New York Times

Laws used to fight pandemic are in some cases weakening democracies, report says.

The coronavirus pandemic has weakened democracy across Europe, according to a human rights group that looked into 14 countries.

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The Guardian

Covid and civil liberties: keeping a close watch on government: Guardian editorial

A new report from the Civil Liberties Union for Europe, based in Germany, suggests that the pandemic has played an important part in weakening democracy across the continent.

The Washington Post

E.U. unveils vaccine passport plan to enable summer travel

“Beyond being a distraction from the task of vaccination, the pass could end up creating a two-tier society,” Israel Butler of the Civil Liberties Union for Europe, a human rights watchdog, said.

Coronavirus pandemic ‘weakening’ rule of law in EU countries: Report

“Countries such as Hungary, Poland or Slovenia have just used the pandemic to strengthen their hold on power and limit criticism of the government,” Linda Ravo, senior adviser to the NGO, said in a statement.

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NetzPolitik

Brutaler Kampf über die Beschränkung der Marktmacht der Internetgiganten

Laut der Anwältin Eva Simon von der Civil Liberties Union for Europe, würden die Entwürfe „klare Regeln für Online-Dienste aufstellen und die Situation verbessern. Aber es ist unwahrscheinlich, dass sie ohne angemessene Durchsetzung einen Wendepunkt darstellt.“

TechCrunch

Google and IAB adtech targeted with more RTB privacy complaints

“Real-time bidding, which is the bedrock of the online advertising industry, is an abuse of people’s right to privacy,” said Dr Orsolya Reich, senior advocacy officer at Liberties.