On February 17, 2026, the European Court of Human Rights issued a ruling in Green Alliance v. Bulgaria regarding undercover agents in social organizations.
The European Court Ruling
On February 17, 2026, the European Court of Human Rights issued a seemingly technical ruling in the case of Green Alliance v. Bulgaria (complaint no. 6580/22).
Undercover Agents in Organizations
The case concerns regulatory frameworks regarding the use of so-called undercover agents – informants infiltrating social organizations or private entities.
Powers and Limitations of Covert Agents
These agents could obtain long-term access to internal communications, observe organizational functioning, and systematically report to authorities, while formally not being authorized to apply special operational measures.