This rich introduction to the Privacy and Democracy track represents a compelling journey into the heart of democratic values and individual privacy rights, featuring high-level speakers from the Italian Institute for Privacy and Data Valorisation and the European Centre for Certification and Privacy. 

Introduction The concept of privacy can be found in many cultures. It has roots that extend far back in history across various cultural, political, and social traditions. This concept has especially reached legal milestones through the recognition and solidification of privacy and data protection as a fundamental human right in contemporary legal systems. With this engaging session, a...

South Africa is a prime location for genetics and genomic research due to its combination of genetic diversity, high disease burdens, and high-quality infra-structure. Most research projects of this nature, including in South Africa, are funded by organizations such as the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH), the European Commission, the United Kingdom Medical Research Council, and the Wel...

Introduction In democratic societies, the protection of individuals’ privacy is closely connected to the preservation of civil liberties, which in turn highlights the essential role that privacy rights play in sustaining democratic principles and fostering civic engagement. This enriching session will focus on the multifaceted ways in which privacy and democracy intersect, shaping the...

The concept of personal data is pivotal to understand the scope of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Since data protection regulations and directives were adopted, national courts and the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) had to determine whether some data like IP addresses are personal. Courts' rulings are often based on the possibility to re-identify individuals from the datasets under dispute. The differe...

Introduction The new wave of European regulations is directly impacting and redefining the role of the DPOs. In parallel, new standards are emerging to specify the qualification requirements of DPO and data protection professionals. Whether you are a DPO or a data compliance professional seeking to enhance your experience, or an organization aiming to strengthen your data protection s...

The foundation of GDPR compliance lies in clearly defined legal bases for the processing of personal data. While the appropriate application of Article 6 and 9 of the GDPR to standard processing activities is sometimes already difficult, these challenges vastly increase when applied to AI training. The complex data processing activities involved therein, as well as the concrete personal data that is collected and used, turn GDPR-com...

After the most acute phase of the Covid-19 pandemic has passed, it is clear that the healthcare system will increasingly exploit the advantages of Internet of Things technologies: distance-vitals-monitoring and telemedicine are just two of the concrete applications, rehabilitation through exoskeletons or exergames are the next great barrier shattered in the field of home healthcare. Despite these perspectives, challenges remain for ...

Introduction In this session, the panel explores the opportunities and challenges of fostering cooperation among DPO federations across Europe and beyond. By connecting expertise, resources, and networks, these federations play a crucial role in promoting best practices, facilitating knowledge, and advocating for strong data protection frameworks on a global scale.  

This study examines the varying interpretations of data portability across different legislative frameworks. While each jurisdiction labels the concept as “portability", the underlying understanding of what constitutes portability significantly differs. This divergence in conceptualization, rather than mere definitional variation, not only leads to substantial confusion, but also affects the enjoyment of rights and obligations of re...

Location: Scuola Grande di San RoccoIntroduction Privacy and democracy are pillars of modern society, both of which shape the contours of individual freedoms, social values, and governance structures. This session will focus on perspectives regarding privacy and democracy, by giving the floor to several authorities and high-level spea...

Introduction Digital transformation is heading towards growing data integrations in the form of large-scale data spaces. In line with the European data space strategy, this session will discuss the implications in terms of privacy and data protection, as well as present insights from European research projects, such as AD4GD and IDEA4RC. The panel will provide guidance on how to best ...

Introduction While data protection regulations are adopted by a growing number of countries, there are some divergences in their adoption. Some jurisdictions also question the universal nature of the rig...

Introduction While research on data protection was traditionally, relatively, and jurisdictionally agnostic, the worldwide development of national and regional data regulations is paving the way to a new field of research, which requires international cooperation. The need for solid infrastructure to support research efforts is a direct result of the volume and complexity of data whic...

Although the number of smart home users is increasing, privacy regulations such as the GDPR exempt data collected from household environments for personal use. Previous research has considered how smart homeowners might be seen as joint data controllers due to the amount of data available to them. The self-surveillance capabilities of smart homes allow homeowners to generate personal data both regarding themselves and people in...

Introduction Democratic societies must address dual obligations: to protect their population and to preserve the fundamental rights of their citizens. They seek to balance national security interests wit...

Network information systems are turned into a commodity. Virtually all businesses depend on their trustworthy and reliable function. Hence, we observe an increasing demand of ICT professionals with operationalizable knowledgeable in IT security and privacy.This closing panel of our scientific track aims to explore the challenges and opportunities in preparing the future workforce with the necessary skills to address privacy and cybersecurity threats effectively.To this end, th...

Introduction The evolution of Earth observation allows to collect more and more granular data. Satellites, drones, and other technologies are capturing increasingly detailed imagery of our planet, which raises new questions on how to preserve privacy and ensure data protection by design and by default. It also raises challenges in terms of data subject rights, such as the right to acc...

Introduction As Europe continues to strengthen its cybersecurity framework in response to evolving threats and challenges, understanding the intricacies of this legislative landscape is essential for org...

Introduction This session will wrap up the track on privacy and democracy, by reflecting on the key insights, trends, and challenges discussed over the course of the sessions on privacy and democracy.  Key questions and objectives What is the main takeaway on privacy and de...

Introduction This session will wrap up the track on making data secure, by sharing perspectives on priority strategies to address cybersecurity challenges.  Key questions and objectives What is the main takeaway on making data secure?How...