Brussels – January 26, 2026 – European nations must urgently coordinate a response to the escalating threat of transnational repression, where authoritarian regimes reach across borders to silence dissent, according to a new study commissioned by the European Parliament.
EU Urged to Define and Combat Cross-Border Authoritarianism
A new report details policy recommendations for the European Union and its member states to address the growing problem of transnational repression.
- The study calls for a unified EU definition of transnational repression.
- It recommends establishing a data collection hub to track incidents across the bloc.
- Strengthened communication between member states’ law enforcement agencies is also crucial.
- China, Russia, and Iran are identified as key perpetrators of these campaigns.
- Victims frequently enough face threats to family members, doxxing, and financial repercussions.
The report, which builds upon findings from the China Targets investigation, emphasizes the need for a more robust and coordinated approach to protect individuals targeted by these coercive tactics. A clear, shared understanding of what constitutes transnational repression is the first step, experts say.
“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,” said Nate Schenkkan, the lead author of the report. “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.”
What exactly *is* transnational repression? ItS the practise by governments of reaching beyond their borders to harass, intimidate, or harm individuals – frequently enough dissidents, activists, or journalists – who are critical of their regimes.
The study recommends bolstering data protection within EU laws, specifically identifying transnational repression as a “systemic risk” under the Digital Services Act, requiring regulated platforms to take responsibility. It also advocates for stronger measures like visa bans, the expulsion of diplomats, and the swift implementation of sanctions against perpetrators.
“Transnational repression bundles a lot of concerns together around human rights, security, and foreign interference,” explained Alexander Dukalskis, a co-author of the report and assist
The report also notes that responses to transnational repression are frequently enough “weaker” compared to those directed at Russia and Iran. This disparity may stem from the significant economic ties many European countries maintain with China, notably as trade relationships with the U.S.become more uncertain.
“Many Democratic states,including within the European Union,are also looking to maintain workable relations with China in a range of areas,trade being one of them,” said Emile Dirks,a co-author of the report and senior research associate at the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab. “The dynamics are not necessarily there when it comes to say Iran or even Russia.”
The study highlighted specific incidents from the China Targets investigation, including reports that Chinese and Uyghur activists experienced intimidation of family members in China during Xi Jinping’s state visit to france in May 2024, aimed at suppressing planned demonstrations in Paris.
The authors, after interviewing numerous victims, stressed the need for increased resources and support systems for those targeted by these campaigns, many of whom have precarious immigration status and may be hesitant to seek help from authorities.
“This is not an abstract issue,” Dirks emphasized. “For many people, this is a human rights problem that they face day in and day out, and that failure to address this problem will have real human consequences for those individuals and their wider communities.”
