But we watch with concern how the government expands its powers while reducing its accountability. The past year the police, secret- and intelligence services structurally and on a large scale violated the law, and were rewarded with bills proposing greater powers. Oversight bodies were ignored and kept down, their powers questioned. Consultation periods were not honoured. Again, doubt was cast upon encryption, a technical tool to keep the powers that be at a distance. European AI-rules threaten to undermine long-held protections. And despite its claims that it wants to protect the public debate, the government seems reluctant to take measures that would increase our freedom of expression. In other words: the authorities are expanding their power, while making it more difficult to question that power. In all its forms, counterpower is under siege.