Data Protection

Surrender your mobile phone, it’s an order!

As explained in our previous article, the Commission is drafting a Decision that requires all staff to provide their private mobile to be contacted during their rest time. 

Our article, published in September 2025 triggered comments from the administration, claiming that they would prove us wrong by providing updated information. No information was provided, but we still acknowledged what could seem like an intention to correct course by the administration, by informing you in October 2025 of a possible update on the situation.  Continue reading Surrender your mobile phone, it’s an order!

Commission doubles down: You don’t own your mobile phone any longer 

*Update 08.10.2025: the information below was correct at the time of publication. Subsequent (unpublished) changes might have made some parts obsolete: when we receive communication detailing the changes we’ll update this article.*

As explained in our event “Who owns your mobile phone?”, the Commission is not just setting a questionable example of unsuccessfully respecting staff privacy, it is doubling down on that choice and working on granting itself formal permission to commandeer your mobile phone. The Commission is in the process of drafting a formal decision. Continue reading Commission doubles down: You don’t own your mobile phone any longer 

What Permanent Representation (should not) know about you? 

*Update 25.09.2025 See related supervisory opinion on case 2023-1231.*

Remember our article of 25 September 2024, where we wrote about dubious and questionable (if not illegal) transfers of our personal data to the permanent representation of Member States by DG HR? One of our members, Rafal Stanecki took the matter further.
Continue reading What Permanent Representation (should not) know about you? 

UPDATE: It’s all about our rights!

Update as of  12.05.2025 May 2025: some of you asked me for un updates for the case. A very good idea! The case T-108/24 (about the disciplinary sanction and the disciplinary procedure) was subject of a public hearing at the Tribunal  on 6.05.2025.
Continue reading UPDATE: It’s all about our rights!

The Never-Ending Odyssey: Navigating the My IntraComm Platform

For years, My IntraComm served as a vital tool for European Commission (EC) staff, offering easy access to essential information on work resources, promotions, career development, family allowances, personal matters, and broader staff matters such as talent management, working conditions, buildings, family, and administrative steps.  Continue reading The Never-Ending Odyssey: Navigating the My IntraComm Platform

Do you know what your Perm Rep knows about you? 

Do you know that your personal data is being transferred on regular basis to your national EU Permanent Representation? And not only there.   Actually, DG HR has been sending mass quantity of sensitive data of tens of thousands of active Commission staff, 3 times per year to your Member State Perm Reps plus your host country Perm Reps: Belgium or Luxembourg.

Continue reading Do you know what your Perm Rep knows about you? 

It’s all about our rights!

*Update 28.10.2024 we’ve added a status on the case(s) at the bottom of this article. Thank you all for your support!*

Original article: We start with a story[1]. There was once an EU Member State whose government was repeatedly named as a cause for concern with regards to its record on the rule of law (2020, European Parliament), the rights of women (2022, UN) and those of minorities (2022, Amnesty International) That government was also named as a cause of concern with regards to allegations of oppressing independent journalists and media freedom (2023, MFRR)[2]. Continue reading It’s all about our rights!

What happened to “Have your say”?

Many of you have contacted us, asking about “Have your say”, which suddenly disappeared from the Commission’s internet, after it underwent a superficial “lift”. Either you liked to follow on various discussions, share your opinions, or even, for a stronger impact, launching a topic that was important to you. However, all of that is now gone.  

Continue reading What happened to “Have your say”?

Think twice before sharing your mobile with … the Commission

It is not the first time that we warn on the progressive intrusion into staff privacy by the administration. Generation 2004 and the rest of the staff representation is firmly against these practices.  This time we want to warn you not of a forced intrusion, but one that you might be tolerating without being aware of the consequences.  Continue reading Think twice before sharing your mobile with … the Commission

The practices must change – Standby duty & use of private phones for business purposes in Delegations

After we exposed that the European Commission was infringing data protection law, many colleagues, particularly in Delegations, contacted us to share their experiences. They were not only ‘encouraged’ to use their private mobile phones for work purposes, also their standby duty tasks were going too far.  Continue reading The practices must change – Standby duty & use of private phones for business purposes in Delegations