Archive
Moving borders with history: new ways of thinking about border externalisation
Europe is doubling down on its outsourcing of border controls to other states, particularly in Africa - and new ways of thinking about border externalisation are needed to generate effective responses. A recent academic article, summarised here, argues that postcolonial and decolonial analysis can help generate those responses. Read More
UK: Facial recognition cameras too racially biased to use at Notting Hill carnival, say campaigners
The Guardian, 16 August 2025. Read More
UK: Peaceful protesters treated as terrorists as politicians fuel far-right activity
Thousands of police were deployed to London last weekend to arrest more than 500 peaceful protesters, as racist protests took place across the country. There is a relentless crackdown on foreign nationals, now including immediate deportation for any non-citizen convicted of a criminal offence. Critics warn that mainstream political rhetoric is legitimating and fuelling violent far-right activity. Read More
UK: More than 200 organisations sign open letter in response to anti-refugee protests
More than 200 refugee organisations, charities, trade unions and more have signed an open letter to party leaders today condemning the anti-refugee protests that took place across the weekend. Statewatch is a signatory to the letter. Read More
UK: Authorities must clarify whether Online Safety Act will lead to Palestine protest censorship
A letter to the UK broadcast regulator and major social media companies seeks clarification over how online freedom of speech will be protected following the government's proscription of the organisation Palestine Action. The letter, signed by 24 individuals and organisations - including Statewatch - raises concerns that the Online Safety Act, combined with the UK’s vague definition of terrorism, could lead to lawful content being wrongly identified as illegal and removed. Read More
Will the EU finally stop financing Israel’s genocide in Gaza?
Last Tuesday, the European Commission proposed to partially suspend Israel from its €80bn Horizon science research programme, citing the “severe” humanitarian crisis in Gaza. But this proposal comes late, after years of funding military-linked research with minimal transparency or accountability. As the death toll mounts and Gazans face man-made famine, the EU’s role in bankrolling violence is under scrutiny. Read More
Austria legalises state spyware amidst strong opposition
Austria is set to legalise the use of highly-intrusive spyware by state authorities. The government has justified the law in the name of monitoring encrypted messaging applications. Opponents warn that there is no way to prevent the authorities accessing reams of sensitive information on targeted individuals, despite official promises to the contrary. Civil society organisations and opposition parties have promised to challenge the law in court. Read More
EU migration budget: What’s planned for 2028–2034?
InfoMigrants, 21 July 2025. Read More
Frontex chases human rights activists for thousands of euros in court costs
EU border agency Frontex has been accused of "institutional intimidation" for demanding more than €11,000 in court costs from the sea rescue organisation Sea-Watch. Read More
Italy’s “systematic obstruction” of civilian search and rescue missions must end
A statement signed by 32 organisations from across Europe calls for an immediate halt to the systematic obstruction of non-governmental search and rescue (SAR) efforts by the Italian state. In the past month alone, NGO vessels have been detained three times due to legal restrictions based on allegations under the “Piantedosi decree" (named after the current interior minister). One vessel, Nadir, operated by the organisation RESQSHIP, was detained twice in a row. Deliberately keeping non-governmental search and rescue organisations away from the Central Mediterranean causes countless more deaths at sea on one of the deadliest flight routes worldwide. Read More