The Portuguese Data Protection Supervisoryt Authority (CNPD) organized the International Conference “Personal Data Protection – what future are we building?”, which took place on June 24, 2024, in the Senate Room of the Portuguese Parliament to celebrate its 30th anniversary.
The conference featured the participation of several Presidents of Authorities and European and international institutions, to reflect and debate the future of personal data protection, especially in light of the opportunities and challenges of personal data protection and privacy in a digital environment, particularly generative artificial intelligence. The Vice-President of the Commission for Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms, and Guarantees of the Portuguese Parliament, Deputy Manuel Magno, opened the conference session, accompanied by the President of CNPD, Paula Meira Lourenço, also member of the UIHJ Scientific Council.
The morning speakers panel included the esteemed interventions of the President of the European Data Protection Board, Anu Talus, on the topic “The central role of the European Board in ensuring the right to data protection in a universe of digital rights: convergences and dissonances”; the Director of the Spanish Data Protection Agency, Mar España Martí, on “The protection of children’s and young people’s personal data in the digital environment within the Spanish system”; the President of the National Data Protection Commission of Cape Verde, Faustino Varela Monteiro, on “The challenges of establishing a Data Protection Authority and the importance of cooperation”; and the European Data Protection Supervisor, Wojciech Wiewiórowski, with “Data Protection and Democracy. Reflections from the EDPS”.
The afternoon speakers panel included significant presentations by the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy, Ana Brian Nougrères, on “The use of technology as a form of discrimination”; the Commissioner of the National Institute of Transparency, Access to Information, and Protection of Personal Data of Mexico (INAI), who holds the Presidency of the Ibero-American Data Protection Network, Josefina Román Vergara, on “Strengthening data protection in the digital context: Personal Data Protection Standards for Ibero-American States”; and concluded with the Researcher and Associate Professor at the Instituto Superior Técnico of the University of Lisbon, Bruno Martins, on “Personal Data Protection in the Era of Generative Artificial Intelligence”.
The President of the Portuguese Parliament, Deputy José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, presided over the Closing Session of the International Conference, accompanied by the President of CNPD, Paula Meira Lourenço.
UIHJ was represented at this event by President Marc Schmitz.
