Today, on World Press Freedom Day, acknowledging the significance of the freedom of the press, LYMEC wants also to highlight the importance of respect for privacy and data protection.
Recalling that surveillance is one of the six critical tools of digital oppression, alongside censorship, social manipulation and harassment, cyber-attacks, internet shutdowns, and targeted persecution against online users, LYMEC condemns all privacy violations on European citizens, activists or politicians by any EU member government without any justification.
LYMEC calls on:
✅ Renew Europe and ALDE Member parties to keep fighting for its citizens' fundamental right to privacy and data protection.
✅ The Court of Justice of the European Union to prosecute European governments and the European Commission if citizens and allied government officials have their communication intercepted in any way that differs from current law and agreements.
✅ Passing specific European legislation to create a clear and strictly limited legal framework surrounding the usage of surveillance, found a study group to determine the extent of these regulations and further research violations of privacy, and organize a global campaign to raise awareness
World Press Freedom Day