Europe must take a coordinated response to fight the rising threat of transnational repression, according to a group of experts commissioned by the European Parliament to investigate ways to counter this emerging form of cross-border authoritarian coercion.

A new study commissioned by the European Parliament

, which cites ICIJ’s China Targetsinvestigation, details a set of policy recommendations for the European Union and its member states aimed at closing gaps in protection and accountability.

Chief among recommendations are the development of an EU-wide definition of transnational repression, the creation of an internal data collection and knowledge hub on the issue within the bloc, and strengthened communication channels between member states’ law enforcement agencies.

“There is a need, broadly speaking, that there be more and better data collection on transnational repression, whether it is done at the multilateral or state level,” Nate Schenkkan, the lead author of the report, told ICIJ. “The knowledge drives action, so collecting the information and disseminating it is part of the process and policy framework of forcing those other stakeholders to address the issues.”

The report recommends strengthening data protection clauses in EU laws, including identifying transnational repression as a “systemic risk” that regulated platforms are responsible for under the Digital Services Act. It also calls for more aggressive action to counter transnational repression, including visa bans, the expulsion of diplomats, and swifter mobilization of sanctions.

https://www.icij.org/investigations/china-targets/a-film-festival-silenced-and-the-global-reach-of-chinas-repression/

TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION A film festival silenced — and the global reach of China’s repression Dec 23, 2025

https://www.icij.org/investigations/china-targets/xi-jinping-protest-diplomatic-police-activists-dissent/

PROTESTS As President Xi Jinping traveled the world, police swept peaceful protesters off the streets Apr 29, 2025

https://www.icij.org/investigations/china-targets/new-un-report-highlights-chinas-alleged-targeting-of-human-rights-activists/

CHINA TARGETS New UN report highlights China’s alleged targeting of human rights activists  Oct 15, 2025

Recommended reading TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION A film festival silenced — and the global reach of China’s repression Dec 23, 2025 PROTESTS As President Xi Jinping traveled the world, police swept peaceful protesters off the streets Apr 29, 2025 CHINA TARGETS New UN report highlights China’s alleged targeting of human rights activists  Oct 15, 2025

Bitpanda prides itself on being one of the most regulated crypto exchanges in Europe. The Austrian firm — backed by investors including billionaire Peter Thiel and reportedly planning for a listing on the Frankfurt stock exchange this year — has promoted its services with the slogan “secure, regulated and real.”

But reporting by Süddeutsche Zeitung, WDR and NDR, in Germany, and profil magazine, in Austria, found that internal auditors of Bitpanda’s German-licensed subsidiary, Bitpanda Asset Management GmbH, raised red flags last year about the Berlin firm’s operations. The warnings came months after the subsidiary had assured Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, or BaFin, it had addressed concerns raised by the regulator following a routine audit.

The new findings by media partners of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists are part of The Coin Laundry, an ICIJ-led exposé into the lightly regulated crypto industry. They highlight regulators’ difficulties in holding crypto companies to the same customer care and risk management standards as banks and other traditional financial institutions.

https://www.icij.org/investigations/coin-laundry/cryptocurrency-exchanges-binance-okx-money-laundering-crime/

CRYPTOCURRENCY Crypto giants moved billions linked to money launderers, drug traffickers and North Korean hackers Nov 17, 2025

https://www.icij.org/investigations/coin-laundry/video-cryptocurrency-exchanges-explainer/

VIDEO WATCH: Cryptocurrency exchanges, explained Nov 17, 2025

https://www.icij.org/investigations/coin-laundry/retailers-keep-cashing-in-on-crypto-atms-as-scams-surge/

CRYPTOCURRENCY Retailers keep cashing in on crypto ATMs as scams surge Dec 17, 2025

Recommended reading CRYPTOCURRENCY Crypto giants moved billions linked to money launderers, drug traffickers and North Korean hackers Nov 17, 2025 VIDEO WATCH: Cryptocurrency exchanges, explained Nov 17, 2025 CRYPTOCURRENCY Retailers keep cashing in on crypto ATMs as scams surge Dec 17, 2025