Margarida Silva
@margaridasilva.bsky.social
I research Big Tech's power and campaign to limit it at @somoamsterdam.bsky.social
Reposted by Margarida Silva
🚨BREAKING | 1,600+ fossil fuel lobbyists given access to #COP30 in Brazil
EU governments alone brought 84 fossil fuel lobbyists, including representatives from TotalEnergies and Engie
Climate policies can't be effective if they are shaped by the industry that is most responsible for climate change
EU governments alone brought 84 fossil fuel lobbyists, including representatives from TotalEnergies and Engie
Climate policies can't be effective if they are shaped by the industry that is most responsible for climate change
November 14, 2025 at 9:17 AM
🚨BREAKING | 1,600+ fossil fuel lobbyists given access to #COP30 in Brazil
EU governments alone brought 84 fossil fuel lobbyists, including representatives from TotalEnergies and Engie
Climate policies can't be effective if they are shaped by the industry that is most responsible for climate change
EU governments alone brought 84 fossil fuel lobbyists, including representatives from TotalEnergies and Engie
Climate policies can't be effective if they are shaped by the industry that is most responsible for climate change
Reposted by Margarida Silva
“A recent response from the European Commission to our access to documents request not only revealed that the President of the Commission was repeating the words of tech CEOs, but it also accidentally divulged the Commission’s use of generative AI in public documents.”
🤦♂️
🤦♂️
The European Commission uses ChatGPT outputs in public documents.
@iccl.bsky.social has filed a complaint to the European Ombudsman as this use likely violates Commission's own guidelines and its obligation under EU treaties
www.iccl.ie/news/europea...
@iccl.bsky.social has filed a complaint to the European Ombudsman as this use likely violates Commission's own guidelines and its obligation under EU treaties
www.iccl.ie/news/europea...
European Commission breaches own AI guidelines by using ChatGPT in public documents
ICCL has filed a complaint to the European Ombudsman against the European Commission for its use of generative AI in public documents, which likely violates its own guidelines and its obligation under...
www.iccl.ie
November 14, 2025 at 7:19 AM
“A recent response from the European Commission to our access to documents request not only revealed that the President of the Commission was repeating the words of tech CEOs, but it also accidentally divulged the Commission’s use of generative AI in public documents.”
🤦♂️
🤦♂️
Reposted by Margarida Silva
Eu has launched investigation into alleged demotion of newspapers sponsored or partner content to point where it is not visible in search
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
EU investigates Google over ‘demoting’ commercial content from news media
Officials say effective invisibilty in search results could be leading to unfair ‘loss of revenue’
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Eu has launched investigation into alleged demotion of newspapers sponsored or partner content to point where it is not visible in search
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Margarida Silva
🙌We are joining 127 organisations demanding the Commission to halt its highly damaging digital omnibus.
The Commission's leaked proposal threatens to:
❌Pause the AI Act
❌Weaken the GDPR to enable AI companies to hoover up personal data
This would be a major Big Tech win
👉 edri.org/wp-content/u...
The Commission's leaked proposal threatens to:
❌Pause the AI Act
❌Weaken the GDPR to enable AI companies to hoover up personal data
This would be a major Big Tech win
👉 edri.org/wp-content/u...
November 13, 2025 at 10:14 AM
🙌We are joining 127 organisations demanding the Commission to halt its highly damaging digital omnibus.
The Commission's leaked proposal threatens to:
❌Pause the AI Act
❌Weaken the GDPR to enable AI companies to hoover up personal data
This would be a major Big Tech win
👉 edri.org/wp-content/u...
The Commission's leaked proposal threatens to:
❌Pause the AI Act
❌Weaken the GDPR to enable AI companies to hoover up personal data
This would be a major Big Tech win
👉 edri.org/wp-content/u...
The EU's planned #DigitalOmnibus is a capitulation to Big Tech.
@somoamsterdam.bsky.social has joined 120+ NGOs & trade unions to call out this rollback of our digital rights.
If it goes ahead, the #DigitalOmnibus will shift *even* more power from people to Big Tech.
edri.org/our-work/for...
@somoamsterdam.bsky.social has joined 120+ NGOs & trade unions to call out this rollback of our digital rights.
If it goes ahead, the #DigitalOmnibus will shift *even* more power from people to Big Tech.
edri.org/our-work/for...
Forthcoming Digital Omnibus would mark point of no return - European Digital Rights (EDRi)
127 civil society organisations and unions are urging the European Commission to halt its planned Digital Omnibus.
edri.org
November 13, 2025 at 9:21 AM
The EU's planned #DigitalOmnibus is a capitulation to Big Tech.
@somoamsterdam.bsky.social has joined 120+ NGOs & trade unions to call out this rollback of our digital rights.
If it goes ahead, the #DigitalOmnibus will shift *even* more power from people to Big Tech.
edri.org/our-work/for...
@somoamsterdam.bsky.social has joined 120+ NGOs & trade unions to call out this rollback of our digital rights.
If it goes ahead, the #DigitalOmnibus will shift *even* more power from people to Big Tech.
edri.org/our-work/for...
Reposted by Margarida Silva
Vêem as consequências de falarem mal da burocracia? Comissão Europeia prepara-se para dar cabo do RGPD, direitos dos consumidores, etc.
(tradução automática) #DigitalOmnibus EU Commission wants to grind out General Data Protection Regulation and AI regulation
netzpolitik.org/2025/digital...
(tradução automática) #DigitalOmnibus EU Commission wants to grind out General Data Protection Regulation and AI regulation
netzpolitik.org/2025/digital...
„Digitaler Omnibus“: EU-Kommission will Datenschutzgrundverordnung und KI-Regulierung schleifen
In weniger als zwei Wochen will die EU-Kommission einen umfassenden Gesetzesvorschlag präsentieren. Der
netzpolitik.org
November 7, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Vêem as consequências de falarem mal da burocracia? Comissão Europeia prepara-se para dar cabo do RGPD, direitos dos consumidores, etc.
(tradução automática) #DigitalOmnibus EU Commission wants to grind out General Data Protection Regulation and AI regulation
netzpolitik.org/2025/digital...
(tradução automática) #DigitalOmnibus EU Commission wants to grind out General Data Protection Regulation and AI regulation
netzpolitik.org/2025/digital...
Reposted by Margarida Silva
🧵On our revelations today about the BBC Coup and the Prescott Dossier.
The leaked ‘BBC Bias’ memo Trump used to attack the BBC was authored by Michael Prescott — a Hanover lobbyist paid by US tech/media giants tied to Trump. Full story: bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/b... 1/12
The leaked ‘BBC Bias’ memo Trump used to attack the BBC was authored by Michael Prescott — a Hanover lobbyist paid by US tech/media giants tied to Trump. Full story: bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/b... 1/12
'BBC Bias' Memo Was Authored by Lobbyist Tied to Pro-Trump Tech Giants
The leaked memo that fuelled Trump’s attack on the BBC was written by a lobbyist at a firm paid by US tech giants tied to the President
bylinetimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:19 PM
🧵On our revelations today about the BBC Coup and the Prescott Dossier.
The leaked ‘BBC Bias’ memo Trump used to attack the BBC was authored by Michael Prescott — a Hanover lobbyist paid by US tech/media giants tied to Trump. Full story: bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/b... 1/12
The leaked ‘BBC Bias’ memo Trump used to attack the BBC was authored by Michael Prescott — a Hanover lobbyist paid by US tech/media giants tied to Trump. Full story: bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/b... 1/12
🚨The EU Commission wants to slash the pillar of our digital rights, all to prop up AI companies 🚨
www.politico.eu/article/brus...
No doubt the biggest winners will be US Big Tech that for years fought against our privacy rules and now stand to dominate AI development 👉 www.somo.nl/the-real-win...
www.politico.eu/article/brus...
No doubt the biggest winners will be US Big Tech that for years fought against our privacy rules and now stand to dominate AI development 👉 www.somo.nl/the-real-win...
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 12, 2025 at 12:10 PM
🚨The EU Commission wants to slash the pillar of our digital rights, all to prop up AI companies 🚨
www.politico.eu/article/brus...
No doubt the biggest winners will be US Big Tech that for years fought against our privacy rules and now stand to dominate AI development 👉 www.somo.nl/the-real-win...
www.politico.eu/article/brus...
No doubt the biggest winners will be US Big Tech that for years fought against our privacy rules and now stand to dominate AI development 👉 www.somo.nl/the-real-win...
Reposted by Margarida Silva
🔴 NEW - Nvidia, the world’s most valuable company, flogged its tech to the oil industry in Brazil on the eve of the COP30 summit
📝 Great scoop by @rtakver.bsky.social for @desmog.com 👇🏻
📝 Great scoop by @rtakver.bsky.social for @desmog.com 👇🏻
Nvidia Flogged AI for Brazilian Oil and Gas on Eve of COP30
As world leaders prepared to descend on the small city of Belém in the Brazilian Amazon for the COP30 climate summit, artificial intelligence (AI) chip-manufacturer Nvidia was instead peddling its ene...
www.desmog.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:17 PM
🔴 NEW - Nvidia, the world’s most valuable company, flogged its tech to the oil industry in Brazil on the eve of the COP30 summit
📝 Great scoop by @rtakver.bsky.social for @desmog.com 👇🏻
📝 Great scoop by @rtakver.bsky.social for @desmog.com 👇🏻
Reposted by Margarida Silva
🔥 Ex-EU justice chief Didier Reynders charged with money laundering. @ftm.eu SCOOP with @lesoir.be @standaard.be and Le Vif www.ftm.eu/articles/rey...
Ex-EU justice chief Didier Reynders charged with money laundering
The charge comes after months of investigation.
www.ftm.eu
November 4, 2025 at 4:20 PM
🔥 Ex-EU justice chief Didier Reynders charged with money laundering. @ftm.eu SCOOP with @lesoir.be @standaard.be and Le Vif www.ftm.eu/articles/rey...
Reposted by Margarida Silva
Last week at a Brussels thinktank conference I heard the US openly referred to as "our former ally".
This week we learn that the US climate delegation is going around threatening to put European climate negotiators on the US sanctions list if they don't agree to wreck our climate.
This week we learn that the US climate delegation is going around threatening to put European climate negotiators on the US sanctions list if they don't agree to wreck our climate.
November 3, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Last week at a Brussels thinktank conference I heard the US openly referred to as "our former ally".
This week we learn that the US climate delegation is going around threatening to put European climate negotiators on the US sanctions list if they don't agree to wreck our climate.
This week we learn that the US climate delegation is going around threatening to put European climate negotiators on the US sanctions list if they don't agree to wreck our climate.
Reposted by Margarida Silva
⚠️In the face of aggressive tech lobbying, the Commission will water down the AI Act in the upcoming digital omnibus.
But while the Commission has done ‘reality checks’ with industry, it fails to listen to the reality of people targeted by biased and unfair AI systems.
But while the Commission has done ‘reality checks’ with industry, it fails to listen to the reality of people targeted by biased and unfair AI systems.
Privacy and AI fears, in EU bonfire of digital red tape
EU data laws are to become more business-friendly after 19 November, when the EU Commission unveils its "digital omnibus", amid privacy and security concerns.
euobserver.com
October 29, 2025 at 7:58 AM
⚠️In the face of aggressive tech lobbying, the Commission will water down the AI Act in the upcoming digital omnibus.
But while the Commission has done ‘reality checks’ with industry, it fails to listen to the reality of people targeted by biased and unfair AI systems.
But while the Commission has done ‘reality checks’ with industry, it fails to listen to the reality of people targeted by biased and unfair AI systems.
Reposted by Margarida Silva
📢 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 Margarida Silva
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.
" the question isn’t just how many we can build, but whether we can build them in ways that will not compromise the planet and the society they are meant to serve."
Is Europe investing strategically in the development of 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀? What are the key material and labour challenges involved?
I discuss them in this article ⏬
I discuss them in this article ⏬
'Europe’s #AI strategy faces a #DataCentre dilemma'
✍ @aida.follows.technology writes about the expansion of data infrastructure and its ecological impacts in the latest edition of our #GreenNewDeal newsletter
🔗 etui.org/ZVU
[Image credit: Data Center Map]
✍ @aida.follows.technology writes about the expansion of data infrastructure and its ecological impacts in the latest edition of our #GreenNewDeal newsletter
🔗 etui.org/ZVU
[Image credit: Data Center Map]
October 28, 2025 at 11:06 AM
" the question isn’t just how many we can build, but whether we can build them in ways that will not compromise the planet and the society they are meant to serve."
Reposted by Margarida Silva
O que os estudos acerca disto sugerem é que uma aproximação à direita radical não reduz o seu sucesso eleitoral.
E o nosso trabalho sugere também que fazê-lo contribui ainda mais para a normalização da retórica de ultra direita.
expresso.pt/politica/ele...
E o nosso trabalho sugere também que fazê-lo contribui ainda mais para a normalização da retórica de ultra direita.
expresso.pt/politica/ele...
Passos aconselha fim das "linhas vermelhas" com o Chega; Ventura e Carneiro atiram a Montenegro
Luís Montenegro e José Luís Carneiro vão andar a sul do Tejo, já André Ventura vai fazer campanha no centro do país. Os dois líderes dos maiores partidos da oposição começaram o dia a atacar o Governo...
expresso.pt
October 7, 2025 at 12:35 PM
O que os estudos acerca disto sugerem é que uma aproximação à direita radical não reduz o seu sucesso eleitoral.
E o nosso trabalho sugere também que fazê-lo contribui ainda mais para a normalização da retórica de ultra direita.
expresso.pt/politica/ele...
E o nosso trabalho sugere também que fazê-lo contribui ainda mais para a normalização da retórica de ultra direita.
expresso.pt/politica/ele...
Reposted by Margarida Silva
To use digital technologies and AI without feeding billionaires with public data and money, and for workers to have a say over their job, EU Apply AI strategy must include
- EU public digital infrastructures
- Artificial Intelligence at Work Act
With @diegonaranjo.bsky.social
@epsu.bsky.social
- EU public digital infrastructures
- Artificial Intelligence at Work Act
With @diegonaranjo.bsky.social
@epsu.bsky.social
Europe's Digital Future Demands Public Ownership And Worker Control
European AI strategy must prioritise democratic governance over market solutions to protect citizens' data and workers' rights.
www.socialeurope.eu
September 26, 2025 at 8:13 AM
To use digital technologies and AI without feeding billionaires with public data and money, and for workers to have a say over their job, EU Apply AI strategy must include
- EU public digital infrastructures
- Artificial Intelligence at Work Act
With @diegonaranjo.bsky.social
@epsu.bsky.social
- EU public digital infrastructures
- Artificial Intelligence at Work Act
With @diegonaranjo.bsky.social
@epsu.bsky.social
Reposted by Margarida Silva
Commission President Von der Leyen will have to explain this: barring an EVP from holding a press conference is unacceptable!
@teresaribera.ec.europa.eu has shown the courage to defend the free press instead of pandering to authoritarian leaders and monopolistic tech companies.
@teresaribera.ec.europa.eu has shown the courage to defend the free press instead of pandering to authoritarian leaders and monopolistic tech companies.
September 8, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Reposted by Margarida Silva
"Cependant, du fait de ses nombreuses puces Nvidia, Jupiter reste fortement dépendant de la technologie américaine, et cela alors que les sujets de discordes entre les Etats-Unis et l’Europe se sont multipliés" www.lemonde.fr/economie/art...
L’Europe lance Jupiter, son supercalculateur, destiné à rattraper son retard dans l’IA
Le chancelier allemand, Friedrich Merz, a inauguré vendredi à Juliers, à l’ouest de Cologne, le premier supercalculateur « exascale » du Vieux Continent. Elaboré par le groupe français Atos, financé p...
www.lemonde.fr
September 5, 2025 at 5:51 PM
"Cependant, du fait de ses nombreuses puces Nvidia, Jupiter reste fortement dépendant de la technologie américaine, et cela alors que les sujets de discordes entre les Etats-Unis et l’Europe se sont multipliés" www.lemonde.fr/economie/art...
Reposted by Margarida Silva
The multibillion fine against Google proves that the EU can act. Google’s ad monopoly bleeds media dry. This ruling is only the first crack in Google’s monopoly in the ad tech market — but it sends a signal far beyond Europe.
Next step: structural remedies!
www.politico.eu/article/eu-s...
Next step: structural remedies!
www.politico.eu/article/eu-s...
EU slaps Google with €2.95B fine despite Trump trade threat
Brussels hammers U.S. search giant after internal Commission feud.
www.politico.eu
September 5, 2025 at 5:06 PM
The multibillion fine against Google proves that the EU can act. Google’s ad monopoly bleeds media dry. This ruling is only the first crack in Google’s monopoly in the ad tech market — but it sends a signal far beyond Europe.
Next step: structural remedies!
www.politico.eu/article/eu-s...
Next step: structural remedies!
www.politico.eu/article/eu-s...
Reposted by Margarida Silva
Google's monopoly power rips off consumers, pollutes our information environment, and destroys the news media.
Today's €2.95 billion fine is a start, but won't touch Google's toxic ad-tech monopoly. The EU @ec.europa.eu must hold firm and now break up Google. www.politico.eu/article/eu-s...
Today's €2.95 billion fine is a start, but won't touch Google's toxic ad-tech monopoly. The EU @ec.europa.eu must hold firm and now break up Google. www.politico.eu/article/eu-s...
EU slaps Google with €2.95B fine despite Trump trade threat
Brussels hammers U.S. search giant after internal Commission feud.
www.politico.eu
September 5, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Google's monopoly power rips off consumers, pollutes our information environment, and destroys the news media.
Today's €2.95 billion fine is a start, but won't touch Google's toxic ad-tech monopoly. The EU @ec.europa.eu must hold firm and now break up Google. www.politico.eu/article/eu-s...
Today's €2.95 billion fine is a start, but won't touch Google's toxic ad-tech monopoly. The EU @ec.europa.eu must hold firm and now break up Google. www.politico.eu/article/eu-s...
Reposted by Margarida Silva
1/ 📢 Today, the Commission concluded that Google abused its dominant position in the display advertising technology industry.
Digital advertising funds much of the online free content and services we rely on today. Google controls many of the tools that make this industry work 💻 📱
Digital advertising funds much of the online free content and services we rely on today. Google controls many of the tools that make this industry work 💻 📱
September 5, 2025 at 4:00 PM
1/ 📢 Today, the Commission concluded that Google abused its dominant position in the display advertising technology industry.
Digital advertising funds much of the online free content and services we rely on today. Google controls many of the tools that make this industry work 💻 📱
Digital advertising funds much of the online free content and services we rely on today. Google controls many of the tools that make this industry work 💻 📱
Reposted by Margarida Silva
When regulation ignores workers, it risks reinforcing the very problems it aims to solve.
Kenya’s proposed Bill deserves scrutiny — and solidarity.
#Fairwork #Kenya #GigWork #PlatformLabour #WorkersFirst
Kenya’s proposed Bill deserves scrutiny — and solidarity.
#Fairwork #Kenya #GigWork #PlatformLabour #WorkersFirst
September 4, 2025 at 4:00 PM
When regulation ignores workers, it risks reinforcing the very problems it aims to solve.
Kenya’s proposed Bill deserves scrutiny — and solidarity.
#Fairwork #Kenya #GigWork #PlatformLabour #WorkersFirst
Kenya’s proposed Bill deserves scrutiny — and solidarity.
#Fairwork #Kenya #GigWork #PlatformLabour #WorkersFirst
Reposted by Margarida Silva
I get that AI has changed search competition and the Google antitrust case.
I also remember when the government didn't sue Google over antitrust in 2012/2013, it was partly based on the belief that mobile would jolt competition and blunt Google's power.
That belief was 100% wrong.
I also remember when the government didn't sue Google over antitrust in 2012/2013, it was partly based on the belief that mobile would jolt competition and blunt Google's power.
That belief was 100% wrong.
September 4, 2025 at 2:21 PM
I get that AI has changed search competition and the Google antitrust case.
I also remember when the government didn't sue Google over antitrust in 2012/2013, it was partly based on the belief that mobile would jolt competition and blunt Google's power.
That belief was 100% wrong.
I also remember when the government didn't sue Google over antitrust in 2012/2013, it was partly based on the belief that mobile would jolt competition and blunt Google's power.
That belief was 100% wrong.
Reposted by Margarida Silva
It is amazing that most organizations (businesses, media, NGOs, political parties) that worried about the threat of the far right for decades have spent no time or energy to thinking how to operate in a far right world. They just continue to do the same and are surprised by a different outcome.
August 23, 2025 at 1:57 PM
It is amazing that most organizations (businesses, media, NGOs, political parties) that worried about the threat of the far right for decades have spent no time or energy to thinking how to operate in a far right world. They just continue to do the same and are surprised by a different outcome.