Evelyn Austin, director
For 25 years, Bits of Freedom has been working towards a world where everyone can live safely and freely. We focus specifically on the impact of technology on society.
We defend internet freedom in the Netherlands and Europe.
We push for fair technology.
We call for a trustworthy government that only uses surveillance purposefully and transparently.
We advocate for an open and fair information society.
🐣
Bits of Freedom is founded.
The 9/11 attacks sparked global debates on surveillance and privacy, including in the Netherlands. A wave of proposals and measures followed: mandatory IDs from age 12, biometric passport chips, and increased police powers to access telecom data. Bits of Freedom stepped up to assess and address these threats to privacy, offering both solicited and unsolicited advice to the government.
We also initiated the European Digital Rights (EDRi) coalition, which now includes members from over 25 countries.
The first annual Big Brother Awards shone a spotlight on the biggest privacy violators of the year, holding them accountable in the public eye.
Due to financial challenges, we suspended most activities but relaunched in 2009 under Ot van Daalen’s leadership – with financial support from XS4ALL. With growing concerns about government and corporate data collection, it was time for constructive lobbying and impactful campaigns.
We fought against Buma/Stemra’s “embed tax”, ensuring we can still embed videos on blogs and social media for free - a crucial part of internet freedom!
We also launched the Data Breach Blackbook, highlighting how often personal data was insufficiently secured. This led to legislation requiring databank managers to report breaches immediately.
The Netherlands became the second country worldwide to adopt net neutrality, a historic moment for internet freedom. This principle ensures you can decide how to use your internet connection - something we fought hard to achieve.
We launched the Internet Freedom Toolbox, a predecessor to Fix Your Privacy, providing essential tools and tips for online safety and privacy. Over 100,000 people have used it to enhance their internet freedom.
We began hosting offline events, like Cryptoparties and Privacy Cafés, to help people navigate online safety - covering topics from secure chatting to anonymous browsing.
On May 5, 2014, we held the first Godwin Lecture in partnership with the Resistance Museum and De Correspondent, examining privacy and freedom in a historical context.
We successfully fought against internet filters that threatened a free and open internet. One bill, for example, wanted to bring the prevention of gambling addiction inline with 'the internet era'. The Gaming Authority (KSA) would then be given the authority to force internet providers to filter your internet and block access to certain websites. These types of censorship stand in the way of a free and open internet. Moreover, alternative measures are more effective, without us having to sacrifice our freedom. As usual, we discussed this with the House of Representatives, persuading the Dutch parliament to remove them from proposed laws, with success!
We exposed hidden cameras in NS (Dutch Railways) advertising billboards (provided by the company Exterion), prompting the company to remove them. Our message: people have the right to move through public spaces unobserved.
We caused a bit of a stir, which made Exterion stop using cameras in billboards!
We led a massive campaign against the “sleepwet (dragnet-law)” which allowed indiscriminate data collection. After months of debate and outreach, a referendum confirmed public opposition to the law.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into full effect! Besides plenty of lobbying for this, we developed a tool to help people request their personal data from companies: My Data Done Right. The tool has been used by tens of thousands across multiple countries. Incidentally, we also launched an data-requesting tool in 2010: PIM, the predecessor of My Data Done Right.
From now on you can also give Bits of Freedom a voice offline! We start with our merchandise, for friends of the internet!
We co-founded the Safe Against Corona coalition, setting strict standards for pandemic-related apps. These tools must protect privacy and only be used for managing the virus - not for enforcement or profit.
Our persistent advocacy for encryption paid off! Together with allies, we convinced the government to support, rather than limit, encryption.
The result: the ministry no longer takes restricting the use of encryption lightly.
We freed the data of millions of citizens from the hands of the secret services! We were proven right following our complaint that we filed with the Complaints Department of the CTIVD: the secret services unlawfully stored an enormous amount of data and that had to be destroyed immediately.
Our advice contributed to improved platform regulations under the DSA and DMA, safeguarding users from Big Tech overreach.
🎂
And now...we’re 25 years strong!
While we’ve achieved many successes, our mission has never been more critical. Education, healthcare, and government services are now largely digital, and online platforms increasingly manipulate us.
“Bits of Freedom keeps tech billionaires out of the cookie jar and politicians and civil servants on their toes when it comes to our rights in the digital domain. The battleground has shifted over the years to the main stage and Bits of Freedom is only becoming more and more important. On to the next 25 years!“
“All the successes of the past years are ultimately successes of everyone who supported us -- from politicians to donors, from people who campaign at a birthday party to the people who go to the Big Brother Awards. And that support is unfortunately still very much needed, because freedom is unfortunately not self-evident in a world that is increasingly digital. So that in 25 years we can really close down Bits of Freedom.“
“25 years young, or 25 years old? Unfortunately, organizations that stand up for our digital rights, like Bits of Freedom, are still very much needed. In all the years that I have known Bits of Freedom, they struck me as passionate and never pushy. They have achieved a lot outside of the big spotlights as well.“
We celebrated our 25th birthday at boxing school Boogieland in Amsterdam. Photos by Marco Reeuwijk.
