News & research

What's the latest in the field of civil society law and policy? Read our news and learn more about our analytical and research work!

Highlighted

Tech and AI

Algorithmic Gatekeepers: Impacts of LLM Content Moderation on Civic Space and Human Rights

Research

14-04-2025

As large language models increasingly influence online discourse, a new ECNL report explores how these powerful tools can be used more responsibly to reduce harms for civil society and marginalised groups.

Unpacking the EU AML/CFT Package, impacts on the non-profit sector

Security/CT

Unpacking the EU AML/CFT Package: Key insights and implications for the non-profit sector

News

18-03-2025

Find out what the new EU anti-money laundering package of rules mean for CSOs’ crowdfunding or fundraising through crypto currencies and explore key advocacy opportunities.

Netherlands

the Dutch flag, a looking glass with financial data

Security/CT

Dutch Transparency Act: more clarity, proportionality and safeguards needed

News

24-01-2025

Despite improvements from earlier versions, significant issues remain unaddressed in the new draft law.

Slovakia

Action for Civic Space

Slovakia: Corporations unregulated while active citizens labelled as lobbyists

News

24-03-2025

The amended “foreign agents” law is back on the table, this time masked as a lobbying law exclusively applicable to civil society organisations.

Access to financial services by civil society organisations on the move. Summary of survey results on challenges civil society organisations in exile or relocation face when applying for and using financial services. February 2025.

Action for Civic Space

Access to financial services for CSOs on the move: insights and recommendations

Research

07-02-2025

New report: survey results show that over half of CSOs in exile or relocation face difficulties accessing financial services.

Tech and AI

Algorithmic Gatekeepers: Impacts of LLM Content Moderation on Civic Space and Human Rights

Research

Tech and AI

The EU needs AI liability rules

ECNL with Article 19, CDT, Mozilla, BEUC and Enforce sign joint letter urging the EU to address legal gaps left by the AILD withdrawal, and ensure clear and simple rules for people to seek compensation when harmed by an AI system.

News

European policies

Stopping SLAPPs: How adopting the EU’s Anti-SLAPP Directive could protect investigative journalists

We have to closely watch how the new legal safeguards translate into real-world protection, says ECNL in Reporters Shield blog.

News

Tech and AI

Reporting for Rights: The Civic Journalism Coalition

ECNL, EDRi and Lighthouse Reports have launched the Civic Journalist Coalition - a space to advocate for digital rights policies at the EU level and strengthen investigative reporting.

News

Tech and AI

Five point plan for an inclusive WSIS+20 review

Over 100 civil society organisations and 40 individual experts put forth a joint statement to operationalise the WSIS+20 review modalities.

News

Monitoring Civic Spaces

European CSOs announce Early Warning System for civic space restrictions as part of the MACS project

Today, we are launching the Early Warning and Alert System, to provide systematic evidence on civic space developments within the EU, report on early signs of deterioration, and urge EU institutions to act before the situation worsens.

News

Action for Civic Space

Slovakia: Corporations unregulated while active citizens labelled as lobbyists

The amended “foreign agents” law is back on the table, this time masked as a lobbying law exclusively applicable to civil society organisations.

News

Security/CT

Unpacking the EU AML/CFT Package: Key insights and implications for the non-profit sector

Find out what the new EU anti-money laundering package of rules mean for CSOs’ crowdfunding or fundraising through crypto currencies and explore key advocacy opportunities.

News

Tech and AI

Consultation on the AI Scientific Panel and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance

As part of the Global Digital Compact process, together with Global Partners Digital we highlight the importance of rights-based processes with meaningful civic participation, when creating mechanisms that shape the future of global AI policy.

News