Homo Digitalis participates in EU project to promote next generation private and secure electronic payments
A new electronic payment system that is socially, ecologically and fiscally responsible, to make payments easy for all of us. This is the aim of the Next Generation Internet pilot project called NGI TALER.
The NGI TALER consortium is coordinated by the Coding Theory and Cryptology Group at the Eindhoven University of Technology and has ten other partners from eight European countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Switzerland and the Netherlands). The consortium varies in the types of institutions, including research (Eindhoven University of Technology) and applied universities (Berner Fachhochschule BFH), small for-profit companies (Code Blau GmbH, Taler Systems S.A., VisualVest), one-structure (petites singularités), cooperative banks (GLS Bank, MagNet Bank), one foundation (Stichting NLnet) and civil society organisations (E-Seniors Association, Homo Digitalis).
The GNU Taler payment solution differs from current online payment methods, such as credit cards or bank transfers, as it offers privacy for the buyer: neither merchants (payees) nor banks can track or link payments to the consumer. This makes the system similar to cash for the consumer, bringing this level of privacy to electronic payments.
It is also a risk-free payment option for the merchant, as there is no equivalent to counterfeit or stolen credit cards, as payments are cleared and confirmed immediately like cash. No new currency is involved, there is no energy-intensive proof-of-work or proof-of-stake method, and payment approval is processed even faster than with credit cards. The European NGI TALER program enforces transparency on the part of the payee , allowing governments to hold businesses accountable for their income and tax obligations.
NGI TALER is funded as a pilot project under the Next Generation Internet (NGI) initiative under the European Commission’s Horizon Europe research funding programme and will run until 2026. This project is based on the free GNU Taler software, which has been developed by the GNU community and Taler Systems S.A., and which has been widely endorsed by economic experts, including experts from several central banks – including the Swiss National Bank (SNB).
The aim of the project is to make the GNU Taler available as a payment system through two European banks – GLS Bank (Germany) and MagNet Bank (Hungary). The ambition of NGI TALER is to reach the European market during the project period and to have the payment mechanism accepted and widely adopted by the end of the project.
Under the hood, GNU Taler uses state-of-the-art cryptography to achieve these features. The initial investment in the required infrastructure is low and the payment mechanism operates more efficiently than existing payment solutions, with lower transaction costs – a benefit that will be shared by consumers, merchants and banks. This makes it a viable candidate for micropayments, creating an interesting and privacy-friendly alternative to subscription or advertising-based revenues for newspapers and other publishers.
For more information visit the project website here.
Participation of Homo Digitalis in the EKKE and Democritοs Study on the use of Productive Artificial Intelligence in Greece
The Special Secretariat of Foresight, Hellenic Republic (Special Secretariat of Foresight, Hellenic Republic), in cooperation with the National Centre for Social Research (EKKE) and the National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos” (EKKE “D” National Center for Scientific Research “Demokritos”) implemented the first empirical research approach of strategic foresight for the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GIA) in Greece.
The research presents trends, opportunities, challenges, uncertainties and possible options that will shape the future of the country’s AI ecosystem. It provides a framework for proposed strategic initiatives and policy recommendations. Its main objective is to draw on the collective knowledge and foresight of experts and practitioners regarding the impact of the domestic Productive Artificial Intelligence (PI) ecosystem, with a time horizon of 2030.
It is a great honour for the Homo Digitalis team to be selected to be among the 30 experts who participated in the interviews using questionnaires for the preparation of the survey. The experts represented various stakeholders (public administration, research-academic community, business-private sector, civil society, professional and scientific bodies) and are systematically involved in the WTN. Our team was represented with remarks by our Board Secretary Lefteris Chelioudakis.
We would like to thank Dr. Charalambos Tsekeris, Head of the Research Project “GenAI Greece 2030”, Vice-Chairman of the National Bioethics and Technology Ethics Committee and Principal Researcher of the ESRC for the inclusion and the honorary challenge to Homo Digitalis to participate. Our organization is always available to give presence to similar initiatives and to actively participate in the public debate on the use of AI technologies.
You can read the full study here.
Insights from our Celebration event: European AI & Society Fund Speech
At our celebration event for 5 years of Homo Digitalis & 20 years of European Digital Rights (EDRi) at The Benaki Museum, we had the honour to host presentations from important foundations and organizations that have chosen to support our actions!
One of these is the European AI & Society Fund , which enables a diverse ecosystem of civil society organisations to shape policies around AI in the public interest, and mobilises the philanthropic sector across Europe to support this vital work.
The organisation’s Programme Director, Alexandra Toth, travelled to Athens and delivered an excellent talk on the challenges posed by AI applications for our democratic societies, the actions they support, the funding packages available, and of course the significant successes of EDRi & Homo Digitalis in this area.
We have immense gratitude to the European AI & Society Fund, as after 5 years of full-time volunteer activities, they gave us the opportunity in 2023 to hire the first full-time staff in our organization, the Director of Human Rights & AI, Lambrini Yftokosta Also, we would like to thank them for the funding under the Learning & Development program that made it possible to organize our workshop!You can learn more about the European Artificial Intelligence & Society Fund here.
Pro bono Educational Presentation at the 1st Lyceum of Nea Philadelphia
Homo Digitalis continues its informative talks in schools pro bono!
On Friday 12/1 Konstantinos Kakavoulis and Lamprini Gyftokosta were at the 1st Lyceum of Nea Philadelphia and talked to the students about the digital footprint.
We would like to thank the teachers for the invitation and the students, who once again impressed us with their knowledge and their willingness to delve deeper into a topic that concerns them on a daily basis.
Pro bono Educational Presentation at the Leontio School of Nea Smyrni
Yesterday Lamprini Gyftokosta and Konstantinos Kakavoulis spoke with the students of the Leontio School of Nea Smyrni about the digital footprint and their rights.
We would like to thank the students and teachers for the excellent interactive discussion.
Homo Digitalis briefings in schools all over Greece continue!
Insights from our Celebration event: The Greek Data Protection Authority's Speech
In the first live talk of our 5 Years of Homo Digitalis & 20 Years of European Digital Rights celebration event a few weeks ago at The Benaki Museum, we had the great honor to host a presentation by Dr. George Rousopoulos, Computer Engineer, Specialist Scientist of the Hellenic Data Protection Authority (DPA)!
Mr. Rousopoulos spoke in detail about the importance of the active presence of civil society organizations in democratic states, made reference to the way in which the provisions of the GDPR have led to the significant improvement in the level of protection of our personal data, but also to the challenges that arise during its implementation, when supervisory authorities remain understaffed and with reduced financial resources.
Furthermore, he highlighted some of Homo Digitalis’ significant successes, such as the EUR 20 million fine against CLEARVIEW AI and the revision of the provisions of Law 4624/2019, while underlining the importance of cooperation between supervisory authorities and the CSOs.
“In the new digital landscape, Data Protection Authorities need to be empowered to be able to support and drive the development of innovation that will bring real improvements to people’s lives. Indispensable allies in this work are civil society organisations fighting to strengthen our fundamental rights and freedoms, and to raise awareness among the wider public.”
Insights from our Celebration event: European Data Protection Supervisor's Speech
On 12/12/23 we celebrated our birthday at The Benaki Museum together with European Digital Rights (EDRi) by looking back on the important actions & unique successes we have achieved through exclusive volunteer activities during our first 5 years of operation!
Our contribution to the protection of Human Rights in the modern digital age was discussed in person or online by supervisory authorities, institutions, academics, journalists and civil society organisations!
Among them, we were honoured by the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) Dr. Wojciech Wiewiorowski , who accepted our kind invitation to deliver the opening speech of the event. EDPS spoke about the important contribution of Homo Digitalis and EDRi to the protection of personal data and privacy, the pivotal role of civil society organisations in defending democracy and the rule of law, and the need to cooperate with them.
We would like to thank EDPS and his office for the birthday greetings and the heartfelt speech. These words give us the strength to continue our work! You can enjoy a short excerpt of his speech or view the full EDPS positioning here.
We gave one of our greates interviews... in the school newspaper and the web channel of the 1st Model High School of Ilion
On Friday 15/12 Homo Digitalis gave one of the most beautiful interviews it has ever given!
Lambrini Gyftokosta and Konstantinos Kakavoulis talked about the digital footprint in the group of the school newspaper and the web channel of the 1st Model High School of Ilion!
We would like to thank teachers Chrysanthi Sotiropoulou and Ioanna Kassimi for hosting us and of course the students who impressed us with their questions and interest!
We wish the best to the young journalists and we are sure that we will have many more opportunities to meet them in the future!
You can read the article in the school newspaper here.
We spoke at the Legal Seminar 2023 on EU Law and Undocumented Migrants in Brussels!
On 29 and 30 November, Homo Digitalis’ Director for Human Rights and AI, Lambrini Gyftokosta, spoke at the “Legal Seminar 2023 on EU Law and Undocumented Migrants” organized by the Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) and Equinox: Racial Justice Initiative at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel!
The two-day seminar examined the intersection of racial profiling, policing and immigration control. We presented three of Homo Digitalis’ actions in Greece on digital rights violations, which further blurred the boundaries between criminal and immigration law.
We were joined on the discussion panel by an amazing group of experts, namely Selma Benkhelifa (Progress Lawyers Network-Brussels), Sara Traylor (Alarm phone) and Laure Baudrihaye-Gérard (moderator, independent expert).
We would like to thank PICUM and Equinox for the invitation and for organising such an event exploring the pitfalls of the current EU legal framework on immigration. It was a great honour to participate!!! You can read more about the two-day event here.