortable question can cost you your job if you are a journalist at Agenzia Nova.
We stand in solidarity with @gabrielenunziati.bsky.social
theintercept.com/2025/11/04/j...
Asking an uncomfortable question can cost you your job if you are a journalist at Agenzia Nova.
We stand in solidarity with @gabrielenunziati.bsky.social
theintercept.com/2025/11/04/j...
Reposted by Bram Vranken
Papagei der Tech-Bosse: Wissenschaftler, die zu Künstlicher Intelligenz forschen, widersprechen Ursula von der Leyen. Sie wiederhole nur „unwissenschaftliche Marketingaussagen“ von US-Konzernen netzpolitik.org/2025/kuenstl...
„Künstliche Intelligenz“: Ursula von der Leyen als Papagei der Tech-Bosse
EU-Kommissionspräsidentin Ursula von der Leyen macht sich die Übertreibungen der Tech-Bosse über „Künstliche Intelligenz“ zu eigen. Dagegen protestieren nun Wissenschaftler: Die EU sollte eher ein Aug...
netzpolitik.org
November 12, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Papagei der Tech-Bosse: Wissenschaftler, die zu Künstlicher Intelligenz forschen, widersprechen Ursula von der Leyen. Sie wiederhole nur „unwissenschaftliche Marketingaussagen“ von US-Konzernen netzpolitik.org/2025/kuenstl...