MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Digital protection against digital transnational repression – E-001431/2025

Question for written answer  E-001431/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Hannah Neumann (Verts/ALE), Sergey Lagodinsky (Verts/ALE), Saskia Bricmont (Verts/ALE)

In view of current geopolitical developments, the growing threat from authoritarian regimes and the increasing use in Europe of digital means to suppress dissent, strengthening digital protection for exiled activists seems urgent from a security and human rights perspective. Against the background of the documented increase in digital transnational repression, especially against human rights defenders, journalists and activists who have fled from non-EU countries to the EU, I would like to ask the Commission the following questions:

• 1.What is the Commission’s assessment of the systematic increase in digital transnational repression on EU territory, for example through targeted online threats, digital surveillance, disinformation campaigns or the use of commercial spyware, against activists who have fled from non-EU countries?
• 2.What specific protection mechanisms are currently in place at EU level to protect affected persons from digital transnational repression and what gaps does the Commission see in the current protection architecture, in particular with regard to technical support services, emergency assistance, monitoring capacities and institutional contact points?
• 3.Is the Commission planning to develop a structured instrument specifically to close current protection gaps, and how does it intend to involve civil society expertise and current EU instruments?

Submitted: 8.4.2025