Bram Vranken
@bramvranken.bsky.social
Big Tech campaigner and researcher at @corporateeurope.org. Fighting corporate power ✊
Reposted by Bram Vranken
🗞️ One line of attack from privacy groups is to poke holes in what they say is a rushed omnibus process. The Commission’s tunnel vision on the AI race has resulted in a "poorly drafted 'quick shot' in a highly complex and sensitive area," said Schrems.
👀 www.politico.eu/article/brus...
👀 www.politico.eu/article/brus...
Brussels knifes privacy to feed the AI boom
Draft proposals obtained by POLITICO show EU is breaking sacred privacy regime to placate industry.
www.politico.eu
November 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM
🗞️ One line of attack from privacy groups is to poke holes in what they say is a rushed omnibus process. The Commission’s tunnel vision on the AI race has resulted in a "poorly drafted 'quick shot' in a highly complex and sensitive area," said Schrems.
👀 www.politico.eu/article/brus...
👀 www.politico.eu/article/brus...
Reposted by Bram Vranken
Scientists and scholars in AI and its social impacts call on von der Leyen to retract #AIHype statement.
@olivia.science
@abeba.bsky.social
@irisvanrooij.bsky.social
@alexhanna.bsky.social
@rocher.lc
@danmcquillan.bsky.social
@robin.berjon.com
& many others have signed
www.iccl.ie/press-releas...
@olivia.science
@abeba.bsky.social
@irisvanrooij.bsky.social
@alexhanna.bsky.social
@rocher.lc
@danmcquillan.bsky.social
@robin.berjon.com
& many others have signed
www.iccl.ie/press-releas...
Scientists call on the President of the European Commission to retract AI hype statement
Experts in AI call on the President of the European Commission to retract unscientific AI hype statement she made in the budget speech.
www.iccl.ie
November 10, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Scientists and scholars in AI and its social impacts call on von der Leyen to retract #AIHype statement.
@olivia.science
@abeba.bsky.social
@irisvanrooij.bsky.social
@alexhanna.bsky.social
@rocher.lc
@danmcquillan.bsky.social
@robin.berjon.com
& many others have signed
www.iccl.ie/press-releas...
@olivia.science
@abeba.bsky.social
@irisvanrooij.bsky.social
@alexhanna.bsky.social
@rocher.lc
@danmcquillan.bsky.social
@robin.berjon.com
& many others have signed
www.iccl.ie/press-releas...
Reposted by Bram Vranken
EU officials are ready to sacrifice some of their most prized privacy rules for the sake of AI, as they seek to turbocharge business in Europe by slashing red tape.
Brussels knifes privacy to feed the AI boom
Draft proposals obtained by POLITICO show EU is breaking sacred privacy regime to placate industry.
www.politico.eu
November 10, 2025 at 8:02 AM
EU officials are ready to sacrifice some of their most prized privacy rules for the sake of AI, as they seek to turbocharge business in Europe by slashing red tape.
Reposted by Bram Vranken
Incredible- Meta projected 10% of its 2024 revenue would come from ads for scams and banned goods, documents seen by Reuters show. And the social media giant internally estimates that its platforms show users 15 billion scam ads a day."
Meta earns $3.5 billion every six months from showing Faceboon and Instagram users 15 billion “higher legal risk” scam ad impressions a day, internal documents state.
That haul vastly exceeds how much the company expects regulators
To fine it for running scam ads.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
That haul vastly exceeds how much the company expects regulators
To fine it for running scam ads.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Incredible- Meta projected 10% of its 2024 revenue would come from ads for scams and banned goods, documents seen by Reuters show. And the social media giant internally estimates that its platforms show users 15 billion scam ads a day."
Reposted by Bram Vranken
YouTube zwicht voor Amerikaanse druk. Met het verwijderen van de accounts van drie prominente Palestijnse mensenrechtenorganisaties draagt het bedrijf bij aan het monddood maken van Palestijnen.
rightsforum.org/youtube-verw...
rightsforum.org/youtube-verw...
YouTube verwijdert 700 video’s met documentatie van Israëlische misdaden - The Rights Forum
rightsforum.org
November 6, 2025 at 9:41 AM
YouTube zwicht voor Amerikaanse druk. Met het verwijderen van de accounts van drie prominente Palestijnse mensenrechtenorganisaties draagt het bedrijf bij aan het monddood maken van Palestijnen.
rightsforum.org/youtube-verw...
rightsforum.org/youtube-verw...
Reposted by Bram Vranken
We have found unreasonable that @ec.europa.eu applied a general presumption of non-disclosure to a risk assessment report drawn up by the social media platform X under the Digital Services Act #DSA.
🧵 1/3
🧵 1/3
Commission should analyse risk assessment report of social media firm X for possible disclosure, says Ombudswoman
European Ombudswoman Teresa Anjinho has found maladministration in the European Commission’s refusal to analyse a 2023 risk assessment report drawn up by ...
www.ombudsman.europa.eu
November 5, 2025 at 9:17 AM
We have found unreasonable that @ec.europa.eu applied a general presumption of non-disclosure to a risk assessment report drawn up by the social media platform X under the Digital Services Act #DSA.
🧵 1/3
🧵 1/3
Internal documents, obtained by @politico.eu, show just how far the EU Commission is willing to go to please Big Tech oligarchs 🙇
In a trip to the US in May, commissioner Virkkunen promised the CEOs of Apple, Google, Meta and others to weaken the AI Act and 'simplify' EU rules.
In a trip to the US in May, commissioner Virkkunen promised the CEOs of Apple, Google, Meta and others to weaken the AI Act and 'simplify' EU rules.
November 5, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Internal documents, obtained by @politico.eu, show just how far the EU Commission is willing to go to please Big Tech oligarchs 🙇
In a trip to the US in May, commissioner Virkkunen promised the CEOs of Apple, Google, Meta and others to weaken the AI Act and 'simplify' EU rules.
In a trip to the US in May, commissioner Virkkunen promised the CEOs of Apple, Google, Meta and others to weaken the AI Act and 'simplify' EU rules.
Reposted by Bram Vranken
I spent a really long time amassing everything you need to know about Labour's vast deals with fossil gas-loving, Trump-donating AI giants out to pepper the world with climate-wrecking data centres...so you don't have to!
My reporting for @desmog.com 📖👇
My reporting for @desmog.com 📖👇
The sheer scale of Labour's deals with Trump-donating Big Tech firms has been seriously under-reported.
Not only are they being allowed to build climate-wrecking data centres, they've also been given permission to embed their tech within Whitehall, the NHS, and defence 👇👇
📝 @rtakver.bsky.social
Not only are they being allowed to build climate-wrecking data centres, they've also been given permission to embed their tech within Whitehall, the NHS, and defence 👇👇
📝 @rtakver.bsky.social
Labour’s Big Tech Love Affair Could Blow Up Its Climate Promises
When U.S. President Donald Trump landed for what he called the “exquisite honour” of an unprecedented second state visit to the UK this September, he brought along a retinue of his favourite Silicon V...
www.desmog.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:03 PM
I spent a really long time amassing everything you need to know about Labour's vast deals with fossil gas-loving, Trump-donating AI giants out to pepper the world with climate-wrecking data centres...so you don't have to!
My reporting for @desmog.com 📖👇
My reporting for @desmog.com 📖👇
Reposted by Bram Vranken
«Silicon Valley isn’t building apps anymore.
It’s building empires.»
The Authoritarian Stack: A mapping of firms, funds, and political actors turning core state functions into private platforms, by @francescabria.bsky.social et. al. for @fesonline.bsky.social
www.authoritarian-stack.info
It’s building empires.»
The Authoritarian Stack: A mapping of firms, funds, and political actors turning core state functions into private platforms, by @francescabria.bsky.social et. al. for @fesonline.bsky.social
www.authoritarian-stack.info
The Authoritarian Stack
How Tech Billionaires Are Building a Post-Democratic America — And Why Europe Is Next
www.authoritarian-stack.info
November 2, 2025 at 10:00 AM
«Silicon Valley isn’t building apps anymore.
It’s building empires.»
The Authoritarian Stack: A mapping of firms, funds, and political actors turning core state functions into private platforms, by @francescabria.bsky.social et. al. for @fesonline.bsky.social
www.authoritarian-stack.info
It’s building empires.»
The Authoritarian Stack: A mapping of firms, funds, and political actors turning core state functions into private platforms, by @francescabria.bsky.social et. al. for @fesonline.bsky.social
www.authoritarian-stack.info
Reposted by Bram Vranken
How Google won friends and influenced people - while slowly gobbling up a quarter of all ad revenue on the internet.
Here's my look at two decades of Google’s ruthless tactics to secure its dominance.
www.ftm.eu/articles/goo...
Here's my look at two decades of Google’s ruthless tactics to secure its dominance.
www.ftm.eu/articles/goo...
How Google fooled Brussels: the tech giant’s playbook exposed
Regulators in the U.S. and the EU are closing on tech giant Google in an attempt to break up its dominance over the internet. An investigation by Follow the Money reveals how Google has persuaded lawm...
www.ftm.eu
November 3, 2025 at 6:07 AM
How Google won friends and influenced people - while slowly gobbling up a quarter of all ad revenue on the internet.
Here's my look at two decades of Google’s ruthless tactics to secure its dominance.
www.ftm.eu/articles/goo...
Here's my look at two decades of Google’s ruthless tactics to secure its dominance.
www.ftm.eu/articles/goo...
Reposted by Bram Vranken
I remember when the CSO/Big Tech gap was huge in 2014 when I started working on digital rights in Brussels. The gap is just exploding now. Thankfully, many CSOs started working on digital since then and there is a growing opposition to Big Tech domination and the de-regulatory agenda.
📢 As the EU's deregulation agenda rolls out the red carpet for corporate interests, our new study shows that the tech industry has ramped up its lobby power:
💰 Lobby spending hits a record €151 million
🕴 Almost 900 tech lobbyists
🤝 Big Tech has lobby 3 meetings a day
@lobbycontrol.bsky.social
💰 Lobby spending hits a record €151 million
🕴 Almost 900 tech lobbyists
🤝 Big Tech has lobby 3 meetings a day
@lobbycontrol.bsky.social
Big Tech lobby budgets hit record levels | Corporate Europe Observatory
New figures show that the digital industry as a whole is now spending €151 million a year on lobbying the EU, a major increase to what was already considerable firepower.
corporateeurope.org
October 30, 2025 at 7:59 AM
I remember when the CSO/Big Tech gap was huge in 2014 when I started working on digital rights in Brussels. The gap is just exploding now. Thankfully, many CSOs started working on digital since then and there is a growing opposition to Big Tech domination and the de-regulatory agenda.
Reposted by Bram Vranken
Tech companies spend more on lobbying in Brussels, according to a new report. Spending increased to €151 million, compared to €113 million in 2023.
Big tech lobby spending hits new record in Brussels, claims report
Big tech lobby spending hits new record in Brussels, claims report
www.brusselstimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Tech companies spend more on lobbying in Brussels, according to a new report. Spending increased to €151 million, compared to €113 million in 2023.
Reposted by Bram Vranken
New @lobbycontrol.bsky.social @corporateeurope.org data highlights tech lobbyists' tightening grip on EU policymaking:
📈 Total lobbying spend up by a third in 2 years
💼 There are now more tech lobbyists than MEPs
🗣️ Big Tech meets EU officials every single day
corporateeurope.org/en/2025/10/b...
📈 Total lobbying spend up by a third in 2 years
💼 There are now more tech lobbyists than MEPs
🗣️ Big Tech meets EU officials every single day
corporateeurope.org/en/2025/10/b...
Big Tech lobby budgets hit record levels | Corporate Europe Observatory
New figures show that the digital industry as a whole is now spending €151 million a year on lobbying the EU, a major increase to what was already considerable firepower.
corporateeurope.org
October 29, 2025 at 9:14 AM
New @lobbycontrol.bsky.social @corporateeurope.org data highlights tech lobbyists' tightening grip on EU policymaking:
📈 Total lobbying spend up by a third in 2 years
💼 There are now more tech lobbyists than MEPs
🗣️ Big Tech meets EU officials every single day
corporateeurope.org/en/2025/10/b...
📈 Total lobbying spend up by a third in 2 years
💼 There are now more tech lobbyists than MEPs
🗣️ Big Tech meets EU officials every single day
corporateeurope.org/en/2025/10/b...
Reposted by Bram Vranken
"There are more tech lobbyists than MEPs."
Live from Brussels:
(It's a good study. Check it out.)
Live from Brussels:
(It's a good study. Check it out.)
October 29, 2025 at 4:10 PM
"There are more tech lobbyists than MEPs."
Live from Brussels:
(It's a good study. Check it out.)
Live from Brussels:
(It's a good study. Check it out.)
Reposted by Bram Vranken
🚨New polling across 🇮🇪, 🇬🇧, 🇪🇸, 🇨🇭, 🇩🇪 finds:
👉 76% of people believe new data centres should be powered with renewable energy.
👉73% want governments to set clear criteria for energy distribution.
Renewables, transparency, & fairness are key for data centres.
More: beyondfossilfuels.org/2025/10/27/e...
👉 76% of people believe new data centres should be powered with renewable energy.
👉73% want governments to set clear criteria for energy distribution.
Renewables, transparency, & fairness are key for data centres.
More: beyondfossilfuels.org/2025/10/27/e...
October 27, 2025 at 9:13 AM
🚨New polling across 🇮🇪, 🇬🇧, 🇪🇸, 🇨🇭, 🇩🇪 finds:
👉 76% of people believe new data centres should be powered with renewable energy.
👉73% want governments to set clear criteria for energy distribution.
Renewables, transparency, & fairness are key for data centres.
More: beyondfossilfuels.org/2025/10/27/e...
👉 76% of people believe new data centres should be powered with renewable energy.
👉73% want governments to set clear criteria for energy distribution.
Renewables, transparency, & fairness are key for data centres.
More: beyondfossilfuels.org/2025/10/27/e...
Reposted by Bram Vranken
🇪🇺 mini-scoop! 🇪🇺
The EU's watchdog is probing whether the European Commission acted secretively in its dealings with industry before launching a series of business-friendly initiatives
www.politico.eu/article/ombu...
The EU's watchdog is probing whether the European Commission acted secretively in its dealings with industry before launching a series of business-friendly initiatives
www.politico.eu/article/ombu...
Ombudsman probes Commission over red-tape-cutting chats with industry
The watchdog is examining a complaint that the executive has been “evasive” about its meetings with lobbyists.
www.politico.eu
October 29, 2025 at 12:00 PM
🇪🇺 mini-scoop! 🇪🇺
The EU's watchdog is probing whether the European Commission acted secretively in its dealings with industry before launching a series of business-friendly initiatives
www.politico.eu/article/ombu...
The EU's watchdog is probing whether the European Commission acted secretively in its dealings with industry before launching a series of business-friendly initiatives
www.politico.eu/article/ombu...
Reposted by Bram Vranken
Tech firms are spending more than ever on lobbying the European Union amid mounting opposition to the bloc’s digital rules, according to new analysis.
Big Tech ups lobbying firepower, €€ in Brussels
American tech companies have piled into EU capital with bigger budgets and beefed-up teams.
www.politico.eu
October 29, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Tech firms are spending more than ever on lobbying the European Union amid mounting opposition to the bloc’s digital rules, according to new analysis.
Reposted by Bram Vranken
The blunt truth about #CCS via @ketanjoshi.co
"There is not a single climate solution that displays this same incredible mix of total, persistent failure blended with total immunity to any consequences to this failure"
Now used to justify gas-fuelled data centres
www.crikey.com.au/2025/10/27/g...
"There is not a single climate solution that displays this same incredible mix of total, persistent failure blended with total immunity to any consequences to this failure"
Now used to justify gas-fuelled data centres
www.crikey.com.au/2025/10/27/g...
Google’s carbon capture bullshit proves big tech is speed-running the greenwashing gauntlet
Carbon capture and storage will never stop failing, but as Google's latest plan shows, big tech is addicted to this greenwashing fantasy.
www.crikey.com.au
October 29, 2025 at 11:38 AM
The blunt truth about #CCS via @ketanjoshi.co
"There is not a single climate solution that displays this same incredible mix of total, persistent failure blended with total immunity to any consequences to this failure"
Now used to justify gas-fuelled data centres
www.crikey.com.au/2025/10/27/g...
"There is not a single climate solution that displays this same incredible mix of total, persistent failure blended with total immunity to any consequences to this failure"
Now used to justify gas-fuelled data centres
www.crikey.com.au/2025/10/27/g...
Big Tech is spending more money than ever in lobbying both in Washington and in Brussels.
This isn't just putting essential legislation at stake, this is a threat to democracy.
Time to kick Big Tech out of policy-making.
This isn't just putting essential legislation at stake, this is a threat to democracy.
Time to kick Big Tech out of policy-making.
October 29, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Big Tech is spending more money than ever in lobbying both in Washington and in Brussels.
This isn't just putting essential legislation at stake, this is a threat to democracy.
Time to kick Big Tech out of policy-making.
This isn't just putting essential legislation at stake, this is a threat to democracy.
Time to kick Big Tech out of policy-making.
Reposted by Bram Vranken
EU-Digitalgesetze wie der Digital Services Act sollen Big Tech in Schach halten. Das macht Meta, Microsoft & Co. das Leben schwer. Mit einer mächtigen Lobby arbeiten sie dagegen. Das zeigt eine gemeinsame Analyse von @lobbycontrol.bsky.social und @corporateeurope.org netzpolitik.org/2025/gegen-r...
Gegen Regulierung: Big Tech steckt so viel Geld in EU-Lobbyarbeit wie noch nie
EU-Digitalgesetze wie der Digital Services Act sollen Big Tech in Schach halten. Das macht Meta, Microsoft & Co. das Leben schwer. Mit einer mächtigen Lobby arbeiten sie dagegen. Das zeigt eine gemein...
netzpolitik.org
October 29, 2025 at 9:44 AM
EU-Digitalgesetze wie der Digital Services Act sollen Big Tech in Schach halten. Das macht Meta, Microsoft & Co. das Leben schwer. Mit einer mächtigen Lobby arbeiten sie dagegen. Das zeigt eine gemeinsame Analyse von @lobbycontrol.bsky.social und @corporateeurope.org netzpolitik.org/2025/gegen-r...
Reposted by Bram Vranken
Big Tech lobby budgets hit record levels: market power and lobby power go hand in hand, as tech monopolies defend their business models.
📢 As the EU's deregulation agenda rolls out the red carpet for corporate interests, our new study shows that the tech industry has ramped up its lobby power:
💰 Lobby spending hits a record €151 million
🕴 Almost 900 tech lobbyists
🤝 Big Tech has lobby 3 meetings a day
@lobbycontrol.bsky.social
💰 Lobby spending hits a record €151 million
🕴 Almost 900 tech lobbyists
🤝 Big Tech has lobby 3 meetings a day
@lobbycontrol.bsky.social
Big Tech lobby budgets hit record levels | Corporate Europe Observatory
New figures show that the digital industry as a whole is now spending €151 million a year on lobbying the EU, a major increase to what was already considerable firepower.
corporateeurope.org
October 29, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Big Tech lobby budgets hit record levels: market power and lobby power go hand in hand, as tech monopolies defend their business models.
Reposted by Bram Vranken
Tech companies now spend €151m a year on lobbying in Brussels — a 33-percent increase on 2023. With the backing of the US government, they hope to push the EU Commission while it's looking towards simplifying its digital regulations.
Big Tech lobbying of Brussels now €151m a year, new study finds
Tech companies now spend €151m a year on lobbying in Brussels — a 33-percent increase on 2023. With the backing of the US government, they hope to push the EU Commission while it's looking towards simplifying its digital regulations.
euobserver.com
October 29, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Tech companies now spend €151m a year on lobbying in Brussels — a 33-percent increase on 2023. With the backing of the US government, they hope to push the EU Commission while it's looking towards simplifying its digital regulations.
Reposted by Bram Vranken
📢 As the EU's deregulation agenda rolls out the red carpet for corporate interests, our new study shows that the tech industry has ramped up its lobby power:
💰 Lobby spending hits a record €151 million
🕴 Almost 900 tech lobbyists
🤝 Big Tech has lobby 3 meetings a day
@lobbycontrol.bsky.social
💰 Lobby spending hits a record €151 million
🕴 Almost 900 tech lobbyists
🤝 Big Tech has lobby 3 meetings a day
@lobbycontrol.bsky.social
Big Tech lobby budgets hit record levels | Corporate Europe Observatory
New figures show that the digital industry as a whole is now spending €151 million a year on lobbying the EU, a major increase to what was already considerable firepower.
corporateeurope.org
October 29, 2025 at 7:58 AM
📢 As the EU's deregulation agenda rolls out the red carpet for corporate interests, our new study shows that the tech industry has ramped up its lobby power:
💰 Lobby spending hits a record €151 million
🕴 Almost 900 tech lobbyists
🤝 Big Tech has lobby 3 meetings a day
@lobbycontrol.bsky.social
💰 Lobby spending hits a record €151 million
🕴 Almost 900 tech lobbyists
🤝 Big Tech has lobby 3 meetings a day
@lobbycontrol.bsky.social
Reposted by Bram Vranken
Taking vocabulary directly from oil and gas messaging, Google calls point-source carbon capture at methane gas plants “clean, affordable, [and] reliable.”
But CCS at methane gas (or coal) power plants has never been any of those things.
But CCS at methane gas (or coal) power plants has never been any of those things.
Google will buy power from what may be the first large-scale gas power plant with CCS in the US blog.google/outreach-ini...
Google has previously backed enhanced geothermal, advanced nuclear and long duration storage.
🔌💡
Google has previously backed enhanced geothermal, advanced nuclear and long duration storage.
🔌💡
Our first carbon capture and storage project
An overview of our support for a first-of-its-kind gas power plant with carbon capture and storage.
blog.google
October 24, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Taking vocabulary directly from oil and gas messaging, Google calls point-source carbon capture at methane gas plants “clean, affordable, [and] reliable.”
But CCS at methane gas (or coal) power plants has never been any of those things.
But CCS at methane gas (or coal) power plants has never been any of those things.
Reposted by Bram Vranken
We filled a complaint against Ireland to the European Commission today.
Ireland has appointed an ex-Meta lobbyist as its new Data Protection Commissioner.
This will be interpreted by the tech industry as a signal of impunity.
The European Commission must intervene.
www.iccl.ie/digital-data...
Ireland has appointed an ex-Meta lobbyist as its new Data Protection Commissioner.
This will be interpreted by the tech industry as a signal of impunity.
The European Commission must intervene.
www.iccl.ie/digital-data...
Complaint v Ireland to European Commission re process appointing ex-Meta lobbyist as Data Protection Commissioner
Ireland's appointment process lacked procedural safeguards against conflicts of interest and political interference and may be interpreted by the tech industry as a signal of impunity
www.iccl.ie
October 28, 2025 at 7:12 AM
We filled a complaint against Ireland to the European Commission today.
Ireland has appointed an ex-Meta lobbyist as its new Data Protection Commissioner.
This will be interpreted by the tech industry as a signal of impunity.
The European Commission must intervene.
www.iccl.ie/digital-data...
Ireland has appointed an ex-Meta lobbyist as its new Data Protection Commissioner.
This will be interpreted by the tech industry as a signal of impunity.
The European Commission must intervene.
www.iccl.ie/digital-data...