ASSEDEL had the honor to speak with Irish MEP Michael McNamara, member of the Renew Europe group and the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE). We explored the pressing challenges Europe faces today, from safeguarding civil liberties to navigating global geopolitical tensions.
The Broad Mandate of LIBE
LIBE’s work spans a wide array of justice-related issues, and Mr. McNamara underscores that pinpointing a single priority is difficult. Individual MEPs often gravitate toward different areas. For many in the committee, rule of law is an important focus, while others focus on migration policy, and so on. McNamara himself focuses on digital rights and data privacy. He explains that simplification is a major thrust of the Parliament in this mandate, and stresses that as this moves forward, it will be crucial to ensure that fundamental freedoms remain fully protected and are not weakened in the process.
Media contraction and AI: a threat to democracy
McNamara considers the shrinking of independent media to be one of the most serious threats to civil liberties and rule of law in Europe. He believes that the rise of AI-powered search engines, which deliver single-answer responses rather than diverse sources, is disrupting the ability of journalists to monetize their work. With fewer platforms sustaining investigative journalism, the public may become less informed about human rights abuses, which is a troubling trend for democratic accountability.
“If nobody knows about human rights violations, well then they’re less likely to be addressed.”
Adding to this is the wider culture of intolerance and growing constraints on freedom of expression.
Regulating Tech: Is the EU Too Fast or Too Slow?
Critics often accuse governments of being too slow to react to technological change, but McNamara notes that the EU has in fact been a global leader in regulating technology, referencing key legislation such as the Digital Services Act (DSA), Digital Markets Act (DMA), and the AI Act. However, he also acknowledges growing backlash from industry and pressure to slow down or “simplify” parts of these frameworks.
Defending Rule of Law At Home and Abroad
Addressing concerns about democratic backsliding in EU member states, McNamara cites ongoing measures taken against Hungary and, to a lesser degree, Poland. He suggests, however, that political bias may impact how seriously concerns are taken, especially when national governments are aligned with political blocs in the Parliament.
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