ITHACA Project’s Post

Is the internet as we know it nearing its end? Recent trends, like age verification requirements for content, spark questions about digital freedom. It appears that pushback against these measures is growing. But perhaps the most important realization is understanding the power of individual action in safeguarding digital rights. The ability to challenge restrictions and advocate for an open internet may lie closer than we think. How do you see the future of digital freedom unfolding? Curious to hear your thoughts. #InternetFreedom #DigitalRights #AgeVerification #OnlinePrivacy #TechTrends

When we think of justice, laws are probably the first thing that comes to mind. But, in the digital age, there's a whole new wrinkle. Digital access is a significant factor in how those laws are executed and justice is administered. As this GovTech article highlights, digital modernization is helping courts and legal systems expand access, reduce bias and create more consistent outcomes. From online filings to virtual hearings, technology is reshaping how people interact with the justice system. Perhaps more than in any other sector, this continued advancement will depend on networks that are secure and resilient. For public sector leaders in the 21st century, digital infrastructure will be a crucial element of a just society. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gewW2Vsr #DigitalJustice #PublicSectorIT #ConnectivitySolutions #OptimumBusiness

The U.S. Department of Justice’s new Title II regulations set firm deadlines for digital accessibility: 2026 for institutions serving 50,000 or more and 2027 for smaller entities and special districts. Read the full blog: https://buff.ly/ggS7UAY #Accessibility #InclusiveEducation #A11y

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment has designated Digital Rights Ireland as a further “qualified entity” in Ireland under the Representative Actions for the Protection of the Collective Interests of Consumers Act 2023. This follows the similar designation of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and noyb last year. Matheson’s Digital Economy Group partners Angela Brennan, Michael Byrne, Julie Murphy-O'Connor, Karen Reynolds, Anne-Marie Bohan, Davinia Brennan and Sarah Jayne Hanna, together with professional support lawyers Tina Turner and Róisín Peart, take a closer look at this significant development in our latest update. Read more here - https://lnkd.in/efAdNXCH #MathesonLaw #Matheson200 #RepresentativeActions #CommercialLitigation #DigitalEconomy

🔥 Europe’s DSA and DMA are in the hot seat 🚨 The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) were designed to protect democracy, curb Big Tech dominance, and give users more rights online. Yet they are under relentless attack - from Trump, authoritarian leaders, and the global far-right - all framing them as “censorship” or “anti-American.” Spoiler: they’re not. ‼️The laws work. Together with other civil society organisations, we have already used the DSA to push LinkedIn and X to change behaviour, and the DMA can empower thousands of smaller companies. But they’re at risk: political pressure, weak enforcement, and lack of transparency could undermine them, putting digital rights and democracy in jeopardy 🛠️ The European Commission can make these laws effective by properly resourcing enforcement, shielding it from political interference, and acting consistently against non-compliance. If Europe wants to defend democracy and maintain its credibility as a global regulatory leader, we need bold, decisive enforcement now. Read more ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gvQQTdtq

Wrote this shortly before the government called for amendment submissions on the Online Safety Act. Part personal reflection, part attempting to make sense/pre-empt what may come out of current 'digital transformation' initiatives, given past practices of the state and corporations. On the OSA, while the public call for submissions is commendable, it does not guarantee: ⭕ These amendments will be adopted or that further consultations will happen ⭕ Transparency in how, if any, amendments are adopted ⭕ Protection of fundamental freedoms, due to the prevailing enforcement mechanisms The OSA should, ideally, be repealed. Regulatory frameworks without enforcement mechanisms free from political interference are futile at best and dangerous at worst.

⚖️ Popa v. Microsoft (9th Cir. 2025) The U.S. Ninth Circuit has held that without a concrete and particularised injury, there can be no standing under Article III. A mere statutory breach or the collection of routine online data was found insufficient. This reasoning, however, resonates with Judge Richard Posner’s view that privacy is an “overrated” right, valuable only insofar as it serves efficiency but not a principle warranting robust protection. By insisting on a narrow conception of injury, the Court risks reinforcing corporate power and capitalist interests, while diminishing personal human rights in the digital sphere. The pressing question remains: is privacy being judicially reduced to an economic interest rather than upheld as a fundamental right? #ArticleIII #NinthCircuit #PrivacyLaw #Standing #HumanRights #TechLaw

The European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom possess a powerful legal framework to regulate the digital sector and have been accused of using it to censor, intimidate, and target voices that challenge the prevailing bureaucratic narrative. DETAILS: https://lnkd.in/eSxYj4QR

The DSA isn’t just Brussels vs Big Tech — Washington is weighing in too The EU’s Digital Services Act was always going to ruffle feathers, but this week it’s become clear the politics now stretch well beyond Brussels. Reports suggest Washington is considering sanctions on EU officials over how the law is being enforced — an unprecedented step that shows how high the stakes have become. At the same time, TikTok is in the Commission’s crosshairs, with provisional findings that its ad repository falls short of the DSA’s transparency requirements. That could mean fines of up to 6% of global turnover. What this tells us: enforcement of the DSA isn’t just a regulatory question. It’s a geopolitical one. Businesses operating across borders will need to navigate not only compliance risks but also the political fallout of diverging approaches on digital regulation. At Threadneedle Partners, we’re already seeing clients ask how these transatlantic tensions could play out — and how regulators in Europe may react as the U.S. pushes back.

The Balanced Economy Project joined over 50 civil society groups and experts in a letter to President Ursula von der Leyen, urging the European Union to defend its digital rules, including the DSA, DMA, and competition law, from escalating US pressure. The letter calls for bold action, maintaining investigations, pursuing enforcement, and activating the Anti-Coercion Instrument to uphold Europe’s sovereignty and democratic standards. Some of the signatories, along with us, are European Digital Rights, Open Markets Institute, Defend Democracy, Media Diversity Institute Rebalance Now, AlgorithmWatch, Avaaz Foundation, Civil Liberties Union for Europe, Transparency International EU, European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU), and individuals like Nicholas Shaxson, Alberto Alemanno, Francesca Bria along with other organisations and individuals. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eqdDducR #DigitalSovereignty #Antitrust #EUdigital #BalancedEconomy