Erik Bugge
@erikbugge.bsky.social
CEO and founder of privacy adtech company Kobler (kobler.no/en).
Building adtech and policy for (in all senses) sustainable digital advertising.
Building adtech and policy for (in all senses) sustainable digital advertising.
Pinned
Erik Bugge
@erikbugge.bsky.social
· Nov 12
As we write in The Guardian this morning, the Commission’s plan to gut EU digital rules will hurt Europe’s startups and give U.S. tech an unassailable advantage, confirming Europe as a digital vassal.
Piece by George Riekeles and I.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Piece by George Riekeles and I.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The EU has let US tech giants run riot. Diluting our data law will only entrench their power | Johnny Ryan and Georg Riekeles
The GDPR is Europe’s defence against digital oligarchy and child harm. Deregulation plans are misguided, say Johnny Ryan and Georg Riekeles
www.theguardian.com
I don't think the Commission understands how much this attack on the GDPR will hurt innovation done by European companies, and instead cement Google's and Meta's position as the inescapable middle-men and turn our SMEs into their cash-cows. WAKE UP!
"First, they identified the top keywords and celebrity names that Japanese Ad Library users employed to find the fraud ads. Then they ran identical searches repeatedly, deleting ads that appeared fraudulent from the library and Meta’s platforms." 😈
We got Meta’s “general global playbook” for defeating advertiser verification regulations, which the company knows would reduce scams. It includes making scam ads “not findable” for regulators searching Meta’s ad library through targeted scrubbing.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Meta created ‘playbook’ to fend off pressure to crack down on scammers, documents show
As regulators pressure Meta to verify the identity of advertisers on Facebook and Instagram, the social media giant has drafted a “playbook” to stall them. A Reuters investigation examines its tactics...
www.reuters.com
December 31, 2025 at 9:11 PM
"First, they identified the top keywords and celebrity names that Japanese Ad Library users employed to find the fraud ads. Then they ran identical searches repeatedly, deleting ads that appeared fraudulent from the library and Meta’s platforms." 😈
Reposted by Erik Bugge
We got Meta’s “general global playbook” for defeating advertiser verification regulations, which the company knows would reduce scams. It includes making scam ads “not findable” for regulators searching Meta’s ad library through targeted scrubbing.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Meta created ‘playbook’ to fend off pressure to crack down on scammers, documents show
As regulators pressure Meta to verify the identity of advertisers on Facebook and Instagram, the social media giant has drafted a “playbook” to stall them. A Reuters investigation examines its tactics...
www.reuters.com
December 31, 2025 at 2:38 PM
We got Meta’s “general global playbook” for defeating advertiser verification regulations, which the company knows would reduce scams. It includes making scam ads “not findable” for regulators searching Meta’s ad library through targeted scrubbing.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Reposted by Erik Bugge
Sorry for the long wait. I was quite busy the last 2 months securing a new 'base' for Flashes with @eurosky.social - account hosting and data processing outside of the US as sovereign social media infrastructure in Europe. There will be news coming out of that one in Jan 2026. The Android alpha...
🤖 Android here we come!
Spread the word! Share this far and wide—yell it from rooftops, tell your rich uncle about it, slip it into casual conversation at the grocery store.
Spread the word! Share this far and wide—yell it from rooftops, tell your rich uncle about it, slip it into casual conversation at the grocery store.
Donate to Help Bring Flashes for Bluesky to Android!, organised by Sebastian Vogelsang
Hi everyone! I’m Sebastian, the developer behind Flashes for Bluesky - … Sebastian Vogelsang needs your support for Help Bring Flashes for Bluesky to Android!
gofund.me
December 31, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Sorry for the long wait. I was quite busy the last 2 months securing a new 'base' for Flashes with @eurosky.social - account hosting and data processing outside of the US as sovereign social media infrastructure in Europe. There will be news coming out of that one in Jan 2026. The Android alpha...
Reposted by Erik Bugge
Polish Deputy Minister of Digital Affairs has submitted a request to the European Commission to take supervisory measures & initiate proceedings regarding TikTok under the DSA due to mass dissemination of AI-generated content, which calls for Poland to withdraw from the EU
www.gov.pl/web/cyfryzac...
www.gov.pl/web/cyfryzac...
Dezinformacja z użyciem AI na platformie TikTok - interweniujemy w Komisji Europejskiej - Ministerstwo Cyfryzacji - Portal Gov.pl
Wiceminister cyfryzacji Dariusz Standerski wystąpił do Komisji Europejskiej z wnioskiem o podjęcie działań nadzorczych oraz wszczęcie postępowania w sprawie platformy TikTok na gruncie przepisów Aktu ...
www.gov.pl
December 31, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Polish Deputy Minister of Digital Affairs has submitted a request to the European Commission to take supervisory measures & initiate proceedings regarding TikTok under the DSA due to mass dissemination of AI-generated content, which calls for Poland to withdraw from the EU
www.gov.pl/web/cyfryzac...
www.gov.pl/web/cyfryzac...
Reposted by Erik Bugge
Journalism’s New Frontier: An Analysis of Global AI Policy Proposals and Their Impacts on Journalism
bit.ly/4s7nVPq
bit.ly/4s7nVPq
Journalism’s New Frontier: An Analysis of Global AI Policy Proposals and Their Impacts on Journalism
CNTI analyzed 188 national and regional AI strategies, laws and policies that collectively cover more than 99 countries to determine how AI regulation is impacting journalism around the world.
cnti.org
December 31, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Journalism’s New Frontier: An Analysis of Global AI Policy Proposals and Their Impacts on Journalism
bit.ly/4s7nVPq
bit.ly/4s7nVPq
This has to mean that advertising in between short-form videos is a waste of money. It will have no effect on any brand metrics.
Researchers had people do a memory task, take a 10-min break (rest, Twitter, YouTube, or TikTok), then resume.
Result? Only TikTok wrecked their ability to remember planned intentions. After scrolling, accuracy dropped from ~80% to basically coin-flip levels. Twitter & YouTube? No effect.
Result? Only TikTok wrecked their ability to remember planned intentions. After scrolling, accuracy dropped from ~80% to basically coin-flip levels. Twitter & YouTube? No effect.
Short-Form Videos Degrade Our Capacity to Retain Intentions: Effect of Context Switching On Prospective Memory
Social media platforms use short, highly engaging videos to catch users' attention. While the short-form video feeds popularized by TikTok are rapidly spreading to other platforms, we do not yet under...
arxiv.org
December 31, 2025 at 10:16 AM
This has to mean that advertising in between short-form videos is a waste of money. It will have no effect on any brand metrics.
"The attack on Breton is an attack on the EU. European politics reacted indignantly, but that is not a defence. Countermeasures are needed. I say: an entry ban for every tech boss who violates our DSA." 💪🏻
December 30, 2025 at 11:19 PM
"The attack on Breton is an attack on the EU. European politics reacted indignantly, but that is not a defence. Countermeasures are needed. I say: an entry ban for every tech boss who violates our DSA." 💪🏻
Reposted by Erik Bugge
What better place than the birthplace of Silicon Valley to count down something big?
In just 3 days, Californians can access DROP, a tool to delete your personal info from hundreds of data brokers in a single place.
Learn more: privacy.ca.gov/DROP
@tomkemp00.bsky.social
In just 3 days, Californians can access DROP, a tool to delete your personal info from hundreds of data brokers in a single place.
Learn more: privacy.ca.gov/DROP
@tomkemp00.bsky.social
December 29, 2025 at 10:54 PM
What better place than the birthplace of Silicon Valley to count down something big?
In just 3 days, Californians can access DROP, a tool to delete your personal info from hundreds of data brokers in a single place.
Learn more: privacy.ca.gov/DROP
@tomkemp00.bsky.social
In just 3 days, Californians can access DROP, a tool to delete your personal info from hundreds of data brokers in a single place.
Learn more: privacy.ca.gov/DROP
@tomkemp00.bsky.social
Reposted by Erik Bugge
On December 17, 2025, Attorney General Ken Paxton secured a first-of-its-kind temporary restraining order against Hisense. The Court ordered Hisense to cease the collection, the use, sale, transfer, disclosure, and sharing of personal data of TX consumers through ACR technology.
December 29, 2025 at 9:05 PM
On December 17, 2025, Attorney General Ken Paxton secured a first-of-its-kind temporary restraining order against Hisense. The Court ordered Hisense to cease the collection, the use, sale, transfer, disclosure, and sharing of personal data of TX consumers through ACR technology.
Reposted by Erik Bugge
"Because history is insufficiently studied, because perspectives are limited by human lifespans, because the same mistakes are repeated over and over,momentous events are hailed as watersheds, landmarks and epochal inflection points.Almost invariably, they’re not" www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Through the lens of history, Trump's legacy will be more of a blotch than a Maga masterpiece | Simon Tisdall
Take this hopeful thought into 2026: the tyrants we endure always falter, and their ‘seismic’ upheavals are usually false dawns, says Guardian foreign affairs commentator Simon Tisdall
www.theguardian.com
December 29, 2025 at 6:58 AM
"Because history is insufficiently studied, because perspectives are limited by human lifespans, because the same mistakes are repeated over and over,momentous events are hailed as watersheds, landmarks and epochal inflection points.Almost invariably, they’re not" www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Erik Bugge
Real-time bidding, which powers nearly every ad you see online, might be the most privacy-invasive surveillance system that you’ve never heard of. Learn how it works and how to protect yourself. www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...
Online Behavioral Ads Fuel the Surveillance Industry—Here’s How
Each time you see a targeted ad, your personal information is exposed to thousands of advertisers and data brokers through a process called “real-time bidding” (RTB). This process does more than
www.eff.org
December 28, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Real-time bidding, which powers nearly every ad you see online, might be the most privacy-invasive surveillance system that you’ve never heard of. Learn how it works and how to protect yourself. www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...
Reposted by Erik Bugge
Google is hosting a CBP app that uses facial recognition to identify immigrants, while simultaneously removing apps that report the location of ICE officials because Google sees ICE as a vulnerable group. “Big tech has made their choice.”
www.404media.co/google-has-c...
www.404media.co/google-has-c...
Google Has Chosen a Side in Trump's Mass Deportation Effort
Google is hosting a CBP app that uses facial recognition to identify immigrants, while simultaneously removing apps that report the location of ICE officials because Google sees ICE as a vulnerable…
www.404media.co
December 28, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Google is hosting a CBP app that uses facial recognition to identify immigrants, while simultaneously removing apps that report the location of ICE officials because Google sees ICE as a vulnerable group. “Big tech has made their choice.”
www.404media.co/google-has-c...
www.404media.co/google-has-c...
Reposted by Erik Bugge
Per "internal documents written between 2023 and 2025 and viewed by The Washington Post... Instagram staffers considered the mandate to boost teen metrics their top goal last year," including "boosting their messaging activity... to set up an early pipeline for lifelong use of Meta’s platforms."
Inside Instagram’s all-out battle to win the nation’s teens
Instagram has pursued a yearslong strategy to win teens back to the app after its critics said the platform wasn’t safe for them, documents obtained by The Post show.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 26, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Per "internal documents written between 2023 and 2025 and viewed by The Washington Post... Instagram staffers considered the mandate to boost teen metrics their top goal last year," including "boosting their messaging activity... to set up an early pipeline for lifelong use of Meta’s platforms."
Reposted by Erik Bugge
"EU can't compete with US tech ON THEIR TERMS."
Weakening digital regulation in EU will NOT create a level playing field, @ec.europa.eu. It will just allow US tech to sweep European tech off the field.
Weakening digital regulation in EU will NOT create a level playing field, @ec.europa.eu. It will just allow US tech to sweep European tech off the field.
#Regulation4Resilience: connect the dots between tech regulation & security!
"Digital platforms are used for hybrid campaigns."
"EU can't compete with US tech ON THEIR TERMS."
"Post-reality US is what happens when tech is unregulated."
"Ireland is a Trojan Horse."
"Digital Omnibus is sabotage."
"Digital platforms are used for hybrid campaigns."
"EU can't compete with US tech ON THEIR TERMS."
"Post-reality US is what happens when tech is unregulated."
"Ireland is a Trojan Horse."
"Digital Omnibus is sabotage."
December 10, 2025 at 10:47 PM
"EU can't compete with US tech ON THEIR TERMS."
Weakening digital regulation in EU will NOT create a level playing field, @ec.europa.eu. It will just allow US tech to sweep European tech off the field.
Weakening digital regulation in EU will NOT create a level playing field, @ec.europa.eu. It will just allow US tech to sweep European tech off the field.
Reposted by Erik Bugge
It's about showing that the current US government isn't only trying to sow doubt about democratic institutions - but also personally targeting those individuals who stand up for the idea(l) of democracy.
So even if you still think civil liberties are a good thing, the US gov wants you to consider:
So even if you still think civil liberties are a good thing, the US gov wants you to consider:
December 24, 2025 at 8:00 PM
It's about showing that the current US government isn't only trying to sow doubt about democratic institutions - but also personally targeting those individuals who stand up for the idea(l) of democracy.
So even if you still think civil liberties are a good thing, the US gov wants you to consider:
So even if you still think civil liberties are a good thing, the US gov wants you to consider:
Reposted by Erik Bugge
Yesterday, the Belgian DPA announced its strategy for 2026-2028, focusing on adtech and data brokerage (lnkd.in/eh-dz-Ek). Today, Brazil's DPA revealed its 2026-2027 plan (lnkd.in/eVMtZb4X) along with new regulatory commitments, which include AI.
December 24, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Yesterday, the Belgian DPA announced its strategy for 2026-2028, focusing on adtech and data brokerage (lnkd.in/eh-dz-Ek). Today, Brazil's DPA revealed its 2026-2027 plan (lnkd.in/eVMtZb4X) along with new regulatory commitments, which include AI.
Reposted by Erik Bugge
The Digital Omnibus Regulation Proposal extends Article 13 GDPR’s derogation to cases where data processing is unlikely to pose high risk and the data subject likely already knows the information. However, the CJEU in Case C-422/24 emphasized:
December 24, 2025 at 9:19 PM
The Digital Omnibus Regulation Proposal extends Article 13 GDPR’s derogation to cases where data processing is unlikely to pose high risk and the data subject likely already knows the information. However, the CJEU in Case C-422/24 emphasized:
Reposted by Erik Bugge
The "sanctions" against heads of European NGOs for simply doing there job under the law on #HateSpeech (where much was outsourced by the industry to "trusted flagers" and alike) is another level and is obviously very close to home @noyb.eu. It's urgent to support your local Digital Rights NGOs.
December 24, 2025 at 1:54 PM
The "sanctions" against heads of European NGOs for simply doing there job under the law on #HateSpeech (where much was outsourced by the industry to "trusted flagers" and alike) is another level and is obviously very close to home @noyb.eu. It's urgent to support your local Digital Rights NGOs.
Reposted by Erik Bugge
But now, with #sanctions officially invoked, it becomes pretty clear the US administration isn't interested in settling the issue. Their claims are factually wrong and they really do know it. Their 'fight against #censorship' is nothing but utilizing values for coercion.
December 24, 2025 at 10:01 AM
But now, with #sanctions officially invoked, it becomes pretty clear the US administration isn't interested in settling the issue. Their claims are factually wrong and they really do know it. Their 'fight against #censorship' is nothing but utilizing values for coercion.
Reposted by Erik Bugge
In a major escalation against the EU, alongside civil society representatives the Trump Administration sanctions former Commissioner Breton for work he did in official capacity ↘️ www.state.gov/releases/off...
Announcement of Actions to Combat the Global Censorship-Industrial Complex - United States Department of State
The State Department is taking decisive action against five individuals who have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetize, and suppress American viewpoints they oppose....
www.state.gov
December 23, 2025 at 9:41 PM
In a major escalation against the EU, alongside civil society representatives the Trump Administration sanctions former Commissioner Breton for work he did in official capacity ↘️ www.state.gov/releases/off...
Reposted by Erik Bugge
There really is no justification for this company’s existence.
Her daughter was unraveling, and she didn’t know why. Then she found the AI chat logs.
A majority of teens are interacting with AI companions, and many of their parents have no idea.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 23, 2025 at 6:48 PM
There really is no justification for this company’s existence.
Reposted by Erik Bugge
Surveillance is used to justify more surveillance
Pennsylvania Supreme Court rules that the police don’t need a search warrant to request your Google search records because “it is common knowledge that websites, internet-based applications, and internet service providers collect, and then sell, user data.”
🤦🏾♂️
🤦🏾♂️
Pa. high court rules that police can access Google searches without a warrant
In a decision that only affects Pennsylvanians but could have privacy implications elsewhere, the state's Supreme Court ruled that police did not need a warrant to access a rape suspect's Google searc...
therecord.media
December 21, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Surveillance is used to justify more surveillance
Reposted by Erik Bugge
Screw LinkedIn, join me atwork.place : atwork.place/u/pixeline.be
at://work - ATProto Job Board
Your Career. Your Data. Your Place. A decentralized job board powered by the ATProtocol
atwork.place
December 21, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Screw LinkedIn, join me atwork.place : atwork.place/u/pixeline.be
Reposted by Erik Bugge
As police across Europe rapidly expand their use of AI – from Palantir in Germany to AI-supported surveillance in France and Luxembourg – the regulatory landscape remains fragmented.
MARIUS KÜHNE und ANDREAS KANAKAKIS map both the dangers and the way forward.
verfassungsblog.de/police-ai-to...
MARIUS KÜHNE und ANDREAS KANAKAKIS map both the dangers and the way forward.
verfassungsblog.de/police-ai-to...
December 21, 2025 at 10:47 AM
As police across Europe rapidly expand their use of AI – from Palantir in Germany to AI-supported surveillance in France and Luxembourg – the regulatory landscape remains fragmented.
MARIUS KÜHNE und ANDREAS KANAKAKIS map both the dangers and the way forward.
verfassungsblog.de/police-ai-to...
MARIUS KÜHNE und ANDREAS KANAKAKIS map both the dangers and the way forward.
verfassungsblog.de/police-ai-to...
Reposted by Erik Bugge
“‘My most daring idea is to refuse,’ she said to applause.”
Professor Warns That the Wealthy Are Trying to Use AI to Seize Control of Everything
Renowned sociologist Tressie McMillan Cottom says that AI is a tool for the rich to cement control over society.
futurism.com
December 21, 2025 at 1:03 PM
“‘My most daring idea is to refuse,’ she said to applause.”