Applications open for Digital Freedom Fund

Deadline: 14-Feb-24

Applications are now open for the Digital Freedom Fund to support strategic litigation on digital rights in Europe that contributes to advancing human rights in the digital context.

DFF works with a broad definition of digital rights. They consider digital rights to be human rights as applicable in the digital sphere. The digital sphere covers both physically constructed spaces, such as infrastructure and devices, and spaces that are virtually constructed, such as online identities and communities.

Thematic Focus Areas

• They are particularly interested in receiving applications for strategic cases that:
  • Advance individuals’ ability to exercise their right to privacy
    • Examples are cases that:
      • Protect and safeguard individuals against unjustified government surveillance
      • Clarify the scope of protection of personal data under the GDPR
      • Enforce consumers’ rights in relation to the unauthorised collection and sharing of personal data
  • Protect and promote the free flow of information online
    • Examples are cases that:
      • Challenge the unjustified blocking, filtering and removal of online content, platforms or services
      • Ensure that online content is protected against the illegitimate use of copyright claims
      • Ensure that net neutrality and the principle of equal access to the internet is promoted and respected in practice
  • Ensure accountability, transparency and the adherence to human rights standards in the use and design of technology
    • Examples are cases that:
      • Ensure the respect for human rights in the application of technology by law enforcement, such as in the context of predictive policing
      • Maximise transparency in algorithmic decision making and profiling by government and private actors
      • Set standards to protect individuals against the discriminatory use of technology

Funding Information

• So far the average size of a litigation track support grant is around EUR 50,000 and the average size of a pre-litigation research support grant is around EUR 30,000. They have approved grants as low as EUR 3,000, and some over EUR 100,000.

Activities

• Currently they accept grant applications for two types of activities:
  • Litigation track support
    • Support for litigation of a case through multiple instances, from first instance through to the final appeal.
    • Litigation track support grants can also include post-litigation activities, such as advocacy or enforcement activities following the judgement made in the final instance of litigation.
    • Example: a challenge before the European Court of Human Rights against police use of facial recognition technology, including a workshop following the final instance to share lessons from the ruling with the wider community.
  • Pre-litigation research
    • Support for activities to prepare for planned litigation. This could include legal research, evidence gathering, forum selection or identifying claimants and project partners. It does not include broad research or general scoping about unplanned litigation.
    • Example: a comparative study between three EU jurisdictions to determine which one offers the best options to address a specific issue under an EU Directive.

Geographical Scope

• DFF accepts grant applications concerning all Council of Europe Member States.

Eligibility Criteria

• They will consider applications from digital rights advocates (e.g. NGOs and other entities that pursue a public interest objective), pro bono lawyers, and other litigators seeking to protect and advance digital rights in Europe.
• They fund not just digital rights organisations, but also provide support to racial, social, feminist, queer, environmental, migrant rights and economic justice movements and organisations working on digital rights.

For more information, visit Digital Freedom Fund.