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Politiscope is a privacy watchdog organization and a hub for innovative e-activism practices.

Politiscope promotes e-activism, advocates and raises awareness on the necessity for the reconfiguration of the digital environment, so it does not pose a threat to fundamental and digital rights and democratic processes. We are focused on protecting the citizens’ data privacy and regard the full implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation as an essential tool for a thorough transformation of the digital (public) sphere.

In 2020 Politiscope produced several policy briefs aimed at raising awareness of Croatian citizens on their digital rights and governmental data processing during the pandemic. We analyzed the work of the Croatian Data Protection Agency, pandemic practices of data gathering and processing, applications used for online schooling and the Stop Covid-19 contact tracing application. Project „Privacy in the time of Corona“ was supported by the Active Citizens Fund of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Politiscope is currently a partner in the project “Privacy Defenders” led by Independent Youth Association in Lepoglava. We will implement several education modules on privacy and digital rights (for elementary school pupils, the young and the elderly), implement a small-scale advocacy campaign and establish an online privacy resource center.

Our organizations super power are – Duje & Duje.

Duje Kozomara is a data protection consultant focused on exploring the ways technology can make our lives easier without unjustifiably invading our privacy. His core job is helping companies meet their GDPR compliance obligations. He closely follows the developments of EU digital legislation and researches privacy by design software. While not explaining why people shouldn’t use Google, Duje spends too much time analyzing the tactics of football club Hajduk, listens to tech podcasts and attends concerts involving lots of guitars.

Duje Prkut is an experienced advocate and a public policy expert specialized in good governance, rule of law and anti-corruption. He aims to raise awareness of the detrimental effect the hidden technological structure of social networks has on human rights, democratic political culture and fundamental democratic processes. When not working to change the world, Duje does policy analysis freelance work, baths in the sun, swims in the sea and wreaks havoc in multiplayer RPGs.

Project – Protecting Those Who Fight for Our Rights 

Human rights defenders who work to promote and protect human rights in their communities across the world are often threatened and attacked to stay silent. To meet the growing need of protection for human rights defenders, Civil Rights Defenders launched the Natalia Project in 2013 – the world’s first security alarm system for human rights defenders at risk.

The Natalia Project is unique as  it is a simple tool with the ability to raise an alarm instantly, in order to help mitigate the harm and disappearance of human rights defenders around the world.  Once activated, a distress signal including GPS location is sent to Civil Rights Defenders’ headquarters in Stockholm.  Once the signal has been verified by people on the ground, the alarm is sent out through global social media platforms to let the world know.  The ability to act quickly can be the difference between life and death for individuals targeted because of their work defending human rights.

Each participant in the Natalia Project undergoes extensive security training when becoming part of the global security system.  Through Civil Rights Defenders’ Mobile Training Center , we provide qualified security education and assistance to human rights defenders globally, including training those who become part of the Natalia Project network.  Through tailored security training, everyone is assisted with developing a comprehensive security plan in case of an attack.

Photo: Alexander Minatsakanyan

The  Natalia Project is named in honor of Natalia  Estemirova , a human rights defender who was abducted and murdered in Chechnya in 2009. While Natalia’s story motivated the establishment of the Natalia Project as a tool to prevent future attacks against human rights defenders, the support and protection that is provided through the project continues to be increasingly relevant in today’s global landscape where civic space is shrinking and attacks against those who defend civil and  political rights in their communities more and more common.

Since the launch of the Natalia Project in 2013, the network has grown to include more than 170 human rights defenders from Russia, Central Asia, the East and Horn of Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Western Balkans.