The notorious Big Brother Award
The Big Brother Awards serve as a public “shame prize” for those who have significantly violated privacy rights over the past year. Organised by digital rights groups such as Bits of Freedom, the ceremony uses satire to highlight serious concerns about government surveillance and corporate data misuse. While the main awards are unwanted, the event also recognises one privacy heroes who fight for digital freedom through the Felipe Rodriguez Award. This is the only positive prize of the night, named after a pioneer of the Dutch digital rights movement. It is awarded to activists, whistleblowers, or organisations that have made extraordinary efforts to protect online freedom and privacy. The Dutch tax authority, Belastingdienst, was awarded the jury award.
Infamous Big Brother public choice award
The Dutch National Police (Nationale Politie) has responded to criticism from Bits of Freedom by adjusting its operational methods. Deputy Commissioner Wilbert Paulissen made this statement in a video message during the presentation of the Big Brother Awards. This annual “prize” recognises the most significant privacy violators of 2025.
Paulissen noted that while no organisation is pleased to win such an award, it is beneficial for police actions to be scrutinised. He stated that the force has already changed its approach in response to this feedback. He explained that there is a constant tension between protecting individual privacy and the police’s duty to ensure public safety.
The National Police won the public choice award with 30 per cent of the total vote. The nomination followed reports of officers monitoring activists on social media and subsequently visiting them at home without legal grounds. The advocacy group Bits of Freedom described these actions as intimidating.
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