ARTICLE 19 and partners call for rights-based EU digital policy

ARTICLE 19 reported that 13 civil society organisations, including ARTICLE 19 and European Digital Rights, launched Make it Real: Calls to Action for a Flourishing and Just Digital Europe on 23 June 2026.

The publication sets out recommendations for EU lawmakers on digital policy, with a focus on fundamental rights, democratic accountability, and fair competition in the digital economy.

The launch took place during the Fight for Us, Not for Them Summit. The event presented a public-interest vision of EU technology policy at a time when civil society groups say EU digital rules are facing growing pressure to deregulate.

The central issue is the EU’s current ‘simplification’ agenda. This agenda is intended to reduce complexity and administrative burdens in regulation. Civil society organisations warn that simplification could become deregulation if it weakens safeguards on privacy, data protection, transparency, platform accountability, and access to justice.

ARTICLE 19’s Dr Corinne Cath argued that rules on rights, accountability, and transparency are not barriers to digital development. According to her, they help people understand how digital systems work and provide accountability when harm occurs.

EDRi’s Ella Jakubowska said EU institutions should focus on simplifying access to justice and redress, rather than weakening protections against data exploitation and privacy violations.

The summit brought together speakers working on digital rights, corporate accountability, competition, enforcement, and affected communities. Discussions focused on how EU digital policy can protect people while also supporting fair markets and public-interest technology.

Participants also discussed the Digital Omnibus, a package of legislative changes that has become a focus of concern for civil society groups. They argue that changes presented as simplification could reduce the practical protections created by existing EU digital laws.

The event also included examples of public-interest technology, including companies such as Tournesol and Murena. Speakers argued that privacy-protecting and rights-respecting technologies can support trust and competition rather than limiting innovation.

The publication and summit were co-hosted by organisations including the Ada Lovelace Institute, ARTICLE 19, BEUC, CDT Europe, Check My Ads, Liberties, Corporate Europe Observatory, Digitale Gesellschaft, EDRi, Greenpeace, People vs Big Tech, petites singularités, and Stichting Data Bescherming Nederland.

The groups said they will continue pushing EU lawmakers to maintain people-centred digital policies as debates continue over the Digital Omnibus and the future direction of EU technology regulation.