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A Threat to Democracy: Mass Surveillance – Speech by Pieter Omtzigt at Sandbox Conference 2026
The following transcript is from the opening speech 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 (CSDSN) 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: 24.06.2026.
Author: Belgrade Centre for Security Policy
Civil society organisations express deep concern over the direction of the investigative actions concerning the incident of 15 March 2025, which have recently been undertaken by the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade. The current conduct of this Prosecutor’s Office is the exact opposite of the thorough and impartial investigation that such a grave case requires. Instead, it indicates a deliberate intention to cover up the actual incident and divert public attention towards the political persecution of victims and all those who have provided them with legal or other forms of support.
Date: 29.05.2026.
Author: Belgrade Centre for Security Policy
Civil Society Digital Security Network (CSDSN) brought together human rights defenders, journalists, activists, legal experts, and digital security specialists in Tirana, Albania, from 26 to 28 May 2026 for the Sandbox Conference "Protecting European Civic Space in the Digital Age". Supported by Stiftung Mercator, the conference served as a safe space for open dialogue on the growing digital threats facing civil society across the Western Balkans and the European Union.
Date: 21.05.2026.
Author: Belgrade Centre for Security Policy
Serbia is moving further away from the European Union (EU), and this has become particularly evident since the end of 2025, when, according to the assessment of the prEUgovor Coalition, even the simulation of reform activities came to an end.
