See you tomorrow at the Big Brother Awards?

February 19, 2026 at 06:56 AM UTC
Bits of Freedom
Original: NL
See you tomorrow at the Big Brother Awards?

The Netherlands is set to host the annual Big Brother Awards on February 20th, recognizing organizations and entities for significant privacy and communication freedom infringements in 2025. This event highlights ongoing concerns about digital rights and data protection within the European context. The awards underscore the critical need for vigilance against surveillance and data misuse, prompting discussions on technological accountability. This year's nominations include the Dutch Tax Administration for algorithmic misuse, Clinical Diagnostics Nederland for a data breach, Microsoft for its alleged role in digital infrastructure supporting international conflicts, the National Police for monitoring activists, and the Association of Dutch Municipalities for facilitating Microsoft's services. These specific cases illustrate the diverse challenges to digital privacy, from governmental overreach to corporate data handling. The Big Brother Awards serve as a crucial platform for public awareness and debate on the ethical implications of technology. Beyond awarding privacy violators, the event also celebrates digital rights advocacy with the Felipe Rodriquez Award, fostering a dialogue on how to promote a more privacy-conscious digital future in Europe.

Curated and translated by Europe Digital for our multilingual European audience.

Source Information

Publication: Bits of Freedom
Published: February 19, 2026 at 06:56 AM UTC
All rights remain with the original publisher.

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