Apostolis Fotiadis
@balkanizator.bsky.social
Journalist - Researcher
Pinned
Frontex unlawfully shared thousands of people's personal data with Europol
Under the banner of fighting migrant smuggling, Frontex has collected, and unlawfully siphoned to Europol, personal data for years—quietly drawing thousands of migrants, as well as EU citizens aiding ...
wearesolomon.com
For years Frontex gathered data and automatically passed it unlawfully to Europol. With @stavinoha.bsky.social & @lolahierro.bsky.social we investigated how this dragnet scooped up thousands of people, migrants and EU activists.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Reposted by Apostolis Fotiadis
Shall we care about Europol? The answer is... Read our latest investigation to catch a glimpse about what the agency is doing to accelerate the AI transformation of policing across the EU, with minimal safeguards. www.computerweekly.com/news/3666344...
Hungry for data: Inside Europol’s secretive AI programme | Computer Weekly
The EU’s law enforcement agency has been quietly amassing data to feed an ambitious but secretive artificial intelligence development programme that could have far-reaching privacy implications for pe...
www.computerweekly.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Shall we care about Europol? The answer is... Read our latest investigation to catch a glimpse about what the agency is doing to accelerate the AI transformation of policing across the EU, with minimal safeguards. www.computerweekly.com/news/3666344...
Reposted by Apostolis Fotiadis
Στις 22 και 29 Νοέμβρη θα κάνω δύο διαλέξεις εξ αποστάσεως στα πλαίσια των μεθοδολογικών εργαστηρίων του Εθνικού και Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών για το ρόλο του λόμπινγκ στην πολιτική ζωή της ΕΕ.
Περισσότερες λεπτομέρειες www.facebook.com/YiorgosVassa...
Περισσότερες λεπτομέρειες www.facebook.com/YiorgosVassa...
November 13, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Στις 22 και 29 Νοέμβρη θα κάνω δύο διαλέξεις εξ αποστάσεως στα πλαίσια των μεθοδολογικών εργαστηρίων του Εθνικού και Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών για το ρόλο του λόμπινγκ στην πολιτική ζωή της ΕΕ.
Περισσότερες λεπτομέρειες www.facebook.com/YiorgosVassa...
Περισσότερες λεπτομέρειες www.facebook.com/YiorgosVassa...
Btw 2020 and 2021 Europol landed enormous volumes of data as a part of three mega-hack operations that dismantled encrypted communication systems. This would become the starting point of the agency's AI ambitions. New investigation out with @giacomoza.bsky.social and @stavinoha.bsky.social
Hungry for data: Inside Europol’s secretive AI programme | Computer Weekly
The EU’s law enforcement agency has been quietly amassing data to feed an ambitious but secretive artificial intelligence development programme that could have far-reaching privacy implications for pe...
www.computerweekly.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Btw 2020 and 2021 Europol landed enormous volumes of data as a part of three mega-hack operations that dismantled encrypted communication systems. This would become the starting point of the agency's AI ambitions. New investigation out with @giacomoza.bsky.social and @stavinoha.bsky.social
Since 2022, there have been repeated efforts to mandate the scanning of private communications in the EU. Denmark is trying again, bringing another version of the proposal for a vote in the Council of the EU on October 14th. Will this really make Europeans safer? www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The EU wants to scan every message sent in Europe. Will that really make us safer? | Apostolis Fotiadis
Lawmakers argue that mass surveillance will help to protect children. But the implications for our privacy and security are staggering, says journalist Apostolis Fotiadis
www.theguardian.com
September 22, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Since 2022, there have been repeated efforts to mandate the scanning of private communications in the EU. Denmark is trying again, bringing another version of the proposal for a vote in the Council of the EU on October 14th. Will this really make Europeans safer? www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Apostolis Fotiadis
Frontex doesn't like to hear its 'voluntary' interviews of people arriving at Europe's shores being described as covert 'interrogations'. Why? Because it has no legal mandate to interrogate and criminalise migrants.
Yet, that is precisely what's happening in Spain.
elpais.com/espana/2025-...
Yet, that is precisely what's happening in Spain.
elpais.com/espana/2025-...
Enfrentamiento entre España y Frontex: dudas sobre el uso de los datos que se obtienen de los migrantes
Documentos internos a los que ha tenido acceso EL PAÍS revelan tensiones entre la agencia de la UE y las autoridades españolas por las entrevistas a los recién llegados
elpais.com
September 9, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Frontex doesn't like to hear its 'voluntary' interviews of people arriving at Europe's shores being described as covert 'interrogations'. Why? Because it has no legal mandate to interrogate and criminalise migrants.
Yet, that is precisely what's happening in Spain.
elpais.com/espana/2025-...
Yet, that is precisely what's happening in Spain.
elpais.com/espana/2025-...
Reposted by Apostolis Fotiadis
A probe into a massive fraud in Greece involving hundreds of millions of EU cash is widening.
It now includes a former official from the ruling New Democracy party of PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
It now includes a former official from the ruling New Democracy party of PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Probe into EU farm funds fraud in Greece widens
Authorities conducted a raid on Wednesday seeking information on a former official from the ruling New Democracy party.
www.politico.eu
August 8, 2025 at 11:41 AM
A probe into a massive fraud in Greece involving hundreds of millions of EU cash is widening.
It now includes a former official from the ruling New Democracy party of PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
It now includes a former official from the ruling New Democracy party of PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Reposted by Apostolis Fotiadis
Good morning, I've written a piece about the prime minister. I spoke to several dozen sources, including government insiders, former legal colleagues and campaigners to ask: what happened to Keir Starmer the heroic human rights lawyer? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Starmer v Starmer: why is the former human rights lawyer so cautious about defending human rights?
The long read: Given his career as a human rights barrister, it was hoped Keir Starmer would be the PM to restore the UK’s commitment to international law. The reality tells a different story
www.theguardian.com
July 29, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Good morning, I've written a piece about the prime minister. I spoke to several dozen sources, including government insiders, former legal colleagues and campaigners to ask: what happened to Keir Starmer the heroic human rights lawyer? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Apostolis Fotiadis
This comes on the back of our latest investigation with @lolahierro.bsky.social and @balkanizator.bsky.social, revealing Europol's apparent refusal to delete/restrict using data of more than 11,000 people Frontex had unlawfully shared since 2016.
english.elpais.com/internationa...
english.elpais.com/internationa...
For years, the EU’s border agency unlawfully transferred data on migrants and activists to Europol
An investigation by several media outlets, including EL PAÍS, reveals that Frontex provided the European police agency with indiscriminate information on thousands of people, gathered from covert inte...
english.elpais.com
July 28, 2025 at 4:01 PM
This comes on the back of our latest investigation with @lolahierro.bsky.social and @balkanizator.bsky.social, revealing Europol's apparent refusal to delete/restrict using data of more than 11,000 people Frontex had unlawfully shared since 2016.
english.elpais.com/internationa...
english.elpais.com/internationa...
Reposted by Apostolis Fotiadis
Dänemark schlägt wieder eine weitreichende verpflichtende Chatkontrolle vor. Der Juristische Dienst des Rats bezeichnet auch diesen Vorschlag als rechtswidrig. Ob das Gesetz noch kommt, könnte von Deutschland und Frankreich abhängen. Wir veröffentlichen das Protokoll. netzpolitik.org/2025/interne...
Internes Protokoll: EU-Juristen kritisieren dänischen Vorschlag zur Chatkontrolle
Dänemark schlägt wieder eine weitreichende verpflichtende Chatkontrolle vor. Der Juristische Dienst des Rats bezeichnet auch diesen Vorschlag als rechtswidrig. Ob das Gesetz noch kommt, könnte von Deu...
netzpolitik.org
July 30, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Dänemark schlägt wieder eine weitreichende verpflichtende Chatkontrolle vor. Der Juristische Dienst des Rats bezeichnet auch diesen Vorschlag als rechtswidrig. Ob das Gesetz noch kommt, könnte von Deutschland und Frankreich abhängen. Wir veröffentlichen das Protokoll. netzpolitik.org/2025/interne...
Reposted by Apostolis Fotiadis
More evidence of Europol's apparent disregard for legal norms and boundaries - this time from Lesvos, where its officers appear to be behaving like secret intelligence agents, misusing Frontex activities to interrogate migrants.
July 28, 2025 at 4:01 PM
More evidence of Europol's apparent disregard for legal norms and boundaries - this time from Lesvos, where its officers appear to be behaving like secret intelligence agents, misusing Frontex activities to interrogate migrants.
Reposted by Apostolis Fotiadis
🚨 New investigation co-authored by our colleague @stavinoha.bsky.social: EU agencies #Frontex & #Europol unlawfully shared data, sweeping up migrants and #HumanRights defenders.
Published in @elpais.com, @lemonde.fr, Solomon, @netzpolitik.org
Read more: english.elpais.com/internationa...
Published in @elpais.com, @lemonde.fr, Solomon, @netzpolitik.org
Read more: english.elpais.com/internationa...
For years, the EU’s border agency unlawfully transferred data on migrants and activists to Europol
An investigation by several media outlets, including EL PAÍS, reveals that Frontex provided the European police agency with indiscriminate information on thousands of people, gathered from covert inte...
english.elpais.com
July 24, 2025 at 3:43 PM
🚨 New investigation co-authored by our colleague @stavinoha.bsky.social: EU agencies #Frontex & #Europol unlawfully shared data, sweeping up migrants and #HumanRights defenders.
Published in @elpais.com, @lemonde.fr, Solomon, @netzpolitik.org
Read more: english.elpais.com/internationa...
Published in @elpais.com, @lemonde.fr, Solomon, @netzpolitik.org
Read more: english.elpais.com/internationa...
Reposted by Apostolis Fotiadis
Based on our investigation with @lolahierro.bsky.social and @balkanizator.bsky.social into years of unlawful personal data transfers between Frontex and Europol, under the guise of EU 'counter-smuggling' efforts.
english.elpais.com/internationa...
english.elpais.com/internationa...
July 19, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Based on our investigation with @lolahierro.bsky.social and @balkanizator.bsky.social into years of unlawful personal data transfers between Frontex and Europol, under the guise of EU 'counter-smuggling' efforts.
english.elpais.com/internationa...
english.elpais.com/internationa...
For years Frontex gathered data and automatically passed it unlawfully to Europol. With @stavinoha.bsky.social & @lolahierro.bsky.social we investigated how this dragnet scooped up thousands of people, migrants and EU activists.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Frontex unlawfully shared thousands of people's personal data with Europol
Under the banner of fighting migrant smuggling, Frontex has collected, and unlawfully siphoned to Europol, personal data for years—quietly drawing thousands of migrants, as well as EU citizens aiding ...
wearesolomon.com
July 14, 2025 at 12:23 PM
For years Frontex gathered data and automatically passed it unlawfully to Europol. With @stavinoha.bsky.social & @lolahierro.bsky.social we investigated how this dragnet scooped up thousands of people, migrants and EU activists.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Reposted by Apostolis Fotiadis
Frontex suma una nueva ilegalidad a su larga lista: la filtración de datos personales.
Impulsamos una carta apoyada por decenas de eurodiputados, para exigir que se investiguen estos abusos y acabar con la criminalización de las personas migrantes y la sociedad civil
elpais.com/internaciona...
Impulsamos una carta apoyada por decenas de eurodiputados, para exigir que se investiguen estos abusos y acabar con la criminalización de las personas migrantes y la sociedad civil
elpais.com/internaciona...
Un grupo de eurodiputados pide a Bruselas una investigación independiente tras las revelaciones de EL PAÍS sobre la transferencia ilegal de datos de Frontex a Europol
Más de 40 miembros de la Eurocámara exigen que se borren los datos personales transmitidos y que se impidan nuevas cesiones
elpais.com
July 11, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Frontex suma una nueva ilegalidad a su larga lista: la filtración de datos personales.
Impulsamos una carta apoyada por decenas de eurodiputados, para exigir que se investiguen estos abusos y acabar con la criminalización de las personas migrantes y la sociedad civil
elpais.com/internaciona...
Impulsamos una carta apoyada por decenas de eurodiputados, para exigir que se investiguen estos abusos y acabar con la criminalización de las personas migrantes y la sociedad civil
elpais.com/internaciona...
Reposted by Apostolis Fotiadis
41 MEPs call upon the European Commission to initiate an independent inquiry into large-scale unlawful transfers of personal data between @frontex.bsky.social and @europol.europa.eu following our investigation for El Pais, Le Monde, Solomon, and Netzpolitik.
July 11, 2025 at 1:28 PM
41 MEPs call upon the European Commission to initiate an independent inquiry into large-scale unlawful transfers of personal data between @frontex.bsky.social and @europol.europa.eu following our investigation for El Pais, Le Monde, Solomon, and Netzpolitik.
Reposted by Apostolis Fotiadis
I feel this scoop did not get all the attention it deserves yet:
For years, human rights advocates have warned of the criminalisation of migrants & activists at Europe’s borders.
With @balkanizator.bsky.social & @lolahierro.bsky.social we shed light on the opaque role of Frontex and Europol in drawing thousands into this dragnet.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
With @balkanizator.bsky.social & @lolahierro.bsky.social we shed light on the opaque role of Frontex and Europol in drawing thousands into this dragnet.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Frontex unlawfully shared thousands of people's personal data with Europol
Under the banner of fighting migrant smuggling, Frontex has collected, and unlawfully siphoned to Europol, personal data for years—quietly drawing thousands of migrants, as well as EU citizens aiding ...
wearesolomon.com
July 12, 2025 at 9:16 PM
I feel this scoop did not get all the attention it deserves yet:
Reposted by Apostolis Fotiadis
Great work by @stavinoha.bsky.social and @balkanizator.bsky.social shedding light on a widely overlooked (and unlawful) programme to feed Europol's database with data collected by Frontex, including those of activists and journalists.
For years, human rights advocates have warned of the criminalisation of migrants & activists at Europe’s borders.
With @balkanizator.bsky.social & @lolahierro.bsky.social we shed light on the opaque role of Frontex and Europol in drawing thousands into this dragnet.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
With @balkanizator.bsky.social & @lolahierro.bsky.social we shed light on the opaque role of Frontex and Europol in drawing thousands into this dragnet.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Frontex unlawfully shared thousands of people's personal data with Europol
Under the banner of fighting migrant smuggling, Frontex has collected, and unlawfully siphoned to Europol, personal data for years—quietly drawing thousands of migrants, as well as EU citizens aiding ...
wearesolomon.com
July 11, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Great work by @stavinoha.bsky.social and @balkanizator.bsky.social shedding light on a widely overlooked (and unlawful) programme to feed Europol's database with data collected by Frontex, including those of activists and journalists.
Reposted by Apostolis Fotiadis
For years, human rights advocates have warned of the criminalisation of migrants & activists at Europe’s borders.
With @balkanizator.bsky.social & @lolahierro.bsky.social we shed light on the opaque role of Frontex and Europol in drawing thousands into this dragnet.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
With @balkanizator.bsky.social & @lolahierro.bsky.social we shed light on the opaque role of Frontex and Europol in drawing thousands into this dragnet.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Frontex unlawfully shared thousands of people's personal data with Europol
Under the banner of fighting migrant smuggling, Frontex has collected, and unlawfully siphoned to Europol, personal data for years—quietly drawing thousands of migrants, as well as EU citizens aiding ...
wearesolomon.com
July 8, 2025 at 11:18 AM
For years, human rights advocates have warned of the criminalisation of migrants & activists at Europe’s borders.
With @balkanizator.bsky.social & @lolahierro.bsky.social we shed light on the opaque role of Frontex and Europol in drawing thousands into this dragnet.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
With @balkanizator.bsky.social & @lolahierro.bsky.social we shed light on the opaque role of Frontex and Europol in drawing thousands into this dragnet.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Reposted by Apostolis Fotiadis
❗In the name of 'combating migrant smugglers', the European Union's border agency, Frontex, spent years collecting information on migrants and civil society activists deemed 'suspect,' before passing it on to Europol.
Frontex unlawfully shared thousands of people's personal data with European police
In the name of combating migrant smugglers, the European Union's border surveillance agency spent years collecting information on migrants and civil society activists deemed 'suspect,' before passing ...
www.lemonde.fr
July 8, 2025 at 8:32 AM
❗In the name of 'combating migrant smugglers', the European Union's border agency, Frontex, spent years collecting information on migrants and civil society activists deemed 'suspect,' before passing it on to Europol.
Reposted by Apostolis Fotiadis
Here is how #Frontex unlawfully shared thousands of people’s personal data with #Europol
Investigation conducted by Solomon, the French newspaper Le Monde, the Spanish newspaper El País, and the German outlet Netzpolitik.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Investigation conducted by Solomon, the French newspaper Le Monde, the Spanish newspaper El País, and the German outlet Netzpolitik.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Frontex unlawfully shared thousands of people's personal data with Europol
Under the banner of fighting migrant smuggling, Frontex has collected, and unlawfully siphoned to Europol, personal data for years—quietly drawing thousands of migrants, as well as EU citizens aiding ...
wearesolomon.com
July 8, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Here is how #Frontex unlawfully shared thousands of people’s personal data with #Europol
Investigation conducted by Solomon, the French newspaper Le Monde, the Spanish newspaper El País, and the German outlet Netzpolitik.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Investigation conducted by Solomon, the French newspaper Le Monde, the Spanish newspaper El País, and the German outlet Netzpolitik.
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Reposted by Apostolis Fotiadis
NEW: an investigation reveals that Frontex unlawfully shared thousands of people's data with Europol.
Frontex decided to label as “suspects” anyone mentioned during the "debriefing interviews" conducted at disembarkation points at EU’s borders.
🧵Why it matters
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Frontex decided to label as “suspects” anyone mentioned during the "debriefing interviews" conducted at disembarkation points at EU’s borders.
🧵Why it matters
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Frontex unlawfully shared thousands of people's personal data with Europol
Under the banner of fighting migrant smuggling, Frontex has collected, and unlawfully siphoned to Europol, personal data for years—quietly drawing thousands of migrants, as well as EU citizens aiding ...
wearesolomon.com
July 8, 2025 at 8:11 AM
NEW: an investigation reveals that Frontex unlawfully shared thousands of people's data with Europol.
Frontex decided to label as “suspects” anyone mentioned during the "debriefing interviews" conducted at disembarkation points at EU’s borders.
🧵Why it matters
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Frontex decided to label as “suspects” anyone mentioned during the "debriefing interviews" conducted at disembarkation points at EU’s borders.
🧵Why it matters
wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...
Reposted by Apostolis Fotiadis
Frontex transfirió durante años ilegalmente a Europol datos de migrantes y activistas
elpais.com/internaciona...
elpais.com/internaciona...
Frontex transfirió durante años ilegalmente a Europol datos de migrantes y activistas
Una investigación de varios medios, entre ellos EL PAÍS, revela que la agencia europea de fronteras facilitó a la entidad policial información indiscriminada de miles de personas a partir de entrevist...
elpais.com
July 7, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Frontex transfirió durante años ilegalmente a Europol datos de migrantes y activistas
elpais.com/internaciona...
elpais.com/internaciona...
Reposted by Apostolis Fotiadis
Eine Recherche belegt, wie unter dem Vorwand der Bekämpfung von »Menschenschmuggel« Migranten und Aktivisten kriminalisiert werden. Frontex gab dazu ohne Rechtsgrundlage Informationen von über 13 000 Personen an Europol.
Frontex übertrug jahrelang illegal Daten an Europol
Eine Recherche belegt, wie unter dem Vorwand der Bekämpfung von »Menschenschmuggel« Migranten und Aktivisten kriminalisiert werden. Frontex gab dazu ohne Rechtsgrundlage Informationen von über 13 000…
buff.ly
July 7, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Eine Recherche belegt, wie unter dem Vorwand der Bekämpfung von »Menschenschmuggel« Migranten und Aktivisten kriminalisiert werden. Frontex gab dazu ohne Rechtsgrundlage Informationen von über 13 000 Personen an Europol.
Reposted by Apostolis Fotiadis
Frontex hat jahrelang personenbezogene Daten gesammelt und unrechtmäßig an Europol weitergeleitet. Tausende, darunter EU-Bürger:innen, die Geflüchtete unterstützen, gerieten durch groß angelegte „verdeckte Verhöre“ in ein wachsendes System der Kriminalisierung.
netzpolitik.org/2025/gefluec...
netzpolitik.org/2025/gefluec...
Geflüchtete und Aktivist:innen: Frontex schickte jahrelang unrechtmäßig Daten an Europol
Frontex hat jahrelang personenbezogene Daten gesammelt und unrechtmäßig an Europol weitergeleitet. Tausende Personen, darunter EU-Bürger:innen, die Geflüchtete unterstützen, gerieten durch groß angele...
netzpolitik.org
July 7, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Frontex hat jahrelang personenbezogene Daten gesammelt und unrechtmäßig an Europol weitergeleitet. Tausende, darunter EU-Bürger:innen, die Geflüchtete unterstützen, gerieten durch groß angelegte „verdeckte Verhöre“ in ein wachsendes System der Kriminalisierung.
netzpolitik.org/2025/gefluec...
netzpolitik.org/2025/gefluec...