European Digital Rights (EDRi) recently marked their 20th anniversary, commemorating two decades of relentless advocacy for digital rights protection across the continent. Despite the unprecedented pace of technological advancement and the challenges that came with it, EDRi remained steadfast in their commitment to championing people’s rights, privacy, and safety by leading a powerful network of dedicated individuals and groups who advocate for a fair digital environment.

Over the years, EDRi has collaborated with technologists, lawyers, human rights defenders, and activists to create a robust digital rights movement in Europe. Their efforts have taken various forms, from petitions and campaigns to inspiring thought-provoking works of art that amplify their cause. Art has been a crucial component of EDRi’s work, serving as a medium of expression, translation, and inspiration to move people towards their mission.

EDRi’s recent 20th anniversary event showcased a collection of dynamic works of art that explore the implications of digital transformation, rebellions against surveillance, the inner workings of AI systems, and paradigm shifts. These curated works of art serve as a testament to EDRi’s legacy and vision for the future, inspiring and intriguing anyone who experiences them.

As an enthusiastic participant in EDRi’s 20th-anniversary event, I am thrilled to support their efforts through my projects and be included in this curated event – kindda fan girling to see my work next to the Anatomy of an AI by Kate Crawford and Vladan Joler. I look forward to contributing more to their advocacy and initiatives, particularly through myFACE project, and I am open to further collaborations in public spaces that will advance the cause of digital rights protection in Europe.

Can’t believe it, my one-minute video ‘Playful Fingers’ won the experimental category of The One Minutes competition in China! Thank you so much and thanks Martin Draax for the soundtrack!!! And LNDW studio for shooting this. This was such a fun process, I still remember crawling under The Finger Rub Rug and making it move. This video is part of a series of four that I used to promote my upcoming exhibition in 2020.

And so funny to see myself on Chinese TV. I wonder what the lovely presenter and jury member are saying. I hope to get it translated soon.

MyFace project contributed to the Reclaim Your Face campaign, a European Citizen Initiative launched by EDRI, the European office for digital rights. EDri invited all activists involved in the campaign to gather in Brussels and participate in a meeting in the European Parliament.

“I was just walking on the street and saw the Reclaim Your Face poster. My art project had the same critical approach to facial recognition in public spaces. After I wrote to the organisers, I decided to connect my art performance with this campaign.”

The summary of our meetings is published here with quotes and pictures: https://reclaimyourface.eu/our-movement-gathered-in-brussels/