Democracy Impacts

New EU Proposals May Limit Big Tech Expansion

December 16, 2020

New Proposals from the European Union aimed at boosting digital competition known as the Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act may place new limits on the expansion of Tech giants like Google, Amazon and Facebook, who will face fines of up to 10 percent of their global revenue for unfairly crippling smaller rivals.
EU Announces $7.5 Billion Digital Europe Program

December 16, 2020

The European Commission has announced a new €7.5 billion Digital Europe Program to accelerate the digital transformation of Europe and will provide funding for five areas including supercomputing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced digital skills, and ensuring the wide use of digital technologies across the economy and society.
Polish PM to Challenge EU Rule of Law Budget Mechanism in the EU Court of Justice

December 14, 2020

Speaking at a joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced that he plans to take the European Union's rule of law budgetary conditionality mechanism to the European Court of Justice.
Venice Commission Issues Opinion on Ukrainian Constitutional Court Decision Relating to Anti-Corruption Measures

December 11, 2020

The European Commission for Democracy through Law, known as the Venice Commission, has published an urgent opinion concerning the effects of the controversial recent decision by the Ukrainian Constitutional Court on anti-corruption modalities in Ukraine.
Reuters: Norway Outlaws Hate Speech Against Transgender Individuals

December 11, 2020

In an expansion of Norway’s 1981 penal code protecting gay and lesbian individuals, the nordic country's parliament outlawed hate speech against transgender people.
EU Leaders Discuss Compromise Budget Plan

December 11, 2020

In an effort to avoid a continued impasse with Hungary and Poland, EU ambassadors discussed a new compromise budget proposal that will postpone consideration of a new mechanism that will link EU funds with the respect for the rule of law.
ECDC and Africa CDC Launch New Initiative

December 09, 2020

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have launched a new partnership initiative that will be funded by the EU and will facilitate surveillance and disease intelligence with the goal of strengthening the capacity of Africa CDC to prepare for and public health threats.
Politico: Five EU Members Clash with Poland over Rule of Law Concerns

December 02, 2020

As the battle over "rule of law" continues, five European Union Member States joined with the European Commission in arguing to the Court of Justice of the European Union that Poland's new disciplinary regime for judges violates EU law.
UK Recruits Elite "Information Warfare" Unit to Combat Anti-Vaccination Online Activists

November 30, 2020

As Britain prepares to deliver its first Covid-19 vaccine injections, the army has mobilized an elite “information warfare” unit renowned for assisting operations against al-Qaeda and the Taliban, to counter online content against vaccines.
Hungary and Poland Block EU Budget and Recovery Fund

November 18, 2020

Hungary and Poland blocked the adoption of the 2021-2027 budget and recovery fund by European Union governments due to reservations that the budget law included a clause making access to money conditional on complete submission to the blocs "Rule of Law", putting aside national sovereignty.