PUBLICATION:
A Threat to Democracy: Mass Surveillance – Speech by Pieter Omtzigt at Sandbox Conference 2026
This publication contains the speech delivered by Pieter Omtzigt, former member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and former rapporteur on Pegasus and other spyware and secret state surveillance. The speech was delivered at the Sandbox Conference organised by the Civil Society Digital Security Network (CSDN) in Tirana on 27 May 2026.
In his address, Omtzigt reflects on the urgent challenges facing democratic governance in the digital age, including the protection of civic space, accountability in digital systems, and the growing impact of technology on fundamental rights and democratic resilience.
The speech was originally delivered as part of a broader discussion on strengthening democratic security and safeguarding civil society in an increasingly complex digital environment.
Watch the full speech video or download the PDF below.
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DATE: 01.06.2026
TOPICS: Activism, BSCP, Civil society, Cyber Security, Digital surveillance, human rights defenders, In Focus
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