Shifting the power of tech to people
Bits of Freedom was founded in 1999. We are aN NGO with a permanent staff, a board, and an advisory board. Hundreds of volunteers contribute to our work every year. We are one of the founding members and an active member of European Digital Rights (EDRi). We are financially supported by thousands of donors, dozens of corporate donors, and through grants and project funding. To safeguard our independence, we do not accept funding from governments or Big Tech.
Our team is composed of a mix of talented starters, experienced staff and promising trainees and interns. We are an inclusive workplace, with a diversity of perspectives. Our personnel policy promotes equal opportunities and aims to contribute to correcting inequalities in our organization, network and sector. Our employment policy is based on five pillars: socioeconomic security, equal opportunities, work autonomy, a healthy balance between work and private life, and professional development.
Developments in 2025
Over the past year, we said goodbye to our content specialist, Meri Urdaneta. We welcomed Chandni Bagchi and Chitra Mohanlal as technical researchers, Alice Dallinga as an action researcher, and Marin de Wild as a writing content specialist. Zarlasht Zia, who had previously worked with us on a freelance basis, joined us as a content & engagement specialist. We also worked with Fey Lehiane on a freelance basis. Finally, Nico Voskamp began his new role as business director. Evelyn Austin remained on staff, now as executive director.
Effective January 1, the workweek was reduced from 40 hours to 36 hours. We also adopted policies regarding compensation, phone expenses, and vacation time. Just before Christmas, we signed the lease for our new office in Amsterdam-East. Following renovations, we expect to move in around the summer of 2026. At the time of writing, everyone who has been working at Bits of Freedom for more than a year has a permanent contract. There are no long-term agreements with freelancers.
We collaborated extensively in 2025. Together with the Democracy and Media Foundation, we organized an initial meeting for more than fifty individuals and organizations from various sectors of civil society, with the aim of strengthening countervailing power. And together with SPEAK, Free Press Unlimited, Bureau Clara Wichmann, Amnesty International Netherlands, Controle Alt Delete, Transgender Network, and PAX, we compiled a social security agenda in the run-up to the elections. We joined forces with Amnesty International Netherlands, Open State Foundation, PublicSpaces, SETUP, and Waag in our advocacy efforts in The Hague. And in Brussels, we worked closely within the umbrella organization European Digital Rights (EDRi). We look forward to continuing these collaborations in the new year.
The Landelijke Vereniging van Klachtbehandelaars (LVKB) [Dutch Association of Complaints Officers] handles any complaints of misconduct against Bits of Freedom. In 2024 the LVKB did not receive any complaints against Bits of Freedom.