Drahtbericht: Deutsche Diplomaten fordern undiplomatisch Chatkontrolle
netzpolitik.org/2025/drahtberi…
Surveillance under Surveillance: Weltkarte der Videoüberwachung gerettet
netzpolitik.org/2025/surveilla…
Dänischer Vorschlag: Der Kampf um die Chatkontrolle ist noch nicht vorbei
netzpolitik.org/2025/daenische…
Interaktive Webseite: Wie autoritäre Tech-Netzwerke die europäische Souveränität gefährden
netzpolitik.org/2025/interakti…
Databroker Files: All you need to know about how adtech data exposes the EU to espionage
netzpolitik.org/2025/databroke…
Databroker Files: Das Wichtigste zur Spionage-Gefahr durch Handy-Standortdaten in der EU
netzpolitik.org/2025/databroke…
Databroker Files: Datenhändler verkaufen metergenaue Standortdaten von EU-Personal
netzpolitik.org/2025/databroke…
Public records are for the public
Dear Friend of Press Freedom,
It’s been 220 days since Rümeysa Öztürk was arrested for co-writing an op-ed the government didn’t like. Read on for news from California, Washington D.C. and Maryland as the government shutdown drags on.
Public records are for the public
When Wired made public records-based stories free, subscriptions went up.
When 404 Media published reporting that relied on the Freedom of Information Act without a paywall, new sources came forward.
Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF) spoke to Wired Global Editorial Director and FPF board member Katie Drummond, and 404 Media co-founder Joseph Cox about why giving the public access to public records reporting is good for journalism — and for business. Read more here.
Shutting down the government doesn’t shut down the First Amendment
It’s absurd and unconstitutional to exclude reporters from immigration hearings unless they get government permission to attend, especially when it’s impossible to obtain permission due to the government shutdown, and particularly when the current government despises First Amendment freedoms and will use any opportunity to evade transparency.
And yet that’s exactly what an immigration court in Maryland did this week. We wrote a detailed letter to the top judge at the courthouse explaining why they need to reverse course, both to comply with the law and for the sake of democracy. The next day, Capital News Service reported that the court had backed down and lifted the ban. Read the letter here.
No secret police in LA
Award-winning journalist Cerise Castle sued Los Angeles County in July and obtained a court order for the department to release the sheriff’s deputy ID photographs.
But now the county is appealing. Its objection to allowing the public to identify law enforcement officers is especially striking when Angelenos and others across the country are outraged by unidentified, masked federal immigration officers abducting their neighbors. It also comes on the heels of the city of Los Angeles embarrassing itself with its failed effort to sue a journalist for publishing officer photographs.
We connected with Castle’s lawyer, Susan Seager, to try to figure out what the department is thinking. Read more here.
Top three questions about the White House ballroom
FPF’s Daniel Ellsberg Chair on Government Secrecy Lauren Harper has lots of questions about the demolition of a section of the White House to construct a ballroom.
She wrote about three of them for our government secrecy site, The Classifieds: (1) Is there a budget? (2) Who are the donors, and what do they get in return? and (3) Where should we look for answers about what’s going on at the East Wing? Read more here.
What we’re reading
U.S. assessment of Israeli shooting of journalist divided American officials (The New York Times). A retired U.S. colonel has gone public with his concern that the Biden administration’s findings about the 2022 killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by the Israeli military were “soft-pedaled to appease Israel.” There has been “a miscarriage of justice,” he says.
ICE detains British journalist after criticism of Israel on US tour (The Guardian). The detention of Sami Hamdi by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement solely for his views while on a speaking tour in the U.S. is a blatant assault on free speech. These are the tactics of the thought police.
Trump and Leavitt watch with glee as the press is crumbling (Salon). “As the press becomes more subservient and less independent, the firsthand knowledge needed to even stage a fight to get our mojo back is a whisper in the ether,” writes Brian Karem. That’s why veteran journalists who know how abnormal this all is need to be extra vocal these days.
Atlanta journalist says he ‘won’t be the only’ one deported by Trump officials (The Guardian). “It’s not the way I wanted to come back to my country – deported like a criminal,” journalist Mario Guevara told Briana Erickson of FPF’s U.S. Press Freedom Tracker from El Salvador. Read The Guardian’s story, based on reporting by the Tracker.
One third of all journalists are creator journalists, new report finds (Poynter). It’s no time for gatekeeping. There aren’t enough traditional J-School trained journalists to adequately document every ICE abduction – let alone everything else going on. We appreciate everyone who is exercising their press freedom rights, no matter how they’re categorized.
Transparenzbericht 3. Quartal 2025: Unsere Einnahmen und Ausgaben und verschiedene Hüte
netzpolitik.org/2025/transpare…
Rasterfahndung: Daten von 153 Millionen Fluggästen landen 2024 beim BKA
netzpolitik.org/2025/rasterfah…
Neue irische Datenschutzbeauftragte: Menschenrechtsorganisation reicht Beschwerde bei EU-Kommission ein
netzpolitik.org/2025/neue-iris…
Sorge vor US-Sanktionen: Internationaler Strafgerichtshof kickt Microsoft aus seiner Verwaltung
netzpolitik.org/2025/sorge-vor…
Etappensieg: Dänemark nimmt Abstand von verpflichtender Chatkontrolle
netzpolitik.org/2025/etappensi…
Digital Fairness Act: Große Wünsche für mehr Verbraucherschutz im Netz
netzpolitik.org/2025/digital-f…
☠️ “Hack the System – At Least a Little”: Why Precision Matters in the 21st Century
A journalistic and editorial assessment of the presentation by Schoresch Davoodi (Pirate Party) at the Hack the Promise Festival 2025, Basel
Where does freedom end when algorithms decide? How do you hack power without taking it over? These core questions were the focus of this year’s “Hack the Promise 2025.” A highlight: the keynote speech by Schoresch Davoodi, Board Member of the Pirate Party International (PPI), who redefined the attitude of the “Hacker” – as a necessary tool for democratic resilience.
From Radical Upheaval to Precision: The New Hacker Stance
by Schoresch Davoodi
In his presentation, Davoodi spanned the arc from the idealised freedom myths of the turn of the millennium (from “The Matrix” to net culture) to the present, where sovereignty over technology and discourses is fiercely contested.
While the revolutionary dreams of a fresh start and radical upheaval, Davoodi posits that the attitude of the hacker is paramount today:
“Only those who understand systems can safely change them – and preserve freedom within them.”
The core message: True change doesn’t need “arsonists,” but people who understand, analyse, and deliberately improve existing systems, rather than just tearing them down. Anyone serious about political change must endure complexity – and face new challenges with the spirit of the Enlightenment: Sapere aude – dare to use your own understanding.
Between Filter Bubble and Digital Attack
The threats to democracy are more diverse than ever in 2025: Digital violence, disinformation, and targeted manipulation are not just isolated incidents but systematically undermine the foundations of democracy.
Davoodi warned not only against the lure of authoritarian simplifications but also against a “dogma-driven politics” within progressive movements. A critical perspective was directed at the role of NGOs, think tanks, and activist networks:
- The Filter Bubble Effect: Those who conduct debates only through their own “filter bubble” risk narrowing plurality instead of courageously expanding it.
- The Demand: Those who remain critically aware of their own filters protect democratic diversity and self-determination.
The “Inner Hack”: More Than Just Net Policy
How must this hacker ethos become politically concrete? Davoodi outlined a practice that goes beyond mere symbolic politics:
| Hacker Practice | Political Implementation |
| Precision | Carefully formulated, relatable motions instead of purely demonstrative symbolic politics. |
| Openness | Establishment of open debate spaces that allow risk-benefit analyses and do not become paralysed by moral grandstanding. |
| Collaboration | Cross-border cooperation, as practiced within the framework of Pirate Parties International. |
The “inner hack” thus means: enduring complexity, opposing propaganda, and viewing maturity and resilience as central political tools. That is democracy in action.
Conclusion: The Small Hack for Great Freedom
Schoresch Davoodi’s presentation is not a manifesto for upheaval, but an invitation to enlightened further thought. In the face of global uncertainties and hybrid threats, the Pirate Party 2025 is increasingly focusing on resilience, strengthening critical infrastructures, and a democratically legitimised security architecture – expressly without serving authoritarian tendencies.
The future belongs to those who have the courage to work on systems precisely, objectively, and openly – and never lose sight of freedom as a core value.
Key Quote: “The revolutionary dreams of a blank slate; the hacker repairs the existing system with precision and courage.”
In this spirit: Hack the System. At least a little – whenever it is most urgently needed.
Would you like me to summarise this British English article into a short, punchy version suitable for a social media post?
9th Global Conference on Illegal Finance and Crypto
The following is a report from PPI´s representative at the United Nations Office of Vienna, Mr. Kay Schroeder, who attended the UNODC Conference on Illegal Finance and Crypto.
Reflections from the 9th Global Conference on Criminal Finance and Crypto – UN Vienna
Yesterday I attended the 9th Global Conference on Criminal Finance and Crypto, hosted at the
United Nations in Vienna with support from UNODC. While no official UN representatives were
present, the event offered a revealing glimpse into how private sector challenges—particularly those
surrounding crypto finance—are increasingly reframed as matters of public concern.
The conference celebrated the growing institutional acceptance of crypto assets, shifting the
narrative from speculative private losses to regulated public affairs. This reframing was not just
semantic—it was strategic. Legal frameworks now position crypto as a legitimate asset class,
despite its origin as replicable code. The symbolic elevation of crypto into the realm of public
policy raises fundamental questions about value, legitimacy, and institutional responsibility.
At its core, blockchain technology is designed to reduce transaction costs. Its native tokens—like
BNB on the Binance Smart Chain—are meant to facilitate efficiency, not store value. Yet the market
treats these tokens as assets, creating artificial scarcity and speculative value.
This contradiction was starkly illustrated during a presentation by Francesco Venditti, who proudly described the
seizure of BNB as a value store, while simultaneously labeling a lesser-known BEP-20 token as a
rug pull. Ironically, the logic of blockchain suggests the opposite: BNB should devalue with
increased use, while any token’s value depends on its legal and economic framing.
The deeper issue lies in the off-chain dominance of crypto transactions—estimated at 80–90%—
which undermines the transparency and decentralization that blockchain promises. Centralized
exchanges (CEXs) and DeFi platforms act as both gatekeepers and service providers, facilitating
flows that often bypass the very technology they claim to represent. This dual role complicates
efforts to combat illicit finance, especially when the same actors who enable laundering also claim
to fight it.
Stablecoins deserve particular scrutiny. Pegged 1:1 to fiat currencies, they are technically simple
tokens maintained off-chain. They are not cryptocurrencies in the traditional sense, but rather
symbolic representations of fiat value. Their presence in blockchain ecosystems injects artificial
stability into systems designed to devalue through scalability. In this sense, stablecoins function as
Trojan horses—vehicles through which the fiat system reasserts control over decentralized
infrastructure.
The economic implications are profound. Blockchain tokens represent a new category of economic
goods—ones that devalue with increased use. This defies conventional market logic, where utility
and demand typically reinforce value. If transaction costs approach zero, and those costs are tied to
the token itself, then the token’s value must also approach zero. Yet institutional actors continue to
frame these tokens as stores of value, creating a performative economy that contradicts its own
technological foundations.
During the conference, I posed a question to the panel of lawmakers and lobbyists exploring
solutions to “illegal finance and crypto”:
“What is your opinion on forbidding stablecoins to remove the artificial valuation of
blockchain tokens, which naturally devalue due to scaling requirements?”
The question remains open. But the conversation is shifting—from retail scams to structural
manipulation, from private speculation to public framing. As crypto continues its institutional
ascent, we must remain vigilant about the symbolic and economic contradictions embedded in its
architecture.”
pp-international.net/2025/10/i…
Zivilgesellschaft: Kritik an Debatte um „Missbrauch von Sozialleistungen“
netzpolitik.org/2025/zivilgese…
In Echtzeit: US-Abschiebebehörde ICE baut Überwachungsarsenal weiter aus
netzpolitik.org/2025/in-echtze…
Gegen Regulierung: Big Tech steckt so viel Geld in EU-Lobbyarbeit wie noch nie
netzpolitik.org/2025/gegen-reg…
Podcast 4: Zorg en zorgen die we hebben
Piraten Podcast 4 (27 okt 2025): Zorg en zorgen die we hebbenDeze Piraten Podcast werd opgenomen in het Blauwe Pand, Zaandam Met Sabrina, Angeline en Leontien!en dank aan: Bart
Het bericht Podcast 4: Zorg en zorgen die we hebben verscheen eerst op Piratenpartij.
Zehn Jahre Landesverrat: Netzpolitischer Abend zum Thema Pressefreiheit
netzpolitik.org/2025/zehn-jahr…
Cybercrime-Konvention: Menschenrechtsverletzungen über Grenzen hinweg
netzpolitik.org/2025/cybercrim…
KW 43: Die Woche, in der wir uns über das Scheitern einer Verordnung gefreut haben.
netzpolitik.org/2025/kw-43-die…
Elektronische Patientenakte: Mit Sicherheitsrisiken und Nebenwirkungen
netzpolitik.org/2025/elektroni…
Offener Brief: Bürgerrechtsorganisationen pochen auf Unabhängigkeit der irischen Datenschutzaufsicht
netzpolitik.org/2025/offener-b…
DSA: EU-Kommission bemängelt Verstöße bei Instagram, Facebook und TikTok
netzpolitik.org/2025/dsa-eu-ko…
Piraten Podcast 3: De geschiedenis van de partij
Piraten Podcast 3 (22 okt 2025): De geschiedenis van de partij, de geschiedenis van PiratenDeze Piraten Podcast werd opgenomen in HAN Nijmegen Met David, Arjan, en Roberto!en dank aan: Sabrina, Leontien en Bart.
Het bericht Piraten Podcast 3: De geschiedenis van de partij verscheen eerst op Piratenpartij.
Ungewollt im Internet: Neue Kampagne gegen Instrumentalisierung von Obdachlosen durch Influencer
netzpolitik.org/2025/ungewollt…
Digitalministerium ratlos: Keine Strategie für Umstieg auf Windows 11
netzpolitik.org/2025/digitalmi…
SAP und OpenAI: Wie die öffentliche Verwaltung mit KI noch abhängiger von Big Tech wird
netzpolitik.org/2025/sap-und-o…
