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European Policy Monitoring Report - April 2026
by Dimitar Zagorski 30 Apr '26

30 Apr '26

Hi all, April was the month age verification went from political debate to political theatre. We had high-level calls, a half-baked app and legislative procedures that are far from the finish line. There is enormous political momentum, genuine technical difficulty, and a timeline being driven by summits rather than by readiness. === Age Verification === The month's centrepiece was a live-streamed heads of state call hosted by French President Macron, attended by Commission President von der Leyen and leaders from 13 other EU countries including Meloni, Sánchez and Merz. Macron framed the moment boldly: "We've already tried parental consent and it didn't work. We chose the ban." Von der Leyen used the occasion to declare that the EU's own age verification app was "technically ready" — a claim that lasted roughly 24 hours before white-hat hackers were posting about holes in the source code. The Commission said the flaws related to a "previous demo version"; researchers said they were testing the latest one. The Commission also set out a new recommendation <https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/commission-sets-out-common…>, reiterating its approach. — The French Senate approved the social media ban for under-15s, becoming the first EU chamber to do so. At the heart of the Senate debate was a familiar tension: the DSA gives the Commission primary responsibility for regulating Very Large Online Platforms and for child protection, but France is legislating bans anyway. France notified the text <https://technical-regulation-information-system.ec.europa.eu/en/notificatio…> to the Commission under the TRIS procedure. A mechanism to notify the European Commission of draft national technical regulations. This will halt the proceedings for a few months. — The French law is relevant to Wikimedia: the text explicitly excludes from its scope online encyclopedias or platforms for developing and sharing free software. This is an important precedent. We will work towards national laws and any eventual EU-level framework following suit. — In Italy, an administrative court annulled an Agcom (the country’s regulator) decision that had required porn platforms — including those based in Cyprus — to implement age verification. The court found that Italy had not followed the procedure required by the e-Commerce Directive: before imposing obligations on platforms established in another member state, it must first contact that state's authorities. The ruling <https://mdp.giustizia-amministrativa.it/visualizza/?nodeRef=&schema=tar_rm&…> is a useful reminder that the country-of-origin principle still applies and constrains unilateral national enforcement against cross-border platforms. — Greece has announced plans to end anonymity <https://www.euractiv.com/news/greece-to-ban-anonymity-on-social-media/> on social media, requiring platforms to link all accounts to verified real identities. The initiative is being handled at the highest level, inside Prime Minister Mitsotakis's office. The plan would not eliminate pseudonyms — users could still appear under a chosen name — but platforms would need to know who is behind every account. Critics from digital rights groups have raised serious concerns about freedom of expression and the practical and legal difficulties of implementation. Digital minister Dimitris Papastergiou acknowledged these, and noted he would prefer an EU-wide approach. We currently have no details on the intended scope and which platforms would be encompassed. — Most Wikimedia editors contribute pseudonymously or anonymously. Any mandatory real-identity verification regime, whether national or EU-wide, would be incompatible with how volunteer communities like ours function. We will monitor this future Greek proposal closely. === Meta Found in Breach of DSA on Child Protection === The European Commission issued its preliminary findings <https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_920> that Meta's Instagram and Facebook are in breach of the DSA for failing to prevent under-13s from accessing their services. The investigation, launched in May 2024, found multiple specific failures: children can enter a false birth date with no verification; the reporting tool for underage users requires up to seven clicks and frequently results in no follow-up; and Meta's internal risk assessment methodology contradicts EU-wide evidence showing that 10–12% of children under 13 are on these platforms. The Commission benchmarked its findings against the 2025 DSA Guidelines on the protection of minors. Meta’s own terms of use prohibit under-13s from using their services and under the DSA platforms are responsible for enforcing their rules. — The Cyprus Presidency noted that the DSA Guidelines on the protection of minors, adopted under Article 28 DSA in July 2025, will be updated before the end of 2026. They currently state that if a platform hosts pornographic content it should make sure minors don’t access it. === CSAM === The Cypriot Presidency has circulated an interesting document on the interplay between the permanent CSA Regulation currently in the works and the DSA. The Presidency's suggestion is that the CSA risk assessment and mitigation measures would supplement — rather than replace — DSA obligations for Very Large Online Platforms, and that the Commission would be the sole supervisory authority for those obligations. — The Council of Europe adopted a Recommendation on online safety and empowerment of users and content creators <https://search.coe.int/cm?i=09125948802b41e8> this month. It draws heavily on the DSA's framework and approach, stating that systemic risk assessment models as more proportionate than blanket scanning. === German Data Retention Law === Germany's cabinet endorsed a government draft law on IP address retention, which has now been formally published <https://www.bmjv.de/SharedDocs/Gesetzgebungsverfahren/DE/2025_IP_Speicherun…> by the Federal Ministry of Justice. The draft targets serious crimes including deepfakes, doxing and stalking — digital violence in the broad sense — and obligates ISPs and platforms to record IP addresses for approximately three months. — The key elements are: - Individuals may ask ISPs for the IP address, name (if available) and address (if available) of anonymous accounts. - Individuals will be able to apply to the Regional Courts for such information. To do so, they must demonstrate that an unknown person has committed an infringement and that they wish to bring civil claims against that person. ISPs and platforms will need to hand it over if a judge consents. - IP addresses will have to be stored for a period of three months. There is no obligation to store other types of data in this proposal. === Digital Networks Act === The Digital Networks Act (DNA), proposed by the Commission on 21 January 2026, is making its way through the Parliament. The EP lead committee is ITRE, with MEP Kobosko (Renew, PL) as rapporteur. — As flagged last month, the DNA contains provisions relevant to data retention: it lists retention among the conditions of the general authorisation regime for telecoms (Recitals 44 & 56, Article 9), allows data retention obligations to be set as conditions for EU satellite authorisation (Article 38). Amendments from MEPs and Council could sneak it additional obligations on platforms, so we are watching closely. — The DNA is otherwise primarily a telecoms infrastructure regulation — merging four existing acts (the EECC, the BEREC Regulation, the Radio Spectrum Policy Programme, and core parts of the Open Internet Regulation) into a single directly applicable instrument. Net neutrality rules are carried over largely unchanged. === AVMSD === The Commission will update the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), which contains the editorial rules applying to the broadcasters and, to a certain extent, video-sharing platforms. According to its annual plan, a legislative proposal should be published by the end of the year. In light of this, the Commission launched a public consultation to gather the feedback of the various stakeholders. — The current rules exclude Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons from the definition of video-sharing platforms and therefore both projects are not subject to the AVMSD specific rules, such as on child protection and on European content. We have responded to the public consultation <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VuG6o3eLWRjvVIPfr_Ednr2aO11R6KDO/view?usp=…> with the specific goal to maintain this exclusion and avoid that Wikimedia project can be encompassed in the definition. ===END=== -- Wikimedia Europe ivzw

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Fellowship opportunity | May 3 deadline, Internet Society
by Franziska Putz 23 Apr '26

23 Apr '26

Free knowledge friends, I’m happy to share a great opportunity: the Internet Society has opened applications for their 2026 Community Advocacy Fellowship <https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/019d71dcedc87fcc8692fd23412c0e93>. *WHAT* This is a six-month fellowship designed to strengthen advocacy skills, build regional connections, and support participants in becoming effective Internet advocates. The program combines training, peer learning, and hands-on engagement. *WHY* This fellowship offers a structured pathway to strengthen public policy advocacy skills that are increasingly critical for protecting free knowledge and open Internet principles. It aligns closely with Wikimedia’s work on issues like platform regulation, access to information, and digital rights, providing tools to engage more effectively with policymakers. It’s also a valuable opportunity to build alliances beyond the Wikimedia movement, expanding your influence in broader Internet governance and advocacy spaces. *WHEN* - Applications open: 13 April (12:00 UTC) - Applications close: 3 May (23:59 UTC) - Contact: Julz Majale (fellowships(a)isoc.org) You can find more information and apply via the Community Advocacy Fellowship page. All the best with your applications! Ziski Franziska Putz (she/her) Senior Movement Advocacy Manager Global Advocacy, Wikimedia Foundation Fputz(a)wikimedia.org UTC Timezone

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Updated from the Wikimedia Foundation | Monitoring trends & events
by Franziska Putz 20 Apr '26

20 Apr '26

Dear friends, It's been a while! I wanted to share a few updates from the Wikimedia Foundation's Global Advocacy team (including new narratives we're exploring), as well as great work that Wikimedians on this list are doing. This is a long read, but it's interesting (at least, I hope you think so)! I recommend you save this for a Friday morning or afternoon, with your caffeinated drink of choice and a little sweet snack. Ok, here we go...☕🍰 *Update: Advocacy network programming* Thank you to those who took the time to respond to our survey reviewing WMF's advocacy programming, collaboration, and communications. We are in the process of reviewing the results and drafting suggested improvements, and re-launching some of our regular community calls! Thank you for your patience (and for your work, @Noah Usman <nusman-ctr(a)wikimedia.org>). *Wikimania plans!* Save the date! We will be hosting an advocacy day zero workshop on *Tuesday, July 21*. This is likely to be the first half of the day. In addition to lots of coffee, a little gossip, and general getting togetherness, we will focus on hands-on workshops that cover: 1. Relationships maintenance with institutions: How to talk to institutions (how to translate partnerships into impact) 2. Reverse-engineer a community campaign 👀 Watch this space for more details. *Advocacy events where we're showing up as a movement* 1. April 14-16 | Wikimedians from across Africa are hosting sessions at the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum in Côte d'Ivoire. See them here <https://diff.wikimedia.org/2026/04/07/youth-inclusion-open-data-inclusive-l…> ! 2. April 15-18 | We are attending the International Festival of Journalism in Italy for the first time, because we believe many of the challenges that we face in the era of AI are shared by public interest media organizations and journalists. See how we're exploring connections with the media ecosystem <https://medium.com/wikimedia-policy/why-the-open-knowledge-movement-and-pub…> . 3. April 29 | Creative Commons' campaign event in Paris, *How Can Equitable Access to Heritage Help Solve Global Challenges?* Details in next section. 4. May 4-8 | World Press Freedom Day & our largest ever presence at RightsCon; this time in Zambia! Read our session line-up <https://diff.wikimedia.org/2026/03/16/wikimedians-champion-digital-rights-a…> . 5. May 15-17 | ESEAP Conference! 6. June 22-26 | UN Open Source Week, NYC 7. July 6 - 10 | Three big internet governance events in Switzerland: Global Dialogue AI Governance <https://www.un.org/global-dialogue-ai-governance/en/roadmap>; AI for Good <https://aiforgood.itu.int/summit26/>; WSIS Forum <https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2026/Home/Consultations> 8. July 21-25 | 🥳Wikimania in Paris🎉 We will have a day zero, and a series of side-events hosted by various folks on this list. *Wikimedians are actively advocating on these topics* *Copyright* - Globally, Wikimedians remain at the forefront of the Creative Commons-led campaign for UNESCO to introduce a recommendation on open cultural heritage, with a major event <https://openheritagestatement.org/dialogue> taking place in Paris at the end of this month. @Brigitte Vézina <brigitte(a)creativecommons.org> @Hardiansyah <hardiansyah(a)wikimedia.or.id> @Patricia Diaz <patricia.diaz(a)wikimediachile.cl> - In Nigeria, Free Knowledge Africa are running a campaign to convince the Nigerian Copyright Commission to deploy an open access policy for research and open heritage, as well as resolve issues with freedom of panorama. @Olubusola Afolabi <olubusola(a)freeknowledgeafrica.org> - In Europe, there is a LOT of work on this topic (see Dimi's recent European Policy Monitoring Report). - Wikimedia Brazil ran an exceptional copyright campaign as part of a major coalition. In case you missed it, here's their recap presentation <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wikimedia_Brazil_2025_Copyright_Cam…> . @Marília Rocha <marilia.rocha(a)wmnobrasil.org> @João Alexandre Peschanski <joalpe(a)wmnobrasil.org> *Information integrity, freedom of information and privacy online* - In Indonesia, WMF and Wikimedia Indonesia continue to advocate for free, unrestricted access to Wikipedia projects and challenge the government's mandate to register platforms (and potentially share user data). Read Wikimedia Indonesia's open letter here <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Open_letters/Official_statement_fro…> . - In Ghana, Open Foundation West Africa is launching a collaborative campaign with private publishers, media freedom groups and journalist associations to address privacy and freedom of expression concerns <https://mfwa.org/issues-in-focus/ghanas-new-bills-on-mis-disinformation-cyb…> related to the recently passed Misinformation, Disinformation, Hate Speech and Publication of Other Information Bill, 2025 (MDHI Bill 2025). @Jael Boateng <jboateng(a)ofwafrica.org> - In Europe, there is a LOT of work on this topic (see Dimi's recent European Policy Monitoring Report). Including: The European Democracy Shield is a non-binding communication, identifying a whole range of measures that should protect EU democracy, focusing on safeguarding the information space, strengthening democratic institutions, elections and media, as well as boosting citizens’ engagement. Relevant measures include the revision of the anti-SLAPP recommendation (more on how SLAPP cases harm <https://diff.wikimedia.org/2025/03/14/2024-wikimedia-foundation-litigation-…> the movement). *Online safety laws and age-verification* - Wikimedia received an exemption from social-media bans for young people that were enacted in Italy and France. - Austria and the UK are debating social media bans. - WMUK and WMF are responding to the UK government consultation <https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/growing-up-in-the-online-world-…> on growing up in the digital world. @Lucy Crompton-Reid <lucy.crompton-reid(a)wikimedia.org.uk> - We had similar issues in Brazil <https://diff.wikimedia.org/2026/01/16/why-the-wikimedia-foundation-is-advoc…>earlier this year, as well as Australia. @Lukas Ruthes Goncalves <lrgoncalves(a)wikimedia.org> *Do we need better messages to protect the commons?* If we want the commons to thrive in the long term, we need stronger narratives and a broader coalition of partners. We're taking a few exploratory steps in that direction. 1. *WM Italia is translating the Wikipedia Test <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:The_Wikipedia_Test>!* Thank you @lorenzo.caresio@gmail.com <lorenzo.caresio(a)gmail.com> 2. *Finding partners with Public interest journalism groups? *We’re starting to explore how the open knowledge movement can work more closely with public interest journalism—especially as we face shared challenges around trust, AI, and the sustainability of the information ecosystem. You can see our first thinking in this blog post <https://medium.com/wikimedia-policy/why-the-open-knowledge-movement-and-pub…>and related workshop report <https://internetlab.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/AF_internetlab_rel_in…> . 3. *Should open knowledge be understood as critical digital infrastructure? *We’re also considering new framing devices to help policymakers and partners understand that knowledge is not just content or a nice to have, it is critical digital infrastructure. Open knowledge systems underpin democratic participation, resilience, and access to information, and should be treated (and protected) accordingly. You can see our initial conceptualization in this blog post <https://wikimediapolicy.medium.com/knowledge-as-critical-digital-infrastruc…> with Open Knowledge Foundation. 4. *Can we build a stronger economic argument and new alliances to sustain the digital commons?* Inspired by Open Future Foundation's analysis <https://openfuture.eu/blog/european-open-digital-ecosystems-and-digital-com…> of responses to the European Commission’s call for evidence on the Open Digital Ecosystem Strategy, we’re digging into the responses to better understand who is making arguments similar to ours <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Input_of_the_Wikimedia_Foundation_t…>, and where potential allies might be. A key emerging theme (also highlighted in early analysis by Open Future) is a shift toward an “open source, and…” framing: recognizing that openness alone is not sufficient, and that the digital commons require sustainability mechanisms, reciprocity, and investment in the communities that maintain them. @Alek Tarkowski <alek(a)openfuture.eu> @Alexandra Reice <areice-ctr(a)wikimedia.org> *=== 🙏Thanks for Reading This Far**🙏* * ===* Franziska Putz (she/her) Senior Movement Advocacy Manager Global Advocacy, Wikimedia Foundation Fputz(a)wikimedia.org UTC Timezone

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European Policy Monitoring Report - March 2026
by Dimitar Zagorski 31 Mar '26

31 Mar '26

Hi, Much is going on, but first things first, we celebrated Wikipedia’s 25th in Brussels this month and it was a blast <https://wikimedia.brussels/25-years-of-wikipedia/>! Wikimedia Europe and Wikimedia Belgium invited everyone we could think of from Wikipedians to collecting societies, from journalists to lobbyists, from institution staffers to scientists. There was a mini-exhibition, a Wikicheese station, cake and Annie Rauwerda (Depths of Wikipedia) brought down the house. We also talked about the Wikipedia Test <https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2025/06/27/the-wikipedia-test/>. We have uploaded the photos <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Wikipedia_25_in_Brussels> on Commons. === Stop-Gap CSA Law === What was meant to be a quiet extension of a temporary law turned into one of the messiest institutional showdowns of the year. The temporary ePrivacy derogation which has allowed platforms like Meta, Google, and Microsoft to voluntarily scan private messages for child sexual abuse material (CSAM), expires on 3 April. The European Parliament has voted against <https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20260325IPR39207/child-se…> extending it. — The ePrivacy derogation was supposed to be replaced by the CSA Regulation, also called by its critics chat control <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chat_Control>. However this file has been stuck in the legislative pipes since before the last European Parliament elections. The wrangling is specifically about how and when encrypted private messages can be scanned for CSAM. The Wikimedia Foundation’s public feedback <https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/1…> on the entire proposal expresses strong concerns about this part, although the WMF does not itself operate such services. — To buy more time, the EU institutions decided to go for an extension of the temporary patch. It was going rather quickly until, in plenary, an amendment <https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-10-2026-0070_EN.html> by the Greens/EFA group that limits any future voluntary scanning of private communications to messages from specific suspects identified by a judicial authority was adopted. This, in essence, replicates the Parliament's position on the permanent regulation, that one that is currently stuck in trilogue. — In trilogue negotiations between the Parliament and Council, the latter couldn’t accept this amendment. The center-right EPP then tabled another amendment in plenary, trying to revert the parliament’s recent change. The move was widely condemned across political groups as an attack on the institution's integrity. In the end, a plenary vote last week rejected the extension with 228 votes in favour, 311 against, and 92 abstentions. The temporary derogation will lapse on midnight of 3 April. === Panel of Experts on Child Safety === Commission President von der Leyen has finally convened a panel of experts <https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/panel-child-safety-online> to deliver a recommendation on how to protect minors from online harms, including the option of a social media ban. Work will be led by chairs Maria Melchior and Jörg Fegert, who represent France and Germany, the two largest EU countries. — This was supposed to get started last year after her “state of union” speech, but the timeline slipped. The panel is set to deliver its recommendation by the summer. It is widely expected that the Commission will use the output to kick off whatever legislative or non-legislative action it decides on. It is public information by now that DG Connect has already drafted an EU law to restrict children’s access to social media. Two key decisions are yet to be made: Which platforms should be in scope and what the actual age limits should be. — A related action is the Commission’s work to overhaul the Audiovisual Media Services Directive <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audiovisual_Media_Services_Directive_2010>. The risk for Wikimedia is that Wikimedia Commons gets categorised as a video sharing platform, which comes with age verification obligations. Frankly speaking, some of the content on Commons makes it a real challenge to argue that it is solely educational content. === Age Verification Updates from France & Austria === The French social media ban for under-15s <https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dyn/17/textes/l17b2107_proposition-loi#> is in its final legislative stretches. The bill, drafted by Laure Miller and adopted by the National Assembly in January, is now before the Senate. Amendments are under discussion in the Culture Committee, including a proposal by committee chair Catherine Morin-Desailly to require platforms to obtain parental authorisation for 13–15 year olds to sign up — a provision from her own rival bill adopted by the Senate in December. A further change in the Senate version will risk dragging the final adoption into autumn or later. === European Democracy Shield === The European Democracy Shield <https://commission.europa.eu/document/2539eb53-9485-4199-bfdc-97166893ff45_…>is a non-binding communication, identifying a whole range of measures that should protect EU democracy, focusing on safeguarding the information space, strengthening democratic institutions, elections and media, as well as boosting citizens’ engagement. — Among the more relevant measures are the setting up of the European Centre for Democratic resilience, the full implementation of the current legislation (DSA, EMFA) as well as a revision of the anti-SLAPP recommendation. — Several MEPs from different groups (S&D, Renew Europe, Greens/EFA, The Left) tabled amendments aimed at safeguarding community-governed platforms and volunteers. The texts are in AM 807 <https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/EUDS-AM-784406_EN.pdf>, AMs 926 & 980 <https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/EUDS-AM-784407_EN.pdf>, and AMs 1133, 1135, 1137, 1140, 1143 & 1273 <https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/EUDS-AM-784408_EN.pdf>. === Parliament Report on AI & Copyright === On 10 March, the European Parliament adopted a non-binding, own-initiative report on copyright and generative AI <https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-10-2026-0019_EN.html> led by rapporteur Axel Voss (EPP, DE) with 460 votes in favour, 71 against, and 88 abstentions. No amendments were tabled after the committee vote, so the plenary text is identical to what we reported on in February. — The headline positive: the report confirms that the text and data mining (TDM) exceptions in EU copyright law apply to AI training. This reduces legal uncertainty for researchers and developers of public-interest AI systems, and is consistent with the interpretation reflected in the AI Act. It also moves from an irrebuttable to a rebuttable presumption of use by AI developers, which is a more proportionate approach. — The headline concern: the report calls for extending both the press publishers' right and broadcasting rights to give news media "full control" over the use of their content for AI training, requiring "explicit consent." Communia, of which WMEU is a member, warns <https://communia-association.org/2026/03/10/parliament-adopts-ini-report-on…> that this framing risks being read as excluding press and news media content from TDM exceptions altogether — which would significantly constrain AI training on publicly available information and set a worrying precedent for the Commission's forthcoming review of the 2019 Copyright Directive. Open Future also has a useful analysis <https://openfuture.eu/blog/copyright-ai-and-the-limits-of-voluntary-licensi…> of what the report means for voluntary licensing schemes. — The report takes partially contradictory positions. It is hard to see how these can be reconciled in an actual legislative proposal by the Commission. === Data Retention === Two developments worth tracking this month, both touching on data retention from different angles. — The Digital Networks Act (DNA), proposed <https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/digital-networks-act> by the Commission in January, contains several provisions with data retention implications. Most notably, Recital 44 and Article 9 list data retention among the conditions of the general authorisation regime for telecoms. Article 38 allows implementing acts to set data retention obligations as conditions for EU satellite authorisation. And the impact assessment points to BEREC coordination as a mechanism to address fragmentation in national data retention rules — language that could lay the groundwork for a future EU harmonisation push. MEPs and Council may yet make the text worse on this front, so amendments will need close watching. The EP lead committee is ITRE, with MEP Kobosko (Renew, PL) as rapporteur. — The preliminary reference <https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:C_202600937> from the court in Gdańsk flagged last month continues to make its way to the CJEU. The question — whether a national obligation to retain traffic and location data for 12 months is compatible with the ePrivacy Directive and the Charter — will be an important reference point for any future EU data retention legislation. === Irish Council Presidency === The Irish Council Presidency is planning to organise an Online Safety Summit in September. Online safety is a stated priority for Ireland's upcoming 2026 Presidency, focusing on child protection, age verification solutions, and combating harmful and illegal content. The Irish government states <https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-the-taoiseach/publications/empower-onli…> that it is committed “to work actively with like-minded EU Member States to explore options to introduce age restrictions on the use of social media”. It is also working on its own Government Digital Wallet. — A cybersecurity-focused week is penciled in for the week of 5 October. An AI summit is planned for 14 October. ===END=== -- Wikimedia Europe ivzw

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WMF updates | RightsCon & Advocacy Network Survey
by Franziska Putz 16 Mar '26

16 Mar '26

Dear free knowledge friends, It has been a while! I hope you've enjoyed the excellent monthly policy debriefs from the WMEU team via this mailing list, I know I have. But now, I finally have something to share. Hold your expectations, it is not that exciting. *=Will RightsCon be sick of Wikimedians by the end of this year's conference?=* Of course not, we're delightful! Every year I put together a blog post that announces all the wonderful sessions that feature Wikimedians at RightsCon, the world's largest digital rights conference. This might just be our biggest turn-out yet with over 10 sessions. And I'm sure I'm missing some. In this Diff blog post <https://diff.wikimedia.org/2026/03/16/wikimedians-champion-digital-rights-a…> you can see all the topics we'll be sharing with the RightsCon audience, including: Building alliances for information integrity, building alliances to influence UN negotiations, bridging gender gaps in AI, and more [1]. Join us, either in-person or online! RightsCon is taking place in Lusaka, Zambia this year. It is a hybrid conference; online tickets are available on a pay-what-you-desire basis. Details in the blog post. *=What can we improve? Survey to refresh policy advocacy support=* Apologies to those who were already contacted for cross-posting here, but this is big! We're refreshing the programmatic support and communications channels that WMF uses and runs to connect with Wikimedians interest in public policy advocacy. The last time we did this was 3 years ago. Since then we piloted working groups, launched grants and various resources on Meta-Wiki, posted monthly recaps of our work on Diff, and have held a series of different types of calls. What did you like? What didn’t work? We would greatly benefit from your feedback via this survey. Please click the following link to participate in the survey: https://forms.gle/JzqZ6ZBRMobehfRR8. We will be accepting responses until Friday, March 27, 2026. Warm wishes, Ziski - - - [1] https://diff.wikimedia.org/2026/03/16/wikimedians-champion-digital-rights-a… *Please note that this survey will be conducted via a third-party service, which may subject it to additional terms. For more information on privacy and data-handling, see the survey privacy statement: https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Legal:Affiliate_Feedback_Survey_Priva… . Franziska Putz (she/her) Senior Movement Advocacy Manager Global Advocacy, Wikimedia Foundation Fputz(a)wikimedia.org UTC Timezone

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European Policy Monitoring Report - February 2027
by Dimitar Zagorski 27 Feb '26

27 Feb '26

Hi all! February has been a busy month. Age verification is still a hot topic, with a veritable race between EU Member States to ban children from social media. Meanwhile Wikimedia submitted public feedback on the Digital Omnibus and the Open Digital Ecosystem Strategy. Finally, the DEM-Debate research project wrapped up with a final event in the European Parliament. === Digital Omnibus === Last month we introduced you to two digital omnibus proposals — a general one <https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/digital-omnibus-regulation…> and an AI one <https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/digital-omnibus-ai-regulat…>. The European Parliament is working fast. Amendment ideas are being discussed, with committee and plenary votes expected in March. The Council is also moving quickly, especially, on the AI omnibus. — Wikimedia Europe submitted its feedback <https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/1…> on the general omnibus. Our submission focuses on two sticking points: changes to the GDPR and to the rules on re-use of open government data. We remark that changes to the definition of personal data are fundamental and require proper assessment (which was skipped). On the other hand we welcome the so-called privacy signal system (i.e. instead of cookie banners you set your cookie preferences in the browser). On the public sector data side, we warn against the drawbacks of the proposed differentiated pricing, as it would be incompatible with standard free licences. This is also something we jointly argue together with Creative Commons and Communia <https://communia-association.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/One-pager-Digit…>. — For a human-readable version of the arguments you may also revisit our blog post <https://wikimedia.brussels/editorial-wmeu-on-the-digital-omnibus-the-russme…> . === Priorities of DG CNCT === The Commission’s digital directorate is prioritising a DSA delegated act on calculating supervisory fees for VLOPs over the one on calculating users. This is following the General Court's September 2025 ruling <https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-stories/2025/september/eu-court-annul…> in which it sided with Meta and TikTok in their challenge to these fees. This is of importance to the Wikimedia Foundation, as Wikipedia is designated as a VLOP. === Consultation on Open Digital Ecosystems === The European Commission's call for evidence on the Open Digital Ecosystem Strategy <https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/commission-opens-call-evidenc…> has closed. The Wikimedia Foundation submitted feedback <https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/1…>, highlighting how Wikimedia projects are built on open source technologies and constitute a critical part of the digital public infrastructure ecosystem. — The consultation attracted over 1,600 responses — an unusually high number for this kind of exercise that is not directly tied to legislation. Open Future has published a useful analysis <https://openfuture.eu/blog/european-open-digital-ecosystems-and-digital-com…> of the full set of responses. Recurring themes include calls for an EU-level Sovereign Tech Fund to provide sustained investment in open source infrastructure, support for treating open source as a commons rather than merely a licensing question, and a push to use public procurement as a strategic lever. === Data Retention === A case to watch <https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:C_202600937>: the Court of Justice of the EU has received a preliminary reference from a Polish court in Gdańsk asking whether a national law obliging electronic communications providers to retain traffic and location data for 12 months is compatible with EU law — specifically the ePrivacy Directive and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. — The outcome will be important for any future data retention legislation. The Commission is expected to make a proposal in that domain this year. The CJEU has pushed back against blanket data retention in the past. Any decision on this is important, as the Wikimedia Foundation tries to gather as little user data as possible. === Age Verification === After France, Spain, Italy, Denmark (just to name check a zealous few), Germany is ready to jump <https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/die-spd-stiehlt-der-cdu-die-soci…> on the “social media ban for kids” train. Two of the three ruling parties have recently announced such intentions. The Social Democrats (SPD) want a ban for everyone under 14, and beyond that additional rules for 14-16 year olds. The Christian Democrats (CDU), the main center right party, also came out in favour of a social media ban for children. They have at least given up on their idea for anti-anonymity measures. The smallest governing coalition partner, the Bavarian CSU (CDU’s counterpart in that state) meanwhile opposes the idea <https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/csu-geht-auf-distanz-zu-social-media-verbots…> and says that it is the wrong solution to the problem at hand. — On the EU level, a panel of experts advising Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on online age verification is getting started. It is expected to come up with a report before summer, according to digital Vice-President Virkkunen. It is also expected that the Commission will use this report as a stepping stone for further actions - legislative or not. A number of Member States and stakeholders are still hoping to see an EU-wide approach to social media restrictions for minors. — For Wikimedia projects it is important that the definition of social media doesn’t cover them, to avoid obstacles to free access to knowledge. === DEM-Debate Project: Final Event === On February 24, the DEM-Debate research project partners – Wikimedia Europe, the University of Amsterdam and Eurecat - Centre Tecnològic de Catalunya – gathered at the European Parliament in Brussels for the final event of the DEM-Debate <https://wikimedia.brussels/building-an-enabling-environment-for-democratic-…> initiative. Over the course of a year and half researchers looked into content moderation on Wikipedia during the 2024 European Parliament elections. You can discover the deliverables <https://wikimedia.brussels/building-an-enabling-environment-for-democratic-…>, watch the video <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DEM-Debate_Final_Event_at_the_Europ…> or read the blog post <https://wikimedia.brussels/the-dem-debate-project-came-to-an-end-the-final-…> . === Danish Copyright & Personal Characteristics === Denmark is working on a bill that extends copyright protections to personal characteristics, such as voices and faces. It includes a protection against the sharing of realistic digitally generated imitations of people’s personal characteristics. In parallel, there is a second protection for performers and artists against the sharing of realistic digitally generated imitations of their performances. — Wikimedia Denmark has participated in the public consultation <https://dk.wikimedia.org/wiki/H%C3%B8ring/H%C3%B8ring_over_forslag_til_lov_…>, pointing out that the exceptions and limitations foreseen in the draft proposal would be insufficient to protect all current users on Wikimedia projects. — Meanwhile, the European Commission is not amused <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zEgjozhFe9S3KFmyWgXrL8sNVAPne3DH/view?usp=…>. It sent a letter stating it does not like the Danish effort to protect personal traits by using copyright. It “invites the Danish authorities to consider using other instruments, other than copyright legislation, to reach the aimed protection of personal characteristics”. === Wikipedia's 25th Birthday === Yes, we are celebrating in Brussels and you are invited to join us! 18 March, from 18:00 at Ateliers des Tanneurs. Please register <https://wikimedia.brussels/wikipedia-25-party-invitation/>. ===END=== -- Wikimedia Europe ivzw

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Feb 26 deadline | Am I missing your session? RightsCon
by Franziska Putz 20 Feb '26

20 Feb '26

Dear all, I'm writing our annual blog post in which we announce all the sessions that Wikimedians are participating in at RightsCon. This is how we share our presence with our networks, so they know when to be where! Please review the list below and let me know if I'm missing any by Feb 26. 1. *Bridging Gender Gaps in AI: Advancing Equity Through Open Knowledge* ( @Bridgit Kurgat <bridgitk-ctr(a)wikimedia.org> and partners ) 2. *Stronger Together—or Stuck Together? Rethinking Civil Society Coalitions for a new digital era (*Costanza, Ziski, Paradigm Initiative, Global Partners Digital, Derechos Digitales) 3. *Building alliances for information integrity on climate change* (WM Uruguay @Evelin Heidel <eheidel(a)wikimedistas.uy> ) 4. *From Local Voices to Global Policy: Advocating Open Access to Africa’s Heritage* ( @Harriet Bayel <HarrietBayel(a)gmail.com> (Global Open Initiative), @Jemima Antwi <jmmantwi(a)gmail.com> , @Nkem Osuigwe <neosuigwe(a)aflia.net> (Igbo), Mohammed Awal Alhassan (Dagbani Wikimedians)) 5. *Advancing Regional Human Rights Mechanisms in Safeguarding Digital Rights: Cross-Regional Learning from ASEAN & African Union* (WMF, Oxfam Asia, Access Now) 6. *Fighting for an Internet in the Public Interest: From Vision to Action *(WMF and CELE) 7. *Whose Knowledge Counts? Fighting Access Gaps on Wikipedia in Africa * ( @Winnie kabintie <kabinte(a)gmail.com> ) 8. Official title missing *Disinformation trainings during elections *( @Jael Boateng <jboateng(a)ofwafrica.org> ) Thank you! Ziski

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The Internet Ecosystem book
by Peter Anderson 16 Feb '26

16 Feb '26

As a researcher, I came across a highly intensive and inclusive book called "The Internet Ecosystem". The book englobes the whole Internet history. I have just completed the reading, I will highly recommend it and it has useful information. The book was reviewed by Vint Cerf, the founder of the Internet. Use: *INTECO10 *coupon code to get the book at a discounted price. You will find more information in the email below. Professor Peter Anderson Head of Research ------------------------------ *From:* Nikesh B. Simmandree <nikeshbs(a)outlook.com> *Sent:* Monday, August 18, 2025 1:35 PM *To:* alac-announce(a)icann.org <alac-announce(a)icann.org>; alac(a)icann.org < alac(a)icann.org>; at-large(a)icann.org <at-large(a)icann.org>; afri-discuss(a)icann.org <afri-discuss(a)icann.org> *Subject:* Launch of The Internet Ecosystem Book Dear Community, I am thrilled to announce the launch of my book, *The Internet Ecosystem* — a comprehensive exploration of the history, architecture, governance, and future of the Internet. This book distills decades of technological evolution — from ARPANET and packet switching, to AI, Web3, quantum networks, and beyond — into a clear, engaging narrative accessible to both technical and non-technical readers *What the Book Covers* - *The Past:* How Cold War research, ARPANET, and packet switching gave birth to the Internet we know today. - *The Present:* The intricate roles of ISPs, backbone providers, cloud infrastructure, AI, cybersecurity, and global governance shaping our daily online experiences. - *The Future:* Insights into 5G/6G, blockchain, immersive technologies, quantum security, and the Internet in 2050. With *49 detailed chapters*, the book provides a definitive yet approachable reference for students, professionals, policymakers, and curious readers alike. My mission with *The Internet Ecosystem* is to make the Internet’s complexity understandable — showing not only *how* the Internet works, but also *why* it matters and has become one of the most transformative human inventions — while sparking dialogue on how we build a secure, inclusive, and sustainable digital future. In the 21st century, understanding the Internet is not optional — it’s essential. Whether you’re a business leader, policymaker, educator, student, or everyday Internet user, this book provides the context and clarity you need to navigate the opportunities and challenges of our connected world. *Get Your Copy* *The Internet Ecosystem* is now available: https://payhip.com/b/hfvYg Thank you, Best Regards, Nikesh B. Simmandree

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Wikipedia & Disinformation Event: 24 February 2026 10-12 h - European Parliament
by Michele Failla 05 Feb '26

05 Feb '26

Dear all, I am reaching out to let you know that on 24 February from 10:00 to 12:00, we have organised the following event, which will take place at the European Parliament: *Information Integrity & Wikipedia: How community-governed platforms can inform future policy-making,* The aim of the event is to present the findings of the DEM-Debate project <https://wikimedia.brussels/building-an-enabling-environment-for-democratic-…> (carried out by the University of Amsterdam, Eurecat & Wikimedia Europe), which analysed how Wikipedia dealt with disinformation during the 2024 EP elections. If you would like to attend (online participation is possible), you can register here <https://wikimedia.brussels/information-integrity-wikipedia-how-community-go…>, where all relevant details may be found. Have a great day and all the best, Michele *Mr Michele FAILLA* Lead EU Law & Policy Advisor *Wikimedia Europe* Rue Belliard 12 1040 Brussels https://wikimedia.brussels *Knowledge is human.* *Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. That's our commitment.* Wikimedia Europe ivzw

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European Policy Monitoring Report - January 2026
by Dimitar Zagorski 30 Jan '26

30 Jan '26

Salut la liste ! New year, old files. And a birthday party is coming up! Wikipedia is turning 25 this year and we are celebrating in Brussels on 18 March from 18:00 onwards. Please feel invited <https://wikimedia.brussels/wikipedia-25-party-invitation/> if you are in town! === Omnibuses === Last report we told you about the two digital omnibuses - a general one <https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/digital-omnibus-ai-regulat…> and an AI one <https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/digital-omnibus-regulation…>. The "general omnibus reshuffles parts of the GDPR and the rules on re-use of open government data. For us <https://wikimedia.brussels/editorial-wmeu-on-the-digital-omnibus-the-russme…>, these are the two sticking points. Communia <https://communia-association.org/2025/12/05/the-digital-omnibus-and-open-da…>, of which WMEU is a member, is focusing on the open data aspects. EDRi, of which WMDE is a member, will concentrate on the data protection articles. The research libraries have a multilayered position <https://www.techpolicy.press/what-the-eus-digital-omnibus-means-for-researc…> . — The European Parliament kicked off its work this week. We are expecting a quick paced process. Amendments planned to be discussed in February and votes in committees and plenary for March. The timeline may and probably will slip. The work on the general omnibus will be led by <https://oeil.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/en/procedure-file?reference=2025/0360(…>the Industry (ITRE) and Civil Liberties (LIBE) committees. The rapporteur in the latter is Marina Kaljurand (S&D EE). The AI omnibus <https://oeil.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/en/procedure-file?reference=2025/0359(…> will be steered by the Internal Market (IMCO) and Civil Liberties (LIBE) committees, with rapporteurs Arba Kokalari (EPP SE) and Michael McNamara (RE IE). — McNamara has said that he has “considerable concerns” about the lack of impact assessments. Kaljurand stated that she supports the Commission’s objectives to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, but also that some of the proposed changes would complicate the legislation instead. --- Meanwhile in the Council, EU countries are already debating <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-ojlKWUalaYuOGBpG6fU0u_GzXrGeqfP/view?usp=…> their positions.They even have first compromise ideas floated by the Cypriot Presidency. The ambitious goal here is also to reach a negotiating position by the end of March. === DNA === The Digital Networks Act <https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/digital-networks-act>is a new regulatory framework proposed by the European Commission this month with the aim to boost investment in networks across the EU — The Act revisits how licenses and permissions are issued, seeking to shift more power to the EU from Member States and speed up processes. It also wants to bring tech companies that rely on telecoms to carry large amounts of content to the negotiating table. It is this part of the proposal that raised some eyebrows among net neutrality watchers. We will keep a close eye on them. We will also look out for amendment proposals that include language on data retention. === Report on Copyright and Generative AI=== The European Parliament’s Legal Affairs committee has passed an non-binding own-initiative report on Copyright and Generative AI <https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20260126IPR32636/protect-…>, led by rapporteur Axel Voss (EPP DE). It is a bit of a potpourri, asking for rightsholders to be given a practical tool to efficiently opt-out from AI training and for fairer remuneration, potentially through additional layers of rights. On the plus side, it recognises that AI training is covered by the TDM exceptions. Communia has a great write-up <https://communia-association.org/2026/01/28/ini-on-copyright-and-generative…>. The plenary vote is expected in March. === Consultation on Open Digital Ecosystem === The EU Commission recently published a call for evidence <https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/1…> asking for feedback on the European Open Digital Ecosystem Strategy. We worked together with the Wikimedia Foundation to submit our point of view, which highlights how Wikimedia projects are based on open source technologies and contribute to the digital public infrastructure ecosystem. You will find our submission on the portal <https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/1…> in a few days. === Geoblocking Consultation === Last December, we submitted our position <https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/1…> on the evaluation of the Geo-Blocking Regulation, whose aim is to address unjustified geo-blocking and other forms of discrimination based on a customer’s nationality, place of residence or place of establishment. — We focused on audiovisual services and copyrighted works and their accessibility across borders. Geoblocking makes it harder or impossible to check and cite numerous reliable sources. — The Commission will adopt an evaluation report in the second quarter of 2026, highlighting whether the Regulation has met its objectives or not and whether changes are needed. === ERA Consultation === The European Commission has gone through a public consultation on the European Research Area Act <https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/news/all-research-and-innovati…>. We expect a legislative proposal later this year. The stated aim is to make research and science more accessible. — Wikimedia Europe participated by voicing support for the idea of Secondary Publication Right <https://wikimedia.brussels/why-wikimedia-supports-secondary-publication-rig…>for publicly funded research. The feedback outcome <https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/1…> will eventually be published on the portal. === DEM Debate Project === The DEM-Debate project is coming to an end. Recently, we published the last deliverable, the critical legal analysis <https://wikimedia.brussels/dem-debate-project-the-critical-legal-analysis/>, which has been authored by the University of Amsterdam and critically evaluates how the new EU legal framework on election disinformation applies to Wikipedia. — On 24 February, we will hold the final event of the project at the European Parliament “Information Integrity & Wikipedia: How community-governed platforms can inform future policy-making”: researchers will have the chance to showcase the research and expose their conclusions taking the form of policy options. Do you want to join? Please register <https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/1…>, both for online and in person participation. === New French Law on the protection of minors using social media === The French Parliament is busy with the adoption of a bill regarding the protection of minors from the risks they are exposed to by using social media <https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dyn/17/dossiers/proteger_mineurs_reseaux…>. On 26 January, the National Assembly adopted, following the accelerated procedure, an amended text of the bill, which aims at introducing a ban to use online social media networks for minors of fifteen years old. — The bill, as it currently stands, provides for an exception for online encyclopaedias, educational and scientific repositories as well as platforms for the development and sharing of open and free software. Wikimédia France and Wikimedia Europe are working on this. === Swiss DSA === The Swiss government has proposed a DSA clone that is now being debated. The sexy sounding Bundesgesetz über Kommunikationsplattformen und Suchmaschinen (KomPG) <https://cms.news.admin.ch/dam/de/der-schweizerische-bundesrat/JHS1l1GdjmSX/…>. It essentially copies many aspects from the DSA - internal complaint handling, out-of-court dispute settlements, local representatives, annual systemic risk and mitigation measures reports, as well as external audits. — The law speaks of online platforms with "economic activity" in Switzerland and that are used by more than 10% of the population. If Wikipedia is in scope the WMF probably already complies with most of the obligations, as they are very similar to the ones in the DSA. But the extra compliance and reporting would cost time and money. — There seems to be a contradiction about the scope, however. In the explanatory notes the government itself says that providers like the Wikimedia Foundation are not in scope, since they only target for-profits. However Swiss jurisprudence seems to include not-for-profit activities in the term "economic activity". Wikimedia Europe, Wikimedia CH and the Wikimedia Foundation are working on a consultation submission with the ask to clarify the scope. === Polish DSA Transposition === Poland’s digital ministry tabled two new laws to implement the EU’s Digital Services Act, something that should have already happened. This is a reaction to the veto of the passed regulation, which was issued by President Karol Nawrocki. The Polish President says he is concerned that the law will increase internet censorship. -- Wikimedia Europe ivzw

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