The European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) moved to advance a proposal that would broaden Europol's mandate, enabling more data sharing and biometric processing to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

This LIBE approval follows a September political agreement between Parliament and Council to bolster Europol’s mandate and resources as part of the Facilitators Package aimed at curbing smuggling networks.

The committee's reform signals a wider EU push to strengthen border and migration controls by expanding Europol’s powers.

Civil society groups, including EDri, warn the reforms could create a 'digital police state' with insufficient oversight, transparency, and accountability, harming migrants, aid workers, and journalists.

If cleared in plenary later in November, the reform would move toward final adoption, raising ongoing concerns about privacy, the rule of law, and data practices in the EU.

Advocates like Caterina Rodelli of Access Now described the decision as greenlighting a shift toward a digital police state and urged stronger data privacy and democratic oversight.

The Record’s report indicates the next step is a full parliamentary vote later in the month.

The proposed regulation would significantly expand Europol’s ability to collect, process, and share data, including biometric biometrics such as facial recognition, potentially involving non-EU partners and regimes, heightening privacy and human rights concerns.

Rights groups and the European Data Protection Supervisor criticized the proposal for increasing surveillance and discrimination risks, urging MEPs to reject it.

Critics warn the plan could enable mass surveillance and erode civil liberties by expanding biometric data processing across borders.

The European Commission had already proposed the reform, with a final plenary vote in Parliament and formal Council approval still pending.

Over 120 organizations, including EDri, Access Now, and Equinox, urged MEPs to reject the text as unlawful and unsafe.