Alexander Fanta
@alexfanta.bsky.social
Journalist with Follow the Money. All things tech, EU, transparency. FOI curious.
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Send me feedback, tips or ideas via e-mail (alexander.fanta@ftm.nl) or securely via Signal:
signal.me#eu/gtCBHijtY...
Orban allies have bough Hungary's most read paper.
The reason that is possible is because the EU failed to legislate against media concentration.
Here is the inside story into the EU's historical blunder:
www.ftm.eu/articles/hel...
The reason that is possible is because the EU failed to legislate against media concentration.
Here is the inside story into the EU's historical blunder:
www.ftm.eu/articles/hel...
November 5, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Orban allies have bough Hungary's most read paper.
The reason that is possible is because the EU failed to legislate against media concentration.
Here is the inside story into the EU's historical blunder:
www.ftm.eu/articles/hel...
The reason that is possible is because the EU failed to legislate against media concentration.
Here is the inside story into the EU's historical blunder:
www.ftm.eu/articles/hel...
Reposted by Alexander Fanta
🗃️ Why would Israel want access to Europeans’ data?
FTM’s new podcast reveals how tech firm Zivver, trusted with Europe’s most sensitive information, allowed private messages to slip into the orbit of a U.S. company run by former Israeli intelligence officers.
Listen here: www.ftm.eu/articles/pod...
FTM’s new podcast reveals how tech firm Zivver, trusted with Europe’s most sensitive information, allowed private messages to slip into the orbit of a U.S. company run by former Israeli intelligence officers.
Listen here: www.ftm.eu/articles/pod...
November 5, 2025 at 8:06 AM
🗃️ Why would Israel want access to Europeans’ data?
FTM’s new podcast reveals how tech firm Zivver, trusted with Europe’s most sensitive information, allowed private messages to slip into the orbit of a U.S. company run by former Israeli intelligence officers.
Listen here: www.ftm.eu/articles/pod...
FTM’s new podcast reveals how tech firm Zivver, trusted with Europe’s most sensitive information, allowed private messages to slip into the orbit of a U.S. company run by former Israeli intelligence officers.
Listen here: www.ftm.eu/articles/pod...
The European Commission unduly protected Elon Musk’s social network X from public scrutiny, the European Ombudsman has found.
The watchdog has asked the Commission to be more transparent about disclosures from companies under the EU's Digital Services Acts.
New story:
www.ftm.eu/articles/eu-...
The watchdog has asked the Commission to be more transparent about disclosures from companies under the EU's Digital Services Acts.
New story:
www.ftm.eu/articles/eu-...
Watchdog slams EU executive for hiding user risks on Elon Musk’s X
Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism
www.ftm.eu
November 4, 2025 at 11:09 AM
The European Commission unduly protected Elon Musk’s social network X from public scrutiny, the European Ombudsman has found.
The watchdog has asked the Commission to be more transparent about disclosures from companies under the EU's Digital Services Acts.
New story:
www.ftm.eu/articles/eu-...
The watchdog has asked the Commission to be more transparent about disclosures from companies under the EU's Digital Services Acts.
New story:
www.ftm.eu/articles/eu-...
Next Halloween I'll scare journalists and go as Chatham House ghouls
November 3, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Next Halloween I'll scare journalists and go as Chatham House ghouls
Reposted by Alexander Fanta
Revealing story by @alexfanta.bsky.social in @ftm.nl.
"Over the past decade, Google lobbyists met with the Commission at least 420 times, and spent well over 60 million euros on lobbying"
And with an open end, given Trump's tariff threats against enforcement.
www.ftm.eu/articles/goo...
"Over the past decade, Google lobbyists met with the Commission at least 420 times, and spent well over 60 million euros on lobbying"
And with an open end, given Trump's tariff threats against enforcement.
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 7:31 AM
Revealing story by @alexfanta.bsky.social in @ftm.nl.
"Over the past decade, Google lobbyists met with the Commission at least 420 times, and spent well over 60 million euros on lobbying"
And with an open end, given Trump's tariff threats against enforcement.
www.ftm.eu/articles/goo...
"Over the past decade, Google lobbyists met with the Commission at least 420 times, and spent well over 60 million euros on lobbying"
And with an open end, given Trump's tariff threats against enforcement.
www.ftm.eu/articles/goo...
Reposted by Alexander Fanta
Last year, @alexfanta.bsky.social and I started collecting data on a decade of meetings between Google and the European Commission. Today, Alex shows how Google influenced people in Brussels to dominate the scene.
Google, the world’s largest search engine operating three in four smartphones, has played Brussels like a fiddle – shaping laws, silencing rivals, and calling it "innovation". The chart shows how Big Tech bankrolls Brussels’ top think tanks.
Read our latest story here: www.ftm.eu/articles/goo...
Read our latest story here: www.ftm.eu/articles/goo...
November 3, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Last year, @alexfanta.bsky.social and I started collecting data on a decade of meetings between Google and the European Commission. Today, Alex shows how Google influenced people in Brussels to dominate the scene.
Reposted by Alexander Fanta
"Google told FTM that to obtain the support of law firms is common practice, and said its lobby spending was similar to those of other companies in the industry"
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 6:23 AM
"Google told FTM that to obtain the support of law firms is common practice, and said its lobby spending was similar to those of other companies in the industry"
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...
This has become a major problem. The Commission's genius move was to pretend to be more transparent - proactively publishing minutes of meetings with lobbyists since January - but in reality most of these minutes are meaningless. One I found literally says "discussion about general topics".
The European Ombudsman "has opened an inquiry into whether the European Commission acted secretively in its dealings with industry before launching a series of business-friendly initiatives".
The Ombudsman was acting on a complaint by the Corporate Europe Observatory
www.politico.eu/article/ombu...
The Ombudsman was acting on a complaint by the Corporate Europe Observatory
www.politico.eu/article/ombu...
October 29, 2025 at 6:49 AM
This has become a major problem. The Commission's genius move was to pretend to be more transparent - proactively publishing minutes of meetings with lobbyists since January - but in reality most of these minutes are meaningless. One I found literally says "discussion about general topics".
Reposted by Alexander Fanta
Three years after the Qatargate scandal shook the EU to its core, the European Parliament is quietly pushing back against Belgian authorities investigating allegations of wrongdoing among lawmakers. Here's why ⤵️ www.euractiv.com/news/investi...
INVESTIGATION: European Parliament tells Belgian prosecutor to stay in lane on corruption probes | Euractiv
A showdown over Belgium's role in policing Europe's institutions looms as Parliament pushes back on corruption probes
www.euractiv.com
October 22, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Three years after the Qatargate scandal shook the EU to its core, the European Parliament is quietly pushing back against Belgian authorities investigating allegations of wrongdoing among lawmakers. Here's why ⤵️ www.euractiv.com/news/investi...
Reposted by Alexander Fanta
Medienkritik ist kein Luxus – sondern die Voraussetzung für guten Journalismus!
Wir suchen jetzt 1.000 Mitglieder, die Kobuk gut finden und wollen, dass es uns weiterhin gibt 👇
www.kobuk.at/unterstützen
Wir suchen jetzt 1.000 Mitglieder, die Kobuk gut finden und wollen, dass es uns weiterhin gibt 👇
www.kobuk.at/unterstützen
October 22, 2025 at 5:08 AM
Medienkritik ist kein Luxus – sondern die Voraussetzung für guten Journalismus!
Wir suchen jetzt 1.000 Mitglieder, die Kobuk gut finden und wollen, dass es uns weiterhin gibt 👇
www.kobuk.at/unterstützen
Wir suchen jetzt 1.000 Mitglieder, die Kobuk gut finden und wollen, dass es uns weiterhin gibt 👇
www.kobuk.at/unterstützen
Reposted by Alexander Fanta
Please support our independent investigative journalism and become a member >> www.ftm.eu/help-us-to-s...
Help us to support independent investigative journalism
Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism
www.ftm.eu
October 21, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Please support our independent investigative journalism and become a member >> www.ftm.eu/help-us-to-s...
Do I know anyone who has Statista Premium access and can help me find a source?
October 16, 2025 at 5:56 AM
Do I know anyone who has Statista Premium access and can help me find a source?
The European Commission launched a new AI strategy last week. But it barely mentioned the huge amount of energy gobbled up by AI, and the devastating environmental fallout.
Find this in our latest newsletter: www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...
Find this in our latest newsletter: www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...
October 13, 2025 at 7:00 AM
The European Commission launched a new AI strategy last week. But it barely mentioned the huge amount of energy gobbled up by AI, and the devastating environmental fallout.
Find this in our latest newsletter: www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...
Find this in our latest newsletter: www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...
Is an MEP accused of bribery surprisingly wealthy, or up to the neck in debt? That would seem like a salient data point.
But guess what, judicial investigators aren't even checking.
Some depressing news from our Crime & Corruption newsletter:
www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...
But guess what, judicial investigators aren't even checking.
Some depressing news from our Crime & Corruption newsletter:
www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...
October 8, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Is an MEP accused of bribery surprisingly wealthy, or up to the neck in debt? That would seem like a salient data point.
But guess what, judicial investigators aren't even checking.
Some depressing news from our Crime & Corruption newsletter:
www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...
But guess what, judicial investigators aren't even checking.
Some depressing news from our Crime & Corruption newsletter:
www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...
Reposted by Alexander Fanta
Really enjoyed speaking with @emmaduchatinier.bsky.social and @alexfanta.bsky.social on the @ftm.eu podcast about my investigation into 🇪🇺European funding for commercial #spyware companies.
Thanks for having me! 🙏
📺 Watch: youtu.be/htXwY5KQzas?...
🎧 Listen: www.ftm.eu/articles/eur...
Thanks for having me! 🙏
📺 Watch: youtu.be/htXwY5KQzas?...
🎧 Listen: www.ftm.eu/articles/eur...
October 8, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Really enjoyed speaking with @emmaduchatinier.bsky.social and @alexfanta.bsky.social on the @ftm.eu podcast about my investigation into 🇪🇺European funding for commercial #spyware companies.
Thanks for having me! 🙏
📺 Watch: youtu.be/htXwY5KQzas?...
🎧 Listen: www.ftm.eu/articles/eur...
Thanks for having me! 🙏
📺 Watch: youtu.be/htXwY5KQzas?...
🎧 Listen: www.ftm.eu/articles/eur...
How the EU refuses to talk about its Israel policy, more secrecy on Big Tech policy, and a new uproar over Ursula's texts - today we publish a new edition of our Secrecy Tracker newsletter. 👏 @ftm.eu @investigate-europe.eu @euobserver.com
Read it for free:
www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...
Read it for free:
www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...
Israel info withheld, big tech secrecy & vanishing messages
Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism
www.ftm.eu
October 7, 2025 at 6:21 AM
How the EU refuses to talk about its Israel policy, more secrecy on Big Tech policy, and a new uproar over Ursula's texts - today we publish a new edition of our Secrecy Tracker newsletter. 👏 @ftm.eu @investigate-europe.eu @euobserver.com
Read it for free:
www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...
Read it for free:
www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...
Money well-spent? Die Industriellenvereinigung hat Boris Johnson voriges Jahr 50.000 Euro plus bis zu 25.000 Euro an Reisekosten für seinen umstrittenen Auftritt beim Salzburg Summit angeboten, wie aus geleakten Emails hervorgeht.
Die Mail stammt aus dem Boris-Files-Leak...
Die Mail stammt aus dem Boris-Files-Leak...
![We have a new firm invitation for Mr. Johnson which is outlined below. We are working on a vet of this group and will pass it along once available. Here are the details:
Host: Rosam Grünberger Jarosch & Partner OBO Federation of Austrian Industries
*Please note, our main point of contact is Rosam Grunberger Jarosch & Partner, who are producing and managing the event on behalf of Verein Club Salzburg Summit, an entity owned by the Federation of Austrian Industries. To confirm, Verein Club Salzburg Summit, and by extension the Federation of Austrian Industries, will be the contracting and paying entity for Mr Johnson’s participation.
Event Date: Friday, July 26, 2024
Alternate Dates: None
Location: Salzburg, Austria
Venue: Salzburg Congress Convention Centre
Honorarium and Travel Expenses: $53,743 [€50,000]. In addition to the Fee, the host will pay for first-class airfare to and from the event city for Speaker and up to one (1) staff member, as well as hotel accommodations, ground transportation, meals and incidentals.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:66ealeut54i3dvgseb4gcn3z/bafkreidv636vqv4pmbrpfnl2yjhst27qnq3bpyx5t36wuy76kmdbfmvs4q@jpeg)
October 6, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Money well-spent? Die Industriellenvereinigung hat Boris Johnson voriges Jahr 50.000 Euro plus bis zu 25.000 Euro an Reisekosten für seinen umstrittenen Auftritt beim Salzburg Summit angeboten, wie aus geleakten Emails hervorgeht.
Die Mail stammt aus dem Boris-Files-Leak...
Die Mail stammt aus dem Boris-Files-Leak...
Reposted by Alexander Fanta
Public money is funding spyware!
With 39 MEPs from 4 political groups, we are writing to the @ec.europa.eu to express deep concerns following @ftm.eu revelations that EU financed spyware companies!
This must stop! We call on full transparency and follow up on the PEGA committee recommendations!
With 39 MEPs from 4 political groups, we are writing to the @ec.europa.eu to express deep concerns following @ftm.eu revelations that EU financed spyware companies!
This must stop! We call on full transparency and follow up on the PEGA committee recommendations!
September 30, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Public money is funding spyware!
With 39 MEPs from 4 political groups, we are writing to the @ec.europa.eu to express deep concerns following @ftm.eu revelations that EU financed spyware companies!
This must stop! We call on full transparency and follow up on the PEGA committee recommendations!
With 39 MEPs from 4 political groups, we are writing to the @ec.europa.eu to express deep concerns following @ftm.eu revelations that EU financed spyware companies!
This must stop! We call on full transparency and follow up on the PEGA committee recommendations!
Reposted by Alexander Fanta
The European Commission budgeted €1.8 million to develop its access to documents portal 'EASE'.
But the technical system behind this modernised FOI platform has some limitations, @alexfanta.bsky.social and I learned when envelopes with USB sticks started arriving...
www.ftm.eu/articles/wha...
But the technical system behind this modernised FOI platform has some limitations, @alexfanta.bsky.social and I learned when envelopes with USB sticks started arriving...
www.ftm.eu/articles/wha...
What Europe’s fishing boom hides beneath the surface
Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism
www.ftm.eu
September 30, 2025 at 7:15 AM
The European Commission budgeted €1.8 million to develop its access to documents portal 'EASE'.
But the technical system behind this modernised FOI platform has some limitations, @alexfanta.bsky.social and I learned when envelopes with USB sticks started arriving...
www.ftm.eu/articles/wha...
But the technical system behind this modernised FOI platform has some limitations, @alexfanta.bsky.social and I learned when envelopes with USB sticks started arriving...
www.ftm.eu/articles/wha...
So weird. No review of The Hack in either the Sun or the Times. Wonder why.
September 26, 2025 at 8:12 PM
So weird. No review of The Hack in either the Sun or the Times. Wonder why.
Reposted by Alexander Fanta
My comment on @politico.eu. The European Commission's explanation for Ursula von der Leyen deleting messages on instant messengers “due to lack of space” sounds bizarre in 2025. Security is important. But so is public transparency for officials. www.politico.eu/article/dele...
Deleting texts to save space, Ursula? ‘It’s not the 1990s.’
Tech experts debunk the European Commission’s policy of deleting its president’s phone messages to “save space.”
www.politico.eu
September 26, 2025 at 6:28 AM
My comment on @politico.eu. The European Commission's explanation for Ursula von der Leyen deleting messages on instant messengers “due to lack of space” sounds bizarre in 2025. Security is important. But so is public transparency for officials. www.politico.eu/article/dele...
Yep, that was me again
We have launched an inquiry following a complaint regarding how @ec.europa.eu managed a request for access to documents related to a text message concerning trade negotiations with Mercosur countries.
Ombudswoman opens inquiry into how Commission handled access request for text message concerning Mercosur negotiations
After receiving a complaint, European Ombudswoman Teresa Anjinho decided to open an inquiry into how the European Commission handled an access to document...
www.ombudsman.europa.eu
September 23, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Yep, that was me again
Reposted by Alexander Fanta
Wir werden alle Datenfutter für die KI von LinkedIn (zu Microsoft zugehörig), wenn wir uns nicht wehren. LinkedIn nutzt das Opt-Out-Land Schweiz aus (ob EU weiss ich nicht). Und setzt den Toogle bei uns allen auf ON.
Ja, es ist verdammt frech.
Hier ⬇️aussteigen:
www.linkedin.com/mypreference...
Ja, es ist verdammt frech.
Hier ⬇️aussteigen:
www.linkedin.com/mypreference...
September 18, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Wir werden alle Datenfutter für die KI von LinkedIn (zu Microsoft zugehörig), wenn wir uns nicht wehren. LinkedIn nutzt das Opt-Out-Land Schweiz aus (ob EU weiss ich nicht). Und setzt den Toogle bei uns allen auf ON.
Ja, es ist verdammt frech.
Hier ⬇️aussteigen:
www.linkedin.com/mypreference...
Ja, es ist verdammt frech.
Hier ⬇️aussteigen:
www.linkedin.com/mypreference...
Reposted by Alexander Fanta
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni vowed to solve Italy’s migration challenges by building offshore migrant centres in Albania to process asylum seekers. Three years on, the hubs are half-empty, construction costs have ballooned into millions and courts keep stalling progress.
Podcast | Meloni's €70-million migration fiasco
When Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni ran her election campaign in 2022, she promised a bold solution to Italy’s migration issues: building offshore migrant centres in Albania. But three years la...
www.ftm.eu
September 17, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni vowed to solve Italy’s migration challenges by building offshore migrant centres in Albania to process asylum seekers. Three years on, the hubs are half-empty, construction costs have ballooned into millions and courts keep stalling progress.