La Quadrature du Net is a French association founded in 2008 that defends fundamental rights and freedoms online. They combine legal action, technical expertise and grassroots campaigning to push back against mass surveillance, algorithmic policing and the unchecked power of large tech platforms.

# Why they matter to us

LQDN sets the pace in France on the questions that quickly reach Belgium: biometric surveillance, automated administrative decisions, platform regulation, encryption. Their litigation against the French state and EU institutions has reshaped what “digital rights” means in practice across the Union. Their analyses are essential reading whenever a new European text lands.

# Where we connect

• Shared opposition to indiscriminate surveillance and “chat control” style proposals.
• Common ground on free software, self-hosted infrastructure and the right to encryption.
• Cross-border coordination on EU files that affect Belgian citizens directly.