1) The European Commission has proposed Chat Control, pressuring platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram to scan encrypted messages with AI, including client-side scanning, which critics say breaks encryption and enables mass surveillance.
2) The EU has adopted the eID (European Digital Identity), a centralized digital ID system via a “wallet” app, tied to biometric and personal data for service access.
3) The EU’s Data Retention Directive forced telecoms to store metadata until it was struck down in 2014; debates still persist.
4) The EU’s Digital Services Act mandates platforms share data with authorities to fight illegal content, raising profiling concerns.
5) The EU’s Data Act requires businesses to share data with governments, threatening personal info control.
6) The EU supports the UN Cybercrime Treaty, boosting global surveillance and data-sharing powers.
That’s just off the top of my head; I’m sure there are more examples of how the EU abuses its power and infringes on users’ privacy.
So yes, of all possible stewards for Firefox, the EU is maybe the third-worst, behind only China and Putin’s Russia.
1) The European Commission has proposed Chat Control, pressuring platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram to scan encrypted messages with AI, including client-side scanning, which critics say breaks encryption and enables mass surveillance.
2) The EU has adopted the eID (European Digital Identity), a centralized digital ID system via a “wallet” app, tied to biometric and personal data for service access.
3) The EU’s Data Retention Directive forced telecoms to store metadata until it was struck down in 2014; debates still persist.
4) The EU’s Digital Services Act mandates platforms share data with authorities to fight illegal content, raising profiling concerns.
5) The EU’s Data Act requires businesses to share data with governments, threatening personal info control.
6) The EU supports the UN Cybercrime Treaty, boosting global surveillance and data-sharing powers.
That’s just off the top of my head; I’m sure there are more examples of how the EU abuses its power and infringes on users’ privacy.
So yes, of all possible stewards for Firefox, the EU is maybe the third-worst, behind only China and Putin’s Russia.