Luise Quaritsch
@luisequaritsch.bsky.social
Policy Fellow for EU democracy at Jacques Delors Centre Berlin
Reposted by Luise Quaritsch
This is, of course, a lie - the fine has nothing to do with "free speech"
No reaction from the US free speech warriors.
Instead, Republicans from the US House judiciary Committee subpoenaed "Europe's secret censorship order to X" by which they mean the Commission decision to fine X a fine of 120 mio. Euros.
Instead, Republicans from the US House judiciary Committee subpoenaed "Europe's secret censorship order to X" by which they mean the Commission decision to fine X a fine of 120 mio. Euros.
January 29, 2026 at 1:42 PM
This is, of course, a lie - the fine has nothing to do with "free speech"
Reposted by Luise Quaritsch
Merz on EU in Bundestag today: „In last weeks, we have felt the joy of self-respect. Let’s build on this new developing self-confidence.“
Emphasizes European unity, which he clearly sees as European concept, not just EU. Explicitly refers to European states at CoW meeting in Paris as show of 🇪🇺unity
Emphasizes European unity, which he clearly sees as European concept, not just EU. Explicitly refers to European states at CoW meeting in Paris as show of 🇪🇺unity
January 29, 2026 at 9:23 AM
Merz on EU in Bundestag today: „In last weeks, we have felt the joy of self-respect. Let’s build on this new developing self-confidence.“
Emphasizes European unity, which he clearly sees as European concept, not just EU. Explicitly refers to European states at CoW meeting in Paris as show of 🇪🇺unity
Emphasizes European unity, which he clearly sees as European concept, not just EU. Explicitly refers to European states at CoW meeting in Paris as show of 🇪🇺unity
Just days after Trump allies acquired a majority stake of TikTok's US operations, users have raised censorship and shadow banning complaints when posting or searching videos on ICE or Epstein.
www.the-independent.com/tech/tiktok-...
www.the-independent.com/tech/tiktok-...
TikTok users in the US can’t write ‘Epstein’ or see anti-Trump videos
Alleged censorship comes after investors loyal to Trump take over social media platform
www.the-independent.com
January 29, 2026 at 9:31 AM
Just days after Trump allies acquired a majority stake of TikTok's US operations, users have raised censorship and shadow banning complaints when posting or searching videos on ICE or Epstein.
www.the-independent.com/tech/tiktok-...
www.the-independent.com/tech/tiktok-...
Addendum: From the Commission's press release, it sounds like X did not do any ad hoc risk assessment report before launching Grok, which it is obligated to do under the DSA.
The case is similar to when TikTok launched its Lite version in 2024, without doing a proper risk assessment beforehand.
The case is similar to when TikTok launched its Lite version in 2024, without doing a proper risk assessment beforehand.
X's AI tool Grok reportedly produced 3 million sexual deepfakes in 11 days - today the Commission reacted and opened another formal investigation into X under the Digital Services Act.
Here is what the investigation is about ⬇️🧵
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Here is what the investigation is about ⬇️🧵
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Commission investigates Grok and X\'s recommender systems under the Digital Services Act
The European Commission has launched a new formal investigation against X under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
ec.europa.eu
January 27, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Addendum: From the Commission's press release, it sounds like X did not do any ad hoc risk assessment report before launching Grok, which it is obligated to do under the DSA.
The case is similar to when TikTok launched its Lite version in 2024, without doing a proper risk assessment beforehand.
The case is similar to when TikTok launched its Lite version in 2024, without doing a proper risk assessment beforehand.
X's AI tool Grok reportedly produced 3 million sexual deepfakes in 11 days - today the Commission reacted and opened another formal investigation into X under the Digital Services Act.
Here is what the investigation is about ⬇️🧵
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Here is what the investigation is about ⬇️🧵
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Commission investigates Grok and X\'s recommender systems under the Digital Services Act
The European Commission has launched a new formal investigation against X under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
ec.europa.eu
January 26, 2026 at 1:50 PM
X's AI tool Grok reportedly produced 3 million sexual deepfakes in 11 days - today the Commission reacted and opened another formal investigation into X under the Digital Services Act.
Here is what the investigation is about ⬇️🧵
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Here is what the investigation is about ⬇️🧵
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Reposted by Luise Quaritsch
You may have missed it amidst the chaos of the last few days, but there is a new high-level EU report in town: A Franco-German task force led by Jörg Kukies and Christian Noyer presented recommendations to tackle the scale-up financing gap.
Here is what it says and why you should care about it.
Here is what it says and why you should care about it.
January 23, 2026 at 1:12 PM
You may have missed it amidst the chaos of the last few days, but there is a new high-level EU report in town: A Franco-German task force led by Jörg Kukies and Christian Noyer presented recommendations to tackle the scale-up financing gap.
Here is what it says and why you should care about it.
Here is what it says and why you should care about it.
Reposted by Luise Quaritsch
Germany's Friedrich Merz and Italy's Giorgia Meloni have backed an organization dedicated to fighting hybrid threats and disinformation, weeks after the U.S. exited it and called it “wasteful.”
Merz, Meloni rally behind disinfo-fighting center that Trump thinks is ‘wasteful’
German and Italian leaders want to hold the line against Russia’s hybrid threats.
www.politico.eu
January 23, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Germany's Friedrich Merz and Italy's Giorgia Meloni have backed an organization dedicated to fighting hybrid threats and disinformation, weeks after the U.S. exited it and called it “wasteful.”
Reposted by Luise Quaritsch
Es ist wieder so weit: 2 Misstrauensanträge gegen die frz. Regierung als Opposition zum Haushalt.
Lecornu zeigt sich "einigermaßen zuversichtlich". MoDem und Horizons haben sich grummelnd hinter die Regierung gestellt, LR sich beruhigt. Ob die Angst vor Neuwahlen stärker sein wird als der Frust?
Lecornu zeigt sich "einigermaßen zuversichtlich". MoDem und Horizons haben sich grummelnd hinter die Regierung gestellt, LR sich beruhigt. Ob die Angst vor Neuwahlen stärker sein wird als der Frust?
January 23, 2026 at 8:45 AM
Es ist wieder so weit: 2 Misstrauensanträge gegen die frz. Regierung als Opposition zum Haushalt.
Lecornu zeigt sich "einigermaßen zuversichtlich". MoDem und Horizons haben sich grummelnd hinter die Regierung gestellt, LR sich beruhigt. Ob die Angst vor Neuwahlen stärker sein wird als der Frust?
Lecornu zeigt sich "einigermaßen zuversichtlich". MoDem und Horizons haben sich grummelnd hinter die Regierung gestellt, LR sich beruhigt. Ob die Angst vor Neuwahlen stärker sein wird als der Frust?
"The European Democracy Shield is an important step, but the Commission’s level of ambition does not yet match the scale of the threat we face."
Yesterday, the EP rapporteur Tobé published his draft report on the European Democracy Shield.
www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...
Yesterday, the EP rapporteur Tobé published his draft report on the European Democracy Shield.
www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...
Statement by EUDS rapporteur Tomas Tobé on the publication of his draft report | News | European Parliament
The draft report outlining the findings and recommendations of the European Democracy Shield (EUDS) Special Committee was published today.
www.europarl.europa.eu
January 22, 2026 at 10:10 AM
"The European Democracy Shield is an important step, but the Commission’s level of ambition does not yet match the scale of the threat we face."
Yesterday, the EP rapporteur Tobé published his draft report on the European Democracy Shield.
www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...
Yesterday, the EP rapporteur Tobé published his draft report on the European Democracy Shield.
www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...
Reposted by Luise Quaritsch
🧵 Trump’s Greenland brinkmanship puts the EU’s Anti-Coercion Instrument back on the table. Few cases fit economic coercion more cleanly.
But the ACI is often misunderstood. It’s not a bazooka, but a slow-loading cannon, able to fire anything from heavy shells to hot air. Here’s how it works ⬇️
But the ACI is often misunderstood. It’s not a bazooka, but a slow-loading cannon, able to fire anything from heavy shells to hot air. Here’s how it works ⬇️
January 20, 2026 at 2:32 PM
🧵 Trump’s Greenland brinkmanship puts the EU’s Anti-Coercion Instrument back on the table. Few cases fit economic coercion more cleanly.
But the ACI is often misunderstood. It’s not a bazooka, but a slow-loading cannon, able to fire anything from heavy shells to hot air. Here’s how it works ⬇️
But the ACI is often misunderstood. It’s not a bazooka, but a slow-loading cannon, able to fire anything from heavy shells to hot air. Here’s how it works ⬇️
Reposted by Luise Quaritsch
Ankündigungen zum Misstrauensvotum gegen die Regierung :
Für Misstrauen: RN, LFI, Grüne
Voraussichtlich dafür: GDR, UDR
Enthaltung: PS
Voraussichtlich dagegen, mit Bauchschmerzen: Renaissance, Horizons, LIOT, MoDem, LR
Damit die Regierung hält, dürfen nicht mehr als 13 Abgeordnete ausscheren.
Für Misstrauen: RN, LFI, Grüne
Voraussichtlich dafür: GDR, UDR
Enthaltung: PS
Voraussichtlich dagegen, mit Bauchschmerzen: Renaissance, Horizons, LIOT, MoDem, LR
Damit die Regierung hält, dürfen nicht mehr als 13 Abgeordnete ausscheren.
January 20, 2026 at 9:58 AM
Ankündigungen zum Misstrauensvotum gegen die Regierung :
Für Misstrauen: RN, LFI, Grüne
Voraussichtlich dafür: GDR, UDR
Enthaltung: PS
Voraussichtlich dagegen, mit Bauchschmerzen: Renaissance, Horizons, LIOT, MoDem, LR
Damit die Regierung hält, dürfen nicht mehr als 13 Abgeordnete ausscheren.
Für Misstrauen: RN, LFI, Grüne
Voraussichtlich dafür: GDR, UDR
Enthaltung: PS
Voraussichtlich dagegen, mit Bauchschmerzen: Renaissance, Horizons, LIOT, MoDem, LR
Damit die Regierung hält, dürfen nicht mehr als 13 Abgeordnete ausscheren.
Using the EU Anti-Coercion instrument to respond to Trump's Greenland threats by taxing US big tech appears to be on the table @aleichthammer.bsky.social
January 19, 2026 at 11:12 AM
Using the EU Anti-Coercion instrument to respond to Trump's Greenland threats by taxing US big tech appears to be on the table @aleichthammer.bsky.social
Reposted by Luise Quaritsch
‼️Morgen ist es soweit: Unser erstes "EU to go on the rocks" steht an - mit Wein & Snacks, Input & Diskussion, Thu Nguyen & Oliver Noyan und einem Blick auf das erste Amtsjahr der Kommission VdL
II. Um 18 Uhr geht es los - ein paar Plätze sind noch frei. 👉 www.delorscentre.eu/de/veranstal...
II. Um 18 Uhr geht es los - ein paar Plätze sind noch frei. 👉 www.delorscentre.eu/de/veranstal...
January 19, 2026 at 10:33 AM
‼️Morgen ist es soweit: Unser erstes "EU to go on the rocks" steht an - mit Wein & Snacks, Input & Diskussion, Thu Nguyen & Oliver Noyan und einem Blick auf das erste Amtsjahr der Kommission VdL
II. Um 18 Uhr geht es los - ein paar Plätze sind noch frei. 👉 www.delorscentre.eu/de/veranstal...
II. Um 18 Uhr geht es los - ein paar Plätze sind noch frei. 👉 www.delorscentre.eu/de/veranstal...
The Commission's Digital Ommibus proposals seem to contradict other priorities.
Sacrificing fundamental rights in the digital space to further foreign commercial interests runs counter to the Democracy Shield and achieving Digital Sovereignty. Difficult to see how this is in the European interest.
Sacrificing fundamental rights in the digital space to further foreign commercial interests runs counter to the Democracy Shield and achieving Digital Sovereignty. Difficult to see how this is in the European interest.
🎁 Just before the holidays, the EU Commission granted Big Tech its Christmas wish-list: an unprecedented attack on our digital rights.
Together with @lobbycontrol.bsky.social we have mapped how the Digital Omnibus closely matches Big Tech lobby demands.
👉 corporateeurope.org/en/2026/01/a...
Together with @lobbycontrol.bsky.social we have mapped how the Digital Omnibus closely matches Big Tech lobby demands.
👉 corporateeurope.org/en/2026/01/a...
Article by article, how Big Tech shaped the EU’s roll-back of digital rights | Corporate Europe Observatory
In a new analysis we trace Big Tech's fingerprints on the Digital Omnibus proposals - a major deregulation of EU digital laws including the GDPR and the AI Act. They are helped in this attempt by the ...
corporateeurope.org
January 14, 2026 at 4:26 PM
The Commission's Digital Ommibus proposals seem to contradict other priorities.
Sacrificing fundamental rights in the digital space to further foreign commercial interests runs counter to the Democracy Shield and achieving Digital Sovereignty. Difficult to see how this is in the European interest.
Sacrificing fundamental rights in the digital space to further foreign commercial interests runs counter to the Democracy Shield and achieving Digital Sovereignty. Difficult to see how this is in the European interest.
Reposted by Luise Quaritsch
Introducing: EU to go on the rocks, unser neues Abendformat in Kooperation mit @politico.eu! Zum Auftakt am 20. Januar um 18 Uhr blicken @onethuthree.bsky.social (JDC) und Oliver Noyan (Politico) auf das erste Jahr der Kommission von der Leyen II. Jetzt anmelden 👉 www.delorscentre.eu/de/veranstal...
January 14, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Introducing: EU to go on the rocks, unser neues Abendformat in Kooperation mit @politico.eu! Zum Auftakt am 20. Januar um 18 Uhr blicken @onethuthree.bsky.social (JDC) und Oliver Noyan (Politico) auf das erste Jahr der Kommission von der Leyen II. Jetzt anmelden 👉 www.delorscentre.eu/de/veranstal...
Reposted by Luise Quaritsch
Trump’s former Deputy NSA and wife of Republican Senator Dave McCormick.
January 12, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Trump’s former Deputy NSA and wife of Republican Senator Dave McCormick.
Reposted by Luise Quaritsch
📣 #JobAlert: Communicating #EU policy has become more important than ever. We're looking for a new Communication Associate (gn) to start in March or earlier. Apply now and join a lovely #ThinkTank team! More information here. 👉 hertie-school.dvinci-easy.com/en/p/en/jobs... #OpenPosition #Vacancy
January 8, 2026 at 9:16 AM
📣 #JobAlert: Communicating #EU policy has become more important than ever. We're looking for a new Communication Associate (gn) to start in March or earlier. Apply now and join a lovely #ThinkTank team! More information here. 👉 hertie-school.dvinci-easy.com/en/p/en/jobs... #OpenPosition #Vacancy
Reposted by Luise Quaritsch
New, from me: The Trump administration isn’t just using social media to shape a narrative. They view the world through a social media lens in a way that is plausibly corrupting their judgment and undermining their performance.
Welcome to the clicktatorship. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/life-under...
Welcome to the clicktatorship. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/life-under...
Life Under a Clicktatorship
What happens to government when everything is content?
donmoynihan.substack.com
January 7, 2026 at 12:40 PM
New, from me: The Trump administration isn’t just using social media to shape a narrative. They view the world through a social media lens in a way that is plausibly corrupting their judgment and undermining their performance.
Welcome to the clicktatorship. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/life-under...
Welcome to the clicktatorship. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/life-under...
This @verfassungsblog.de post by @emcz.bsky.social was published already a month ago, but it makes an important point that will remain relevant this year: The importance of effective enforcement of EU digital laws for the pursuit of European digital sovereignty.
A new Declaration for European Digital Sovereignty, signed by all EU Member States, seeks to boost Europe’s technological capabilities.
MICHAL CZERNIAWSKI welcomes this step but warns that the Declaration remains silent on effective enforcement and human rights.
verfassungsblog.de/digital-sove...
MICHAL CZERNIAWSKI welcomes this step but warns that the Declaration remains silent on effective enforcement and human rights.
verfassungsblog.de/digital-sove...
January 6, 2026 at 1:06 PM
This @verfassungsblog.de post by @emcz.bsky.social was published already a month ago, but it makes an important point that will remain relevant this year: The importance of effective enforcement of EU digital laws for the pursuit of European digital sovereignty.
Assuming this is about the new European Centre for Democratic Resilience pitched under the Democracy Shield in November, it appears that the Commission is still unsure what the Centre is supposed to look like exactly.
www.euractiv.com/news/capital...
www.euractiv.com/news/capital...
Capitals to pitch plans for EU's planned disinformation hub | Euractiv
Commission asks EU countries to help shape a new centre to fight online hybrid attacks and election interference from countries like Russia in a letter seen by Euractiv
www.euractiv.com
January 5, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Assuming this is about the new European Centre for Democratic Resilience pitched under the Democracy Shield in November, it appears that the Commission is still unsure what the Centre is supposed to look like exactly.
www.euractiv.com/news/capital...
www.euractiv.com/news/capital...
Reposted by Luise Quaritsch
End of year reflections on EU climate policy: it’s really not looking good for the Green Deal.
@jannikjansen.bsky.social and I wrote a short piece on why we're far from "staying the course" - and why that's a strategic mistake for Europe (1/12)
tinyurl.com/jdc-green-deal
@jannikjansen.bsky.social and I wrote a short piece on why we're far from "staying the course" - and why that's a strategic mistake for Europe (1/12)
tinyurl.com/jdc-green-deal
Europe is hollowing out its Green Deal, leaving a vacuum of political
www.delorscentre.eu
December 19, 2025 at 3:24 PM
End of year reflections on EU climate policy: it’s really not looking good for the Green Deal.
@jannikjansen.bsky.social and I wrote a short piece on why we're far from "staying the course" - and why that's a strategic mistake for Europe (1/12)
tinyurl.com/jdc-green-deal
@jannikjansen.bsky.social and I wrote a short piece on why we're far from "staying the course" - and why that's a strategic mistake for Europe (1/12)
tinyurl.com/jdc-green-deal
Reposted by Luise Quaritsch
The proposed "28th Regime" is hoped to remove bureaucratic, legal, and financial hurdles that hold back small, innovative EU companies.
However, crucial questions remain wide open. In my new policy brief, I analyse the main options and relevant trade-offs.
1/🧵
www.delorscentre.eu/en/publicati...
However, crucial questions remain wide open. In my new policy brief, I analyse the main options and relevant trade-offs.
1/🧵
www.delorscentre.eu/en/publicati...
Regime change instead of business as usual: A pan-European corporate law to unlock cross-border
www.delorscentre.eu
December 18, 2025 at 3:00 PM
The proposed "28th Regime" is hoped to remove bureaucratic, legal, and financial hurdles that hold back small, innovative EU companies.
However, crucial questions remain wide open. In my new policy brief, I analyse the main options and relevant trade-offs.
1/🧵
www.delorscentre.eu/en/publicati...
However, crucial questions remain wide open. In my new policy brief, I analyse the main options and relevant trade-offs.
1/🧵
www.delorscentre.eu/en/publicati...
Reposted by Luise Quaritsch
Lots to criticise in yesterday’s cars package - but one point deserves credit.
The COM plans to limit support for corporate cars to EVs and tie it to European preferences. Exactly what @lucasguttenberg.bsky.social, @sandertordoir.bsky.social, and I called for and a genuinely meaningful step forward
The COM plans to limit support for corporate cars to EVs and tie it to European preferences. Exactly what @lucasguttenberg.bsky.social, @sandertordoir.bsky.social, and I called for and a genuinely meaningful step forward
December 17, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Lots to criticise in yesterday’s cars package - but one point deserves credit.
The COM plans to limit support for corporate cars to EVs and tie it to European preferences. Exactly what @lucasguttenberg.bsky.social, @sandertordoir.bsky.social, and I called for and a genuinely meaningful step forward
The COM plans to limit support for corporate cars to EVs and tie it to European preferences. Exactly what @lucasguttenberg.bsky.social, @sandertordoir.bsky.social, and I called for and a genuinely meaningful step forward
The Commission’s new Democracy Shield🛡️raised high expectations but proposes mostly additions to existing frameworks rather than attempt innovation.
👇In my new policy brief out today, I analyse the Commission’s newest democracy strategy. 1/🧵
www.delorscentre.eu/en/publicati...
👇In my new policy brief out today, I analyse the Commission’s newest democracy strategy. 1/🧵
www.delorscentre.eu/en/publicati...
The European Democracy Shield – Papering over the cracks
Protecting European democracy requires consistent commitment to democratic values both at EU and at national level – not just the creation of additional strategies.
www.delorscentre.eu
December 12, 2025 at 11:53 AM
The Commission’s new Democracy Shield🛡️raised high expectations but proposes mostly additions to existing frameworks rather than attempt innovation.
👇In my new policy brief out today, I analyse the Commission’s newest democracy strategy. 1/🧵
www.delorscentre.eu/en/publicati...
👇In my new policy brief out today, I analyse the Commission’s newest democracy strategy. 1/🧵
www.delorscentre.eu/en/publicati...
Reposted by Luise Quaritsch
Absolutely chilling read (as a disinformation researcher):
The systematic crackdown on disinformation scholars, newsrooms, factcheckers and NGO’s. All in the name of so-called free speech.
By @jamesrball.com @theverge.com
www.theverge.com/features/839...
The systematic crackdown on disinformation scholars, newsrooms, factcheckers and NGO’s. All in the name of so-called free speech.
By @jamesrball.com @theverge.com
www.theverge.com/features/839...
The disinformation wars are here
How Joe Biden’s administration caved to the right in the battle for truth.
www.theverge.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Absolutely chilling read (as a disinformation researcher):
The systematic crackdown on disinformation scholars, newsrooms, factcheckers and NGO’s. All in the name of so-called free speech.
By @jamesrball.com @theverge.com
www.theverge.com/features/839...
The systematic crackdown on disinformation scholars, newsrooms, factcheckers and NGO’s. All in the name of so-called free speech.
By @jamesrball.com @theverge.com
www.theverge.com/features/839...