Tomorrow morning, one last European Parliament Committee, the International Trade Committee, will vote on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. The European Parliament as a whole plans to vote on the treaty in the first week of July, and its members are expected to base their votes on the recommendations of the committee votes. The current momentum of opposition surrounding ACTA is the culmination of a monthlong effort by advocacy groups across Europe, particularly in Germany, to use video and social media to keep the issue in the public consciousness, just under the radar, and to turn out protesters for one final day of action on June 9th. Read More

British MEP David Martin, responsible for providing guidance to European Parliament on the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, will recommend the rejection of the treaty, he announced on April 12. Martin will submit his final report to the International Trade Committee, the main parliamentary committee involved in the ACTA debate, later this month. Read More

The European conversation over a controversial trade agreement has become laden with "organized misinformation," EU Commissioner for Trade Karel de Gucht said Saturday. De Gucht's comments come after his attendance at a March 1 workshop hosted by the parliament's trade committee, the primary venue for discussion of ACTA in the EU's popularly elected body. It was an opportunity for opponents of the treaty to weigh in on its provisions. Read More

A European parliamentary inquiry will serve to shape a comprehensive EU approach on Internet freedom and human rights. Meanwhile the German government is testing a spyware used by former Egypt government, raising many concerns. But surveillance might also be material for artists. Read More

From public transportation in France to parliamentary activities in Bulgaria, activists and organizations are working hard to fuel the debate on open data. And show their own countries how to do the job. Read More