Privacy First
Privacy First is an independent Dutch non-profit foundation that advocates for the right to privacy through litigation, policy influence, and public awareness campaigns. It serves Dutch citizens as beneficiaries and engages corporate donors, civil society partners, and government policymakers across the Netherlands.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Privacy First does
Privacy First is an independent Dutch non-profit foundation (Stichting Privacy First) established in 2008 and headquartered in Amsterdam, with a small core team of 19 employees supported by a large network of professional volunteers. The organization is dedicated to preserving and promoting the right to privacy in the Netherlands through a combination of litigation, advocacy, coalition-building, public awareness campaigns, and policy influence. It pursues strategic legal action against mass surveillance programs and privacy violations, with landmark cases including the SyRI risk-profiling lawsuit, the ANPR mass surveillance challenge, the DigiD/Solvinity acquisition opposition, and ongoing telecom data retention and passport fingerprint litigation.
The foundation operates a portfolio of advocacy programs and campaigns rather than commercial products. Core offerings include the annual Nederlandse Privacy Awards and Nationale Privacy Conferentie (co-organized with ECP), the Rechtszaken (legal cases) program, the PrivacyWijzer citizen resource, the PSD2-me-niet financial privacy campaign, and the SpecifiekeToestemming.nl consent campaign. It co-founded Claimstichting CUIC (Consumers United in Court) with noyb in 2025 to pursue mass consumer privacy claims under the Wamca law, and coordinates the Privacy Coalitie. There is no proprietary technology stack; the organization's technical footprint is limited to its website, social media presence, and informational microsites.
Privacy First is entirely funded by donations and gifts from individuals and corporate donors, with additional revenue from sponsorships (e.g., NordVPN sponsoring the Privacy Awards) and legacies/bequests. It holds ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling) status, making donations tax-deductible in the Netherlands. The go-to-market approach is community-led, relying on donor engagement, volunteer mobilization, earned media, and coalition partnerships rather than paid acquisition. Its primary customer segments are Dutch citizens (as beneficiaries of advocacy), corporate donors and partners, civil society organizations, and Dutch government and policymakers (as targets of legal and lobbying action).
Privacy First firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Privacy First
- Legal name
- Stichting Privacy First
- Website
- https://privacyfirst.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Privacy First is an independent Dutch non-profit foundation that advocates for the right to privacy through litigation, policy influence, and public awareness campaigns. It serves Dutch citizens as beneficiaries and engages corporate donors, civil society partners, and government policymakers across the Netherlands.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Privacy First industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Privacy Advocacy and Civil Rights Services
- NAICS
- Human Rights Organizations (813311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Media Freedom, Access to Information & Digital Rights (BPADAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Privacy Governance & Consent Management (HDADAIAI), Identity & Access Security Services (IAM, PAM, Zero Trust) (BPAKAHAI), Public Health Data Governance, Privacy & Information Management (HLAJAMAI)
Keywords
Where Privacy First is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Privacy First business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Gifts: Privacy First is entirely dependent on gifts and donations from individuals for its daily operations and legal proceedings. They accept one-time donations, monthly, quarterly, and annual recurring donations, as well as Bitcoin/cryptocurrency contributions.
- Corporate Donations: Corporate donors and partners can support the mission of Privacy First. These business donations support research, publications, lobby work, and coalition activities.
- Legacies and Bequests: Privacy First accepts legacies and bequests in testaments. They have ANBI status so no inheritance tax is due.
- Sponsorships: The Nederlandse Privacy Awards are supported by sponsors such as NordVPN and partner ECP | Platform voor de InformatieSamenleving.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Privacy First product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Privacy First is an independent Dutch foundation (Stichting Privacy First) dedicated to preserving and promoting the right to privacy. It pursues this mission through strategic litigation, policy advocacy, coalition-building, public awareness campaigns, research, and events such as the annual Nederlandse Privacy Awards and Nationale Privacy Conferentie, all funded by donations, corporate sponsorships, and legacies.
Product overview
Privacy First is an independent foundation dedicated to preserving and promoting the right to privacy in the Netherlands. The organization operates advocacy programs rather than commercial products, including the annual Nederlandse Privacy Awards (in collaboration with ECP), legal case campaigns against mass surveillance and privacy violations, and various initiatives such as PrivacyWijzer, PSD2-me-niet, and SpecifiekeToestemming.nl. The affiliated Claimstichting CUIC pursues collective legal action for consumer privacy violations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Nederlandse Privacy Awards: Annual awards program recognizing privacy-conscious ideas, solutions, and initiatives from businesses, governments, and organizations. Organized together with ECP Platform for the Information Society and presented during the National Privacy Conferentie.
Products and services
- Nederlandse Privacy Awards Annual awards program organized by Privacy First with ECP | Platform voor de InformatieSamenleving, recognizing privacy-conscious ideas, solutions, and initiatives from businesses, governments, and organizations; presented during the Nationale Privacy Conferentie.
- Rechtszaken (Strategic Privacy Litigation) Privacy First pursues legal action against mass privacy violations, often in coalition with other organizations; current and historical cases include ANPR mass surveillance, SyRI risk profiling, passport fingerprint storage, telecom data retention, and the Solvinity/DigiD acquisition.
- PrivacyWijzer Resource provided by Privacy First to help Dutch citizens understand and navigate privacy-related matters.
- PSD2-me-niet Campaign focused on financial privacy and the PSD2 directive, advocating against unnecessary data sharing in the financial sector.
- SpecifiekeToestemming.nl Campaign advocating for specific consent requirements in digital services, ensuring users have meaningful control over their data.
- Claimstichting CUIC (Consumers United in Court) Independent non-profit co-founded by Privacy First and noyb, focused on protecting consumer privacy through collective legal action under the Wamca law, including the claim against Odido for a data breach affecting millions of Dutch citizens.
- Privacy Coalitie Coalition of organizations working together on privacy advocacy in the Netherlands, coordinated by Privacy First.
Companies that use Privacy First
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Privacy First technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Privacy First partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ECP | Platform voor de InformatieSamenlevingcoreAnnual co-organizer of the Nationale Privacy Conferentie and Nederlandse Privacy Awards. ECP is a platform for the information society in the Netherlands.
- Boundaries AlliantiecoreAlliance against online sexual abuse and violence, consisting of Fonds Slachtofferhulp, Offlimits, Landelijk Centrum Seksueel Geweld, Fier, Privacy First, and Boekx Advocaten. Jointly conducts research, develops proposals, and supports victims.
- Slimme Deurbellen Consortium (Smart Doorbells Consortium)coreCollaboration between municipalities Amsterdam, Den Haag, Groningen and Breda, Privacy First, VNG, TU Delft and AMS Institute to research responsible use of smart doorbells in the Netherlands. The consortium examines privacy impact and develops guidelines.
- CMS (law firm)corePro bono legal support for ANPR mass surveillance case via Pro Bono Connect. CMS represents Privacy First in their legal challenge against Dutch ANPR legislation.
- Pro Bono ConnectminorDutch organization connecting non-profits with legal professionals for pro bono support. Facilitated connection with CMS for ANPR case.
- Stichting CUIC (Consumers United in Court)corePrivacy First co-founded CUIC with noyb. CUIC initiates mass claims for privacy violations, such as the claim against Odido for data breach affecting millions of Dutch citizens.
- Stichting FirewallcoreCoalition partner in legal action against the acquisition of DigiD provider Solvinity by US company Kyndryl. Both organizations intervened in court proceedings.
- Human Rights in FinanceCoalition partner in legal proceedings regarding Solvinity/DigiD overname case. Participated as third interested party in court proceedings.
- NordVPNminorSponsor of the Nederlandse Privacy Awards, supporting the annual privacy awards event organized by Privacy First.
- PONT Data & PrivacyminorMedia partner for the Nederlandse Privacy Awards, providing media coverage and visibility for the annual privacy awards.
- Boekx AdvocatencoreLegal counsel for Privacy First in various cases, including the Solvinity/DigiD case and the ANPR mass surveillance case.
- Corten De Geer AdvocatencoreLegal counsel for Privacy First, representing the coalition in the Solvinity/DigiD case against the American acquisition.
- Open State FoundationminorCollaboration on transparency issues, including joint call for mandatory public disclosure of processing registers under GDPR.
- Nederlands Juristen Comité voor de Mensenrechten (NJCM)minorJoint letter with Privacy First to Dutch Parliament regarding data-driven profiling and the recommendations of the Staatscommissie tegen Discriminatie en Racisme.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights8 records
Privacy First competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Privacy First social profiles
Digital presencePrivacy First compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Privacy First financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Privacy First leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Privacy First subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Privacy First funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Privacy First M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Privacy First
What does Privacy First do?
Privacy First is an independent Dutch foundation (Stichting Privacy First) dedicated to preserving and promoting the right to privacy. It pursues this mission through strategic litigation, policy advocacy, coalition-building, public awareness campaigns, research, and events such as the annual Nederlandse Privacy Awards and Nationale Privacy Conferentie, all funded by donations, corporate sponsorships, and legacies.
Is Privacy First a public or private company?
Privacy First is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Privacy First founded?
Privacy First was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Privacy First based?
Privacy First is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Privacy First make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Gifts are the primary driver. The others are corporate Donations, legacies and Bequests and sponsorships.
Does Privacy First have an API?
No public API is recorded for Privacy First.
What industry is Privacy First in?
Privacy First's product category is Privacy Advocacy and Civil Rights Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAGAE, Media Freedom, Access to Information & Digital Rights, with a secondary code of HDADAIAI, Privacy Governance & Consent Management. Its NAICS code is 813311.