Jekaterina Macuka is a qualified lawyer, with master's degree in Law (Latvian University) who worked more than 10 years at the Ministry of Justice of Latvia. During the Latvian Presidency in the Council of the European Union in 2015 Jekaterina Macuka was the chairperson of the EU Council working party “Data protection and information exchange working party”. From 2020 has a position of the head of the data protection supervisory authority – Data state inspectorate of Latvia. From the 2021 lecturer at the Latvian University teaching personal data protection rules.
Sessions in which Jekaterina Macuka participates
Monday 12 May, 2025
The Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) sets obligatory requirements for hardware and software products as well as infrastructure, aiming to guarantee high standards of security for all items connected to the internet. This session brings together experts to explore the CRA’s real-world implications, shedding light on the challenges, opportunities, and urgent questions surrounding cyber resilience.
Wednesday 14 May, 2025
Europe’s data regulations are very intricate to form the whole picture, which means that each piece is essential, yet constantly shifting. The Data Act, Data Governance Act and GDPR are not isolated frameworks; they are deeply intertwined to shape the way we interact with the digital reality. This session unites esteemed professionals and officials from Euroconsumers, DG Justice, DG Connect, and Lativia DPA, diving beyond the legal aspect to unco...
Sessions in which Jekaterina Macuka attends
Monday 12 May, 2025
The AI and Compliance track serves as a dynamic platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaboration on the evolving legal and regulatory landscape of AI, in addition to its increasing involvement in all aspects of our personal and professional lives. This opening session welcomes the Rector of Ca' Foscari University of Venice and the Chair of the Privacy Symposium to set the stage for insightful discussions.
Compliance with the AI Act relies a great deal on robust risk management. However, small and medium entreprises (SMEs) often do not have a risk management policy in place and it is difficult for them to identify, analyse, assess, and mitigate risks related to AI systems privacy and security. On the other hand, whichever methodology an organisation chooses, the underlying cybersecurity and privacy issues that accompany the use of AI systems remain technically the same. This session will ...
Discussions surrounding the interplay of AI and Data Protection Laws will reveal how academics and practitioners from around the world manage the intersectionality of these laws. How do data protection laws and emerging AI intersect, and how do they complement each other? If you’re a privacy professional, legal expert, AI developer, or policymaker, this is your must-attend session, as it will feature professionals from Google, EDRI, DG Justice, a...
This enriching session will shed light on the consequences of data scraping in regard to privacy and intellectual property rights. Data scraping refers to the automated extraction of data from websites, APIs, and other online sources, which consequently raises questions surrounding the secondary uses of such data. Attendees of this session will have the opportunity to hear from several European and global authorities on how they perceive and addr...
As AI usage seems to proliferate, international regulations may be the way to go to develop cross-border compliance and cooperation. Featuring representatives from both sides of the Atlantic, as well as renowned global think tanks, this session will discuss how organizations can effectively align themselves with international regulations to achieve convergence and interoperability. ...
This panel focuses on integrating the new cybersecurity obligations introduced by the NIS 2 Directive with the GDPR’s existing requirements for data integrity and confidentiality.
Agentic AI is ushering in a new era of technological capability, with systems designed to autonomously achieve complex goals by reasoning, planning, and using digital tools. This innovation holds transformative potential. Our panel will explore the evolving data protection considerations that accompany these advancements. Join leading experts as they discuss how familiar privacy principles apply in this new context and identify emerging questions, fostering a di...
In this insightful session, experts and professionals in the field will delve into the realm of post-quantum cryptography, exploring how we can strengthen data protection strategies and secure digital infrastructure against emerging threats. The panel will share thoughts on the potential risks and how new approaches are being developed. Key questions
Cyber threats are evolving at an unprecedented pace, which makes AI and machine learning essential tools in the fight against cybercrime, by enabling faster threat detection, automated responses, and predictive defense strategies. However, with these advancements come new challenges. The panel of this session will explore the future of AI-driven defense and what it means for privacy, security, and resilience.
We will inaugurate the fourth edition of the Privacy Symposium at the Official Welcome Reception. This event marks the beginning of a week rich in insightful discussions and open exchange, set in the inspiring atmosphere of Venice. Guests will have the opportunity to admire the remarkable works of Tintoretto, one of the city’s most celebrated painters, while connecting with professionals from diverse backgrounds and engaging in fruitful discussions. The evening will be enriched by...
Tuesday 13 May, 2025
The session will begin with the presentation of research work on the evaluation of the benefits of compliance (combining costs, returns, gains of compliance analysis). The objective will be then to discuss on the KPIs that can be used to measure the positive returns of compliance by incorporating the perspectives of stakeholders who advocate, monitor, implement, control, or finance compliance actions.
Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) have long been a go-to mechanism for ensuring compliance, but as different jurisdictions update their frameworks, the landscape is shifting fast. SCCs are defined as standardized clauses that allow data transfers outside of the European Economic Area. This insightful session explores the latest developments in SCCs across EU and beyond, with a special focus on the path towards in...
Modern vehicles are more than just simple transportation; they are data hubs constantly collecting and transmitting information. From GPS tracking and in-car entertainment systems to AI-powered assistance, connected cars are revolutionizing the concept of mobility. The exceptional panel of this session will explore the fine line between convenience and surveillance, geolocation tracking, and how regulations are adapting.
While the EU has set a global benchmark with GDPR, effective privacy enforcement requires collaboration beyond its member states. This simply means that privacy doesn’t stop at borders, and neither should data protection. European Data Protection Authorities face growing challenges in aligning regulations, sharing strategies, and tackling cross-border data transfers with non-EU countries. This session brings together data protection professionals...
While regulators worldwide are fighting the same battles, too often they’re doing it in isolation. This session brings together industry experts and distinguished officials from EDPS, Dutch Data Protection Authority, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, and US Department of Justice. Attendees will learn about the real challenges of cross-border privacy enforcement and explore the ways in which regulators can work together to turn fragmen...
This panel will discuss emergent technologies that may reduce AI risks and possible regulatory responses to such technology.
There is a lack of consensus among governments about what it means to be trusted and how to determine what constitutes a trusted cloud service provider in the context of data protection and cybersecurity. Without a common framework and criteria to assess trustworthiness, there will continue to be a lack of trust in data flows, hindering innovation and growth in today’s data-driven economy. This panel will discuss the development of a criteria-bas...
When it comes to the relationship between privacy and antitrust, we’re entering a complex zone. On one side, we have the protection of personal data. On the other side, there are market forces where monopolistic practices and anti-competitive behavior can harm consumers and stifle innovation. This session will explore how privacy and antitrust law collide, challenge each other, and sometimes even work together to p...
The internet evolved into a global platform for open and free communication, supporting critical human rights and freedom of expression. However, this very foundation of openness raises questions of security and privacy. In this session, professionals and experts of the industry will come together to explore how internet governance intersects with the need for security, the protection of fundamental rights, and the risks associated with censorshi...
The transformative power of data could drive positive social impact and advance humanitarian causes. This session will explore inspiring use cases of data processing for good. From using data analytics for disaster response to studying insights for sustainable development goals, the speakers of this panel will explore innovative projects that demonstrate how data can be used for the greater good.
The last few years have seen a significant increase in digital solutions that support privacy friendly electronic identification and authentication: mobile identity wallets, zero knowledge proofs, verifiable credentials, age assurance applications, and so forth. Legislators are also increasing their support for these solutions. But are they actually trustworthy from a privacy perspective? This session will explore the potential, and the pitf...
Wednesday 14 May, 2025
This session promises to dive deep into the real-world impact of data anonymization and synthetic data, exploring how these techniques are being used to protect privacy in different industries. Experts of the panel will break down the myths and realities of these privacy-enhancing technologies, tackling their benefits, limitations, and regulatory challenges head-on. Key questions&nbsp...
As cases regarding restrictions on freedom of expression seem to intensify, the question of democracy and exposure to opposing opinions rises to the forefront. Attendees at this session will hear perspectives from representatives of fundamental rights agencies and Council of Europe as well as officials from the US Department of Justice and UN Human Rights Council. The panel will provide a full picture of how we can address restrictions on freedom...
The panel of this session will investigate the growing debate around social media platforms placing, or not placing, restrictions on what can be posted online. Attendees will gain an insight into how these restrictions impact both individual users of the platforms and wider society through the perspectives of individual creatives and stakeholders. Key questions
The right to transparent, free, unbiased and pluralistic information is a pillar in democratic societies, allowing citizens to think critically and challenge their own perspectives before making decisions and judgements. With insights from academics and practitioners, this panel promises to be an interesting debate at the intersection of freedom of expression, democracy and data regulation.
Explore the critical issues shaping HR data privacy in the age of AI. This panel of government and legal experts will address the complexities of cross-border data flows, emerging compliance requirements, and the implications of AI for human resources data. Discover strategies for fostering international cooperation and ensuring robust employee data protection in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.
Age assurance is a growing requirement for online safety, but one that comes with clear interdependencies with data protection. Requirements for highly effective age assurance have to be considered alongside data minimisation requirements under the GDPR. The limitations of working in silos must be overcome, and one way of doing so is via a multistakeholder dialogue that brings data protection regulators, safety regulators, academics, companies an...
Focusing on the legal situation of freedom of expression regarding data regulation, this panel session welcomes high-level practitioners and academics of the field. Referring to specific pillars of law, this debate promises to clearly outline the place of freedom of expression in the current legal climate. Key questions
Whether you participated in the exercise or simply want to sharpen your crisis response skills, this session will provide a practical, experience-based guide to managing the havoc of a cyber crisis. We will break down the dos and don'ts of a breach, and highlight what to prioritise when every second counts.Together with the audience, we will explore the critical actions organisations should take during an incident: how to act in the early stages, how to manage the developing crisis, an...
Growing up in the digital age means that children are exposed to data collection before they even learn to read. This insightful session explores ways in which a safer online space can be created for the next generations, and how to enforce meaningful protection, while balancing innovation with responsibility and empowering young users to navigate the internet safely. Key questions
This expert panel will delve into the multifaceted challenges surrounding cybersecurity and privacy incident management, as well as personal data breaches within the European regulatory landscape. With contributions from industry leaders, privacy professionals, and regulators, the discussion will highlight the interplay between key regulations such as the GDPR and the NIS 2 Directive, emphasizing their evolution in the context of AI systems and m...