Statewatch

@statewatch.bsky.social

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We are activists, researchers, lawyers and journalists exposing state power across Europe and its borders. Our work has supported debates, movements and campaigns since 1991. Access our latest articles: https://linktr.ee/statewatch

Collage of Europol building, jail cell bars and Catherine de Bolle's eyes in colours of black green and orange in the backdrop. A box of text reads: will europol’s new director put a stop to the agency’s unlawful practices? signs point to no.
Image description: A hand holds a wad of euros in front of an ocean scene. Text reads, "Revealed: EU funding backed an attack on a humanitarian search-and-rescue ship The so-called Libyan coast guard fired on SOS Méditerranée’s ship in August 2025. IrpiMedia has since traced the money that enabled the episode—back to an EU program with millions in hidden funds."
UK prime minister Keir Starmer looms behind a timeline mapping the steady decline of rights under his party since 2024. The pictured examples include the proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist group, sweeping reforms to policing to increase use of biometrics analysis and AI, and the recent arrest of Qesser Zuhrah, the youngest of the Filton 24. The full timeline can be found at the link.
News clipping of a guardian article with the headline "EU's deportations plan risks ICE-style enforcement, rights groups warn" above an image of people crowded together in a boat while a white police officer stands by.
A red-printed hand holding out several hundred euros is overlaid with the green-printed wake of a boat. Above this, a text box reads "The EU's “new and innovative solution” to migration. Is it a rights-based solution? A response to the many statements from campaigners? No. The document we obtained shows EU policy-makers want to ressurect an old idea: paying non-EU states to intercept and detain people at sea, before they can reach European shores."
Quote from Romain Lanneau, "Technologies are becoming ever-present in the asylum and immigration system. Often, law enforcement and immigration authorities experiment with unreliable systems at the cost of migrants’ rights. Understanding what technologies are used and what redress are available is becoming indispensable." Information about the event appears in a text box below the quote.
Spray-painted words "Caution! Spies operate in this area" are overlaid in a risograph style with a green microphone. Below this, text explaining the news is placed next to another spray-painted image depicting a person in a suit with a television for a head.
Quote from State watch Director, Chris Jones, that reads: "The power of states to surveil, monitor, harass and repress is being globalised. This is being done through digital infrastructures by obscure, secretive and technocratic organisations. Meanwhile, people's rights remain trapped by national borders, making it extremely difficult to seek redress and remedy for wrongdoing, or even simple errors."
A visual overview of the caption text, showing a collage of images: a speaker wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh with a "police do not cross" sign behind, both in front of a tall fence, and a security camera with an eye pasted over the lens above two people holding placards about Palestine.
Above a black print of a barbed fence, a demonstrator holds a placard that says "open the border". Above the image, text reads: the EU migration pact will increase existing harms in Serbia and all along the Western Balkan route. It will mean more cruel tactics of policing and pushbacks, more bureaucracy and digital controls, and a further closure of civic space."
On one half of the common ‘woman yelling at cat’ meme, a long haired woman is being held back while yelling and pointing at to the right. In this version, a flag of the European Union covers her face. Above the image is the text: “The EU’s increasing datafication”. On the other half, an angry cat sits at a table of food. This is labelled as “lawyers using data protection law”. Below the meme, in large letters are the words “protect our rights and lives. get the handbook now.” Next to these is an image of Statewatch’s Data Protection Handbook.
Romain Lanneau, a white man with chin-length hair, is pictured in a button-up shirt next to a quote of him saying "Technologies are becoming an essential part of the migration and asylum systems. In fact, some of the most intrusive and biased tools have been tested around Europe. No matter what these tools are for or how they are used, they are all reliant to some degree on personal data. This is why knowledge of data protection law is so vital for immigration and asylum practitioners.” The photo is grainy, in black and white, and behind it are lots of squiggly marks in black marker.
yellow and black zine-style imagery of a pointing hand and squiggles alongside text from the caption
On a bright yellow background, a new guide is announced, with an image of the cover displayed. On it, a fist in black and white halftone punches the air, behind the title: Data Protection Handbook on Asylum and Migration in Europe. It is written by Romain Lanneau and produced by Statewatch in October 2025.
Close-up of a suit and tie with a Europol pin above a header that says "analysis: Europol and private companies." Below is an explanation of the increasing role of private companies, with the example of Microsoft employees having a desk at Europol's office.
White text on a black background with a red gradient radiating from the bottom right corner. In the same corner, a white dashed line trace the shape of a border. The top right corner says "issue 10". In the centre, a version of the text from the caption describes the content of the bulletin, "Outsourcing borders: monitoring EU externalisation policy." It says: The latest issue is out now. It covers: 1. EU plans for the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Balkan migration routes; 2. New proposals for Frontex projects in Egypt and Morocco; 3. Potential deportations from EU states to Côte D’Ivoire. 4. It also makes 14 documents from EU institutions public.
All-caps text describes that the EU’s new anti-money laundering rules will mean more profiling and more surveillance. Below the text, black and white image of euros float over cut-out images of the inside of washing machines, which give the impression of eyes. This represents the increased surveillance that will come along with the regulations against money-laundering.
White text on black says "Learning from the Bosnian genocide" is in front of a field of white headstones at the Srebrenica-Potočari memorial and cemetery. It is surrounded by mountains and a cloudy sky. In front of mountain, a quote says "“The international community could have and should have prevented the war” -Elmina Kulasić.
Text says "the EU’s latest idea is to deport people to countries they have zero connection to." Around the text are faded and noisy images. One is of a table full of conversing people who appear to be light-skinned and wearing formal attire. A lightbulb floats above them.
Large text on black paper background, which says "help us expose power & inform dissent! Apply now to be our new Director and carry us into our 35th year."
Big text on white background with green highlighting encouraging potential applicants to attend and information session on Statewatch's Executive Director vacancy.
Vague and pixelated, Frontex trucks with officers standing around float behind the text: "Frontex funding for Fortress Europe", referring to Europe's highly militarised borders and policy of exclusion. Around the image and text are the words "where, why, and how much".
Job ad featuring high-level information about the executive director role. This information includes: the work location (London or remote), the work hours (flexible 4-day work week), the annual salary (40,180 pounds), and holidays (22.4, plus public holidays).
Statewatch is recruiting a new director! Could it be you? In the background are green halftone images of people holding placards that say "resist" and "people over power". swipe or click right for information about the role
An image shows a shooter on a so-called Libyan coast guard vessel, which was donated by the Italian Government in 2023, above text that explains "EU-funded Libyan ‘coast guard’ shot at a humanitarian search and rescue ship for twenty minutes. And despite reaching out to European and international authorities, no help came. This is the result of years of EU funding, coordination and policy empowering violent actors in an attempt to seal its borders from refugees."
A person with eyes censored stands with a placard, "HTTP410 privacy gone". Next to this, text reads "New EU plan could expand access to your personal data for US law enforcement."
Spray paint on a building reads "Greek coast guard are murderers! Don't let them do". Below the image, large text says "Greek authorities use deadly violence to evade asylum responsibilities".
Images of signs saying "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action" next to large all-caps text "What happened in the UK last Saturday?".
Green and black graphic announces "EU money helped build Israel’s war machine. And it hasn't stopped". An Israeli flag stands between two European Union flags on the EU Parliament, emphasising the partnership between the EU and Israel. Above, a drone looms, representing the EU's funding of Israeli drones used in Gaza.
Black and purple graphic reads: “The EU’s Security AI is automating injustice.”
Faded green Air France plane overlaid with text that says: Update: Frontex and deportations, 2006-2024. An information box lists two key points from the data:56,262 people were deported by Frontex from the EU in 2024 and 11,636 people were deported via charter flights —and 25% of these had no rights monitor present
Collage of electronic ankle tags, a remote, prison bars and a person that appears to be a white male with handcuffs hanging from their belt, holding a radio and looking off into the distance. Below the images, text reads: the UK government wants more “prison outside prison” by increasing the use of electronic tagging. It’s not a new tactic. Back in 1989, the Prison Officers’ Association opposed similar efforts. At the time, they called tagging “humiliating and oppressive,” and warned of its consequences.
A Black man holding a protest sign that reads “Stop Police Racism,” overlaid with the quote from the Belgian police officer.
Cover of the Statewatch report “New Technologies, Old Injustice” set against a red-toned photo of a crowd, with white brackets overlaid on some faces, mimicking facial recognition targets.