Data

Data protection, privacy and new technologies

More of our everyday lives are online — both at work and home. Meanwhile, terror attacks intensify calls for more surveillance. Concerns grow over the safety of our privacy and personal data.

FRA helps lawmakers and practitioners protect your rights in a connected world.

Highlights

  • Report / Paper / Summary
    24
    May
    2023
    This report provides a partial update on the findings of the 2017 European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) report Surveillance by intelligence services: Fundamental rights safeguards and remedies in the EU. It was prepared at the request of the European Parliament, which asked FRA to update its 2017 findings to support the work of its committee of inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (PEGA).
  • Report / Paper / Summary
    8
    December
    2022
    Artificial intelligence is everywhere and affects everyone – from deciding what content people see on their social media feeds to determining who will receive state benefits. AI technologies are typically based on algorithms that make predictions to support or even fully automate decision-making.
  • Handbook / Guide / Manual
    25
    May
    2018
    The rapid development of information technology has exacerbated the need for robust personal data protection, the right to which is safeguarded by both European Union (EU) and Council of Europe (CoE) instruments. Safeguarding this important right entails new and significant challenges as technological advances expand the frontiers of areas such as surveillance, communication interception and data storage. This handbook is designed to familiarise legal practitioners not specialised in data protection with this emerging area of the law.
    Publications and data
    22
    January
    2026
    Online terrorist content is a threat to fundamental rights, rule of law and democracy. EU measures to tackle such content aim to prevent terrorism while upholding these values. FRA’s report looks at how online terrorist content is detected and removed under EU legislation. It highlights challenges in interpreting rules, risks of over-removal and potential impacts on freedom of expression. It finds that moderation practices by authorities and platforms can disproportionately affect certain groups, such as Muslims and Arabic speakers, while far-right content often receives less scrutiny. The findings, based on research and expert interviews with those addressing online terrorist content, offer ways to improve transparency in content moderation and to better balance public security and fundamental rights, contributing to wider debates on regulating online content responsibly.
    The report ‘Assessing high-risk artificial intelligence’ examines the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) in five areas defined as high-risk under the AI Act: asylum, education, employment, law enforcement and public benefits. This video provides information about the findings of the report, underlining the need for a responsible use of AI which in turn earns public trust, fuels innovation and drives sustainable technological progress.
    The Fundamental Rights Report 2025 provides a comprehensive overview of the state of fundamental rights in the European Union, highlighting major developments and trends in 2024. This video provides an insight into the issues covered by this year's report.
    4
    December
    2025
    Artificial Intelligence comes with both benefits and risks. Safe AI use that accounts for fundamental rights is thus crucial. While the 2024 EU AI Act was a milestone in this regard, its broad definitions regarding AI systems and high-risk AI could introduce loopholes for fundamental rights compliance. This report offers an empirical basis for much-needed practical guidance on the Act’s implementation. Based on interviews with AI developers, sellers, and users, FRA addresses challenges of its use in critical domains, like asylum, education, and employment. Our findings help guide next steps in realising the AI Act’s potential to ensure responsible innovation.
    13
    November
    2025
    FRA analysed 31 digital tools and systems across seven EU Member States, exploring potential positive and negative effects on victims, claimants and defendants. By identifying risks early, investing in skills and training, and embedding protections from the outset, policymakers and practitioners can build effective and inclusive justice systems. This report provides practical suggestions to help ensure that digitalised justice systems are accessible and deliver fair outcomes for all.
    8
    October
    2025
    The Entry/Exit System (EES), launching in 2025, will register non-EU nationals crossing the EU’s external borders. This FRA guidance supports managers overseeing the operation of the new system. It helps them to ensure compliance with EU fundamental rights. It outlines operational considerations: clear communication, dignified biometric data collection and data protection. It also addresses staff training needs. Based on fieldwork at 10 border crossing points in 6 Member States, the guidance will ensure rights are respected under the new system. A separate guidance publication for border guards accompanies this publication.
    10
    June
    2025
    This publication is an excerpt from the Fundamental Rights Report 2025, the annual report of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). It presents selected critical developments in fundamental rights in 2024, as well as the key findings and FRA opinions from the report’s chapters.
    10
    June
    2025
    The Fundamental Rights Report 2025 is the annual report of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). It provides an overview of the state of fundamental rights in the EU and highlights selected critical developments and trends in 2024. The report covers issues such as inclusive elections, gender-based violence, and the implementation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. It presents FRA’s opinions on these developments, setting out the actions that the EU and Member States should take. This annual publication is a valuable resource for those seeking to stay informed about the EU’s shifting landscape of fundamental rights.
    In an increasingly digital world, tech advances affect almost all aspects of our lives and our rights. This FRF theme tackles topics such as regulating digitalisation without stifling innovation or surveillance-based advertising. Notable speakers include Catherine De Bolle, Executive Director at EUROPOL, Daniel Howden, Founder and Director of Lighthouse Reports, Nanna-Louise Linde, Vice-President for European Government Affairs at Microsoft, Alexandria Walden, Global Head of Human Rights at Google, among others.
    11
    June
    2024
    Data protection rules protect privacy and prevent personal information from misuse. When the general data protection regulation (GDPR) came into force in 2018, it strengthened the role of data protection authorities. These supervisory bodies are the key enforcers of the fundamental right of protection of personal data. This report analyses the challenges they face in the GDPR implementation. The findings complement the European Commission's forthcoming evaluation of the GDPR.
    5
    June
    2024
    FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2024 analyses the year’s developments in fundamental rights. It focuses on the most pressing fundamental rights concerns facing Europe in 2023: the cost-of-living crisis, rights concerns at the EU’s external borders and migration, and threats to democracy. Re-structured, this year’s new approach is a shorter and sharper analysis. It also presents FRA’s opinions on these developments, including a summary of the evidence supporting these opinions.
    5
    June
    2024
    The year 2023 brought both progress and setbacks in terms of fundamental rights protection. FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2023 reviews developments in the field, identifying both achievements and remaining areas of concern. This publication presents FRA’s opinions on the main developments in the thematic areas covered and a synopsis of the evidence supporting these opinions. In so doing, it provides a compact but informative overview of the main fundamental rights challenges confronting the EU and its Member States.
    29
    November
    2023
    Online hate speech is a growing problem in today’s digitalised societies. Women, Black people, Jews and Roma are often targets of online hate speech. Online hate proliferates where human content moderators miss offensive content. Also, algorithms are prone to errors. They may multiply errors over time and may even end up promoting online hate. This report presents the challenges in identifying and detecting online hate. Hate of any kind should not be tolerated, regardless of whether it is online or offline. The report discusses the implications for fundamental rights to support creating a rights-compliant digital environment.
    20
    October
    2023
    FRA’s strategic priorities and objectives are based on the agency’s role and mission as defined in its amended founding regulation. They build on FRA’s 2018–2022 strategy as well as how it performed, its experience and its vision. Their design takes into account future fundamental rights challenges facing Europe, the agency’s mandate, the broader operational context and the resources available.
    8
    June
    2023
    FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2023 reviews major developments in the field in 2022, identifying both achievements and areas of concern. It also presents FRA’s opinions on these developments, including a synopsis of the evidence supporting these opinions.
    8
    June
    2023
    The year 2022 brought both progress and setbacks in terms of fundamental rights protection. FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2023 reviews major developments in the field, identifying both achievements and remaining areas of concern. This publication presents FRA’s opinions on the main developments in the thematic areas covered, and a synopsis of the evidence supporting these opinions.
    24
    May
    2023
    This report provides a partial update on the findings of the 2017 European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) report Surveillance by intelligence services: Fundamental rights safeguards and remedies in the EU. It was prepared at the request of the European Parliament, which asked FRA to update its 2017 findings to support the work of its committee of inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (PEGA).
    8
    December
    2022
    Artificial intelligence is everywhere and affects everyone – from deciding what content people see on their social media feeds to determining who will receive state benefits. AI technologies are typically based on algorithms that make predictions to support or even fully automate decision-making.
    In this vlog, FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty talks about artificial intelligence and algorithms. While AI can be a powerful force for good, he points out that humans must supervise very closely the application of AI and a permanent testing of every possible application is needed. On 8 December, FRA is publishing a new report on bias in algorithms.
    11
    November
    2022
    Europe stands at a delicate moment in its history. It is a moment of existential significance for the wellbeing and sustainability of our societies. It is emerging from the pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease, only to face a set of major overlapping challenges. These pose profound questions about the political, economic and societal future of the continent. To discuss elements of a human rights vision for the future and to identify opportunities for action, FRA brought together a group of sixty human rights leaders and experts with diverse backgrounds
    from across the continent. This report distils the meeting discussions, including analysis and ideas, and concludes with proposals for action. It does not represent the views either of individual participants or of FRA.
    The report ‘Assessing high-risk artificial intelligence’ examines the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) in five areas defined as high-risk under the AI Act: asylum, education, employment, law enforcement and public benefits. This video provides information about the findings of the report, underlining the need for a responsible use of AI which in turn earns public trust, fuels innovation and drives sustainable technological progress.
    The Fundamental Rights Report 2025 provides a comprehensive overview of the state of fundamental rights in the European Union, highlighting major developments and trends in 2024. This video provides an insight into the issues covered by this year's report.
    In an increasingly digital world, tech advances affect almost all aspects of our lives and our rights. This FRF theme tackles topics such as regulating digitalisation without stifling innovation or surveillance-based advertising. Notable speakers include Catherine De Bolle, Executive Director at EUROPOL, Daniel Howden, Founder and Director of Lighthouse Reports, Nanna-Louise Linde, Vice-President for European Government Affairs at Microsoft, Alexandria Walden, Global Head of Human Rights at Google, among others.
    In this vlog, FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty talks about artificial intelligence and algorithms. While AI can be a powerful force for good, he points out that humans must supervise very closely the application of AI and a permanent testing of every possible application is needed. On 8 December, FRA is publishing a new report on bias in algorithms.
    Automation and AI have radically transformed how we work, live and play. In this video, Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, discusses the implications of AI for our most basic of human rights.
    The Fundamental Rights Forum 2021 was the space for dialogue on the human rights challenges facing the EU today. In this video, participants talk about the challenges of fundamental rights in the digital age.
    In this vlog, FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty points to the urgent need to tackle disinformation. He provides examples of what can be done to combat disinformation, including what the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights could contribute to this challenge.
    Artificial intelligence (AI) already plays a role in many decisions that affect our daily lives. From deciding what unemployment benefits someone gets to where a burglary is likely to take place. But we need to make sure to fully uphold fundamental rights standards when using AI. Drawing on the ‘Getting the future right – Artificial intelligence and fundamental rights’ report, FRA explores the potential benefits and possible errors that can occur focusing on four core areas – social benefits, predictive policing, health services and targeted advertising.
    Artificial intelligence (AI) already plays a role in many decisions that affect our daily lives. From deciding what unemployment benefits someone gets to where a burglary is likely to take place. But we need to make sure to fully uphold fundamental rights standards when using AI. Drawing on the ‘Getting the future right – Artificial intelligence and fundamental rights’ report, FRA presents a number of key considerations to help businesses and administrations respect fundamental rights when using AI.
    This is a recording from the morning session of the high-level virtual event "Doing Artificial Intelligence the European way" which took place on 14 December 2020.
    This is a recording from the afternoon session of the high-level virtual event "Doing Artificial Intelligence the European way" which took place on 14 December 2020.
    Artificial intelligence is here. It’s not going away. It can be a force for good, but it needs to be watched so carefully in terms of respect for our human fundamental rights. The EU Fundamental Rights Agency is deeply committed to this work.Our ambition is not just to ensure that AI respects our rights, but also that it protects and promotes them.
    Will AI revolutionise the delivery of our public services? And what's the right balance? How is the private sector using AI to automate decisions — and what implications
    might that have? Are some form of binding rules necessary to monitor and regulate the use of AI technology - and what should these rules look like?
    How do we embrace progress while protecting our fundamental rights? As data-driven decision making increasingly touches our daily lives, what does this mean
    for our fundamental rights? A step into the dark? Or the next giant leap? The time to answer these questions is here and now. Let’s seize the opportunities, but understand the challenges. Let’s make AI work for everyone in Europe…And get the future right.
    What are the next steps in the digitalisation of justice and of access to justice? This impulse video statement by FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty was recorded for the online conference “Access to Justice in the Digital Age”. The conference takes place on 16 July and is organised by the German Federal Ministry for Justice and Consumer Protection during the German Council Presidency.
    In this vlog Michael O'Flaherty outlines fundamental rights considerations when developing technological responses to public health, as he introduces the focus of FRA's next COVID-19 bulletin.
    Michael O'Flaherty talks in his vlog about the human rights aspects in the context of the Coronavirus epidemic and introduces FRA's new report.
    In the latest edition of his video blog, FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty speaks about the importance and power of hope accompanying the work of FRA in 2020. Particularly after a troubled start of the year.
    In the latest edition of his video blog, FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty speaks about the human rights challenges, but also the opportunities, that come along with the development of artificial intelligence technology.
    Fundamental Rights Report 2019: 2018 was a landmark year for data protection. New EU rules took effect and complaints of breaches increased significantly.
    FRA held an online information session on 22 January for national authorities on the findings of the FRA report Assessing High-risk Artificial Intelligence: Fundamental Rights Risks.
    The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate on European standardisation related to artificial intelligence (AI).
    FRA joined the 4th plenary meeting of the Council of Europe’s Steering Committee on Artificial Intelligence (CDDEM) from 26 to 28 November in Strasbourg.
    Artificial intelligence (AI) brings about many opportunities for our societies and economies. But it also puts fundamental rights at risk, especially in sensitive areas like recruitment or social benefits. Drawing on interviews with providers, deployers and experts, a new report from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) reveals that many in the field of high-risk AI systems do not know how to systematically assess or mitigate these risks. Strengthening awareness and rights-compliant implementation of the AI act is key to protecting people’s rights while enabling innovation and creating legal certainty for businesses.
    On 11 November, FRA gave an online presentation on the fundamental rights considerations of using facial recognition technology in law enforcement.
    FRA presented findings from its report on ‘Digitalising Justice: A fundamental rights-based approach’ and upcoming report on Assessing high-risk AI to the Council of the EU’s Working Party on e-Justice on 24 November in Brussels.
    FRA delivered a keynote plenary lecture on the EU Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act and its fundamental rights implications for Hungarian judges at a judicial training event on the regulation of AI under European law and national law.
    On 21 November, FRA participated in the Digital Services Act Civil Society Coordination Group Roundtable event ‘Strengthening Cooperation with Public Interest Stakeholders in Enforcement.’
    FRA took part in the Summit of European Digital Sovereignty organised by Germany and France. The event brought together high-level speakers from both countries as well as the European Commission and businesses.
    FRA joined the plenary meeting online of the Council of Europe’s Committee on Artificial Intelligence (CAI) from 3 to 5 November.
    On 14-15 October, FRA took part in the Forum 2000 conference in Prague.
    FRA took part in a workshop of the EU Innovation Hub for Internal Security’s AI Cluster. It took place from 25-26 September in Tallinn.
    The Center for Democracy and Technology held a roundtable discussion on 22 September in Brussels on ensuring the effective implementation of the AI Act.
    FRA took part in the European Law Enforcement Communicators Conference (ELEC), hosted by Europol on 17–18 September 2025.
    FRA presented its ongoing project on the fundamental rights considerations of remote biometric identification in law enforcement during a meeting of the Biometrics Cluster of the EU Innovation Hub for Internal Security.
    FRA gave an online presentation to a Center for the Study of Democracy roundtable on ‘Fundamental Rights, Artificial Intelligence and EU Law: Safeguards and Challenges’. The event was organised in the framework of the FAIR project, which aims to raise awareness about the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
    On 4 June, FRA took part in a workshop held as part of the European Commission’s public consultation on protection of minors guidelines under Article 28 of the Digital Services Act (DSA).
    FRA joined an expert meeting of the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights on AI and human rights on 27 and 28 May in Paris.
    On 15 May, FRA’s Director Sirpa Rautio gave a keynote speech at the University of Florence during a conference on the future of democracy in the digital era. The Director called for the development of a trustworthy, human-rights compliant technology.
    FRA provided input to the OSCE’s consultative roundtable on policing in multi-ethnic societies.
    The Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU invited FRA to present key findings of its projects on high-risk AI and on the digitalisation of justice.
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    The 23rd informal Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) seminar on human rights will bring together key stakeholders from Asia and Europe to discuss the intersection of AI and human rights.
    FRA will speak during the cybersecurity technical workshop in Brussels on 1 October.
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    FRA will take part in the bi-annual Infra4NextGen stakeholder board meeting. Infra4NextGen is an EU-funded project which began on 1 March 2024 to bring together output from key social science research infrastructures to help inform the NextGenerationEU programme and European Union youth policies.
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    FRA joins the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) hosted in Norway. FRA will speak at a session about Advancing Equality and Inclusion in AI organised by the Council of Europe.
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    This year’s Computers, Privacy and Data Protection conference takes place from 21 to 23 May in Brussels. FRA will host a high-level panel on assessing the fundamental rights risks of AI.
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    FRA will present its work on 8 April on assessing fundamental rights risks of artificial intelligence at ERA’s 2025 Annual Conference on Artificial Intelligence Systems and Fundamental Rights.
    The European Network of Equality Bodies, Equinet, will host a high-level conference on ‘Coding Equality into the EU AI Act - Equality Bodies rising to the Challenge’.
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    FRA will take part in the Forum 2000 Annual Conference in Prague from 13 to 15 October. This event provides a platform to address a diverse international community and to better understand the challenges to freedom and democracy in our globalised and uncertain world.
    FRA was invited by the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU to speak at a conference on ‘Fundamental rights in the age of AI’.
    FRA will attend a Ministerial Meeting of the EU Internet Forum. This event will allow participants to exchange views on how to adapt responses to new circumstances in the field of AI.
    FRA will take part in the 2023 edition of the European Scientific Conference on Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology (ESCAIDE) on 22 November in Barcelona.
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    The Spanish Ministry of Economy and Digital Transformation, in cooperation with the European Commission, will host the 4th European AI Alliance Assembly.
    A Collaborative Platform on Social and Economic Rights will meet to discuss realising social rights in the age of digitalisation.
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    Once again, FRA will sponsor the annual Computers, Privacy and Data Protection conference in Brussels. This year, it takes place from 24 to 26 May.
    FRA will join a conference on innovation on 23 May organised by the Court of Justice of the EU.
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    FRA will speak during the Privacy Symposium in Venice.
    On 28 February, FRA’s Director will present the updated report on surveillance by intelligence services to the European Parliament’s Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (PEGA).
    The Estonian Human Rights Centre will host a conference on artificial intelligence and human rights on 26 January in Tallinn.