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Reposted by Lise Witteman

Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 1d

⚠️ Since the piece was published, 39 MEPs from 4 political groups have written to the @ec.europa.eu to express their "deep concerns" that EU subsidies, alongside national taxpayer funds, have directly financed #spyware companies.

Saskia Bricmont @saskiabricmont.bsky.social · 8d

Public money is funding spyware!

With 39 MEPs from 4 political groups, we are writing to the @ec.europa.eu to express deep concerns following @ftm.eu revelations that EU financed spyware companies!

This must stop! We call on full transparency and follow up on the PEGA committee recommendations!

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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 1d

Really enjoyed speaking with @emmaduchatinier.bsky.social and @alexfanta.bsky.social on the @ftm.eu podcast about my investigation into 🇪🇺European funding for commercial #spyware companies.

Thanks for having me! 🙏

📺 Watch: youtu.be/htXwY5KQzas?...

🎧 Listen: www.ftm.eu/articles/eur...

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Lise Witteman @lise-witteman.bsky.social · 1d

Does the European Parliament offer get-out-of-jail cards to its politicians?

We looked into the system of immunity. Something is going on there ...

Read our latest Crime& Corruption newsletter 👇
www.ftm.eu/articles/div...

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Hans-Martin Tillack @hmtillack.bsky.social · 5d

MBDA parts for bombs that the IDF deploys in Gaza - our investigation with @arianelavrilleux.com @juliettegarside.bsky.social @manisha.bsky.social for @disclosengo.bsky.social @theguardian.com and @ftm.eu is shortlisted for the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize
daphnejournalismprize.eu/edition-2025...

Finalists 2025 – Daphne Caruana Galizia

daphnejournalismprize.eu

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Claes de Vreese @claesdevreese.bsky.social · 6d

Breaking: Dutch court rules that Meta needs to offer chronological/ non algorithmic feed as clear and stable option (to Dutch users).

Changes must be implemented in two weeks. 100,000 euro fine per day if non compliant.

Case brought fwd by @bitsoffreedom.bsky.social

nos.nl/l/2584891

Rechter: Instagram en Facebook moeten algoritmevrije optie krijgen

Bits of Freedom eiste dat in een rechtszaak en kreeg gelijk van de Nederlandse rechter.

nos.nl

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Saskia Bricmont @saskiabricmont.bsky.social · 8d

Public money is funding spyware!

With 39 MEPs from 4 political groups, we are writing to the @ec.europa.eu to express deep concerns following @ftm.eu revelations that EU financed spyware companies!

This must stop! We call on full transparency and follow up on the PEGA committee recommendations!

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Reposted by Lise Witteman

Nowi @gierineke.bsky.social · 8d

Hungary is handing its defence industry to a friendly telecoms company, tapping into EU funds. This isn’t a national issue but a European one: public money risks flowing straight into Orbán’s network. Brussels must act, or it will be the Union itself that gets hollowed out.

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Lise Witteman @lise-witteman.bsky.social · 9d

Hungary is selling a sizable slice of its #defence industry interests to.. a #telecoms company 😳
www.ftm.eu/articles/vik... @ftm.eu

Viktor Orbán hands over Hungary’s defence industry to business ally

As Europe ramps up military and security spending, Hungary is selling a sizable slice of its defence industry interests to telecoms company 4iG. The firm’s chairman has close ties to Hungarian Prime M...

www.ftm.eu

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 15d

Yep, that was me again

European Ombudsman @ombudsman.europa.eu · 15d

We have launched an inquiry following a complaint regarding how @ec.europa.eu managed a request for access to documents related to a text message concerning trade negotiations with Mercosur countries.

Ombudswoman opens inquiry into how Commission handled access request for text message concerning Mercosur negotiations

After receiving a complaint, European Ombudswoman Teresa Anjinho decided to open an inquiry into how the European Commission handled an access to document...

www.ombudsman.europa.eu

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Lise Witteman @lise-witteman.bsky.social · 16d

Europe’s public bank rocked by conflicts of interest and favouritism - yet again..

Our Brussels newsletter is out!
@simonvandorpe.bsky.social www.ftm.eu/articles/bur...

Europe’s public bank rocked by conflicts of interest and favouritism yet again

Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism

www.ftm.eu

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Kim van Keken @kimvankeken.bsky.social · 27d

En het is echt schandalig hoe te veel journalistieke opdrachtgevers zich misdragen. Heb ook te vaak dit soort wurgdeals onder mijn neus geschoven gekregen. Van omroepen die nota bene bestaan dankzij publiek geld.

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Emma du Chatinier @emmaduchatinier.bsky.social · 28d

In 2021, von der Leyen texted Pfizer’s CEO ahead of a multi-billion € vaccine deal. When @alexfanta.bsky.social
asked to see the texts, the Commission refused. In episode #9 of the @ftm.eu podcast, we unpack #Pfizergate with @lise-witteman.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f...

Von der Leyen’s secret texts with Pfizer

Podcast Episode · Follow the Money: The Podcast · 10/09/2025 · 24m

podcasts.apple.com

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Lise Witteman @lise-witteman.bsky.social · 28d

How to uncover fraud and corruption?

Well, just #google it, antifraud watchdog OLAF seems to think!

If only matters were that simple...

Read our latest Crime & Corruption newsletter 👇

www.ftm.eu/articles/new...

Anti-corruption office dismissed Huawei allegations after a few web searches

Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism

www.ftm.eu

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Peter Teffer @peterteffer.bsky.social · 28d

Von der Leyen says "informed citizens who can trust what they read and hear are essential to keep those-in-power accountable", and that the press should remain free.

You know what would help?

A Commission that actually answers questions (on-record) and handles access to documents requests quicker.

Honourable Members,

In some communities across Europe, traditional media are struggling.

In many rural areas, the days of going out for a local paper is a nostalgic memory.

This has created many news deserts where disinformation thrives.

And this is very dangerous for our democracy.

Because informed citizens who can trust what they read and hear are essential to keep those-in-power accountable.

And when independent media are dismantled or neutralised, our ability to monitor corruption and preserve democracy is severely weakened.

This is why the first step in an autocrat's playbook is always to capture independent media.

Because this enables backsliding and corruption to happen in the dark.

So we need to do more to protect our media and independent press.

This is why we will launch a new Media Resilience Programme – it will support independent journalism and media literacy.

But we also need to invest to address some of the root causes of this trend.

This is why in the next budget, we have proposed to significantly boost funding for media.

We also need to enable private equity.

We will therefore use our tools to support independent and local media.

A free press is the backbone of any democracy.

And we will support Europe's press to remain free.

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Lise Witteman @lise-witteman.bsky.social · Sep 9

One of the founders of the "Great Firewall" - blocking Chinese people from the truth - is now exporting his #censorship tech to regimes worldwide. With aid from EU firms.

Todays story, in partnership with @papertrailmedia.de
www.ftm.eu/articles/how...

China exports censorship tech to authoritarian regimes – aided by EU firms

Fang Binxing is one of the founders of China’s ‘Great Firewall’ of online censorship, but a new investigation reveals that this surveillance expert with links to the Chinese state is behind the intern...

www.ftm.eu

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Lise Witteman @lise-witteman.bsky.social · Sep 5

EU hotshots have been trying to get special treatment when suspected of fraud..

A must read on the battle against the rot from within 👇

Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · Sep 4

🔥 Laura Kövesi, the first European Chief Prosecutor, has locked horns with EU institutions and powerful political figures. Insiders question if her successor, whose appointment process is in full swing, will continue to crack the whip.

✅ Free to read today on @ftm.eu ⤵️

www.ftm.eu/articles/eu-...

EU’s chief prosecutor goes head-to-head with Brussels elite over corruption fight

In its fight against fraud and corruption, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has locked horns with EU institutions and powerful political figures. Under Laura Codruța Kövesi, its uncompro...

www.ftm.eu

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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · Sep 4

🔥 Laura Kövesi, the first European Chief Prosecutor, has locked horns with EU institutions and powerful political figures. Insiders question if her successor, whose appointment process is in full swing, will continue to crack the whip.

✅ Free to read today on @ftm.eu ⤵️

www.ftm.eu/articles/eu-...

EU’s chief prosecutor goes head-to-head with Brussels elite over corruption fight

In its fight against fraud and corruption, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has locked horns with EU institutions and powerful political figures. Under Laura Codruța Kövesi, its uncompro...

www.ftm.eu

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Reposted by Lise Witteman

Peter Teffer @peterteffer.bsky.social · Sep 2

On Monday @alistairkeepe.bsky.social asked why Commission President’s Signal messages were auto-deleted. Part of the answer: to save space.

On Tuesday @alexfanta.bsky.social followed up: von der Leyen has a smartphone with lots of storage, so what gives?

The question was skillfully sidestepped.

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Peter Teffer @peterteffer.bsky.social · Sep 1

A European Commission spokeswoman said today, in 2025, that the automatic deletion of Signal messages is turned on "to save space".

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Belga_English (Belga News Agency) @belgaenglish.bsky.social · Sep 1

Transparency rules in the spotlight amid questions over missing text messages

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen relies on auto-deleting text messages, according to revelations by the Dutch investigative...

www.belganewsagency.eu

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · Sep 1

Find the full video of the Commission's response here: audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/media/vid...

Audiovisual Service

audiovisual.ec.europa.eu

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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · Sep 1

News update - in today's midday briefing, the European Commission confirmed that von der Leyen's text messages are reviewed by her chief of staff, Björn Seibert, before deletion. No review by any one else, either within the Commission or independently.

Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · Sep 1

This morning, we published a story saying that European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen auto-deletes all her text messages on the Signal app, including those with an EU leader, president Emmanuel Macron of France.

Here is why this is a massive problem for public accountability. 🧵

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Lise Witteman @lise-witteman.bsky.social · Sep 1

If it would be you or I: yes..

Lise Witteman @lise-witteman.bsky.social · Sep 1

The most powerful woman in Europe has set accountability on auto-delete 👇

Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · Sep 1

I tried getting access to Ursula von der Leyen’s text messages for years.

Now it is clear why that will never happen.

She auto-deletes them all.

New story:
www.ftm.eu/articles/von...

Von der Leyen sets messages on auto-delete

The European Commission has previously said it didn’t automatically delete messages.

www.ftm.eu

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Lise Witteman @lise-witteman.bsky.social · Sep 1

NEWS

Ursula von der Leyen has set text message exchanges to auto-delete 🙄

www.ftm.eu/articles/von...

Von der Leyen sets messages on auto-delete

The European Commission has previously said it didn’t automatically delete messages.

www.ftm.eu

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