Joint Statement on the Upcoming European Commission Guidelines on Prohibited Practices of the AI Act
We are publishing a joint statement on the upcoming European Commission Guidelines on Prohibited Practices of the AI Act.
On December 11, 2024, the European Commission completed its public consultation on the interpretation of the definition of an AI system and on prohibited AI practices, in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 2024/1689 (AI Act). Homo Digitalis participated in the related process.
In the context of the issuance of the expected guidelines by the Commission, concerns remain about potential gaps that could jeopardize fundamental rights. For this reason, and together with more than 25 civil society organizations, academics, and other experts, we are issuing a statement today, urging the AI Office and the European Commission to ensure specific demands.
You can read our joint statement here.
Eleftherios Chelioudakis of Homo Digitalis as a Trainer in the 3rd OSCE ODIHR Training on Personal Data & Border Management
From December 4 to 6, Eleftherios Chelioudakis, our Co-founder and Executive Director, participated as a trainer in the third training session organized by the international organization OSCE, specifically its Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Warsaw. The training explored the use of new technologies at international borders, as well as the risks and opportunities they pose for Human Rights.
In our five presentations, we focused on the technologies used at borders, the Human Rights impacted by these uses, the provisions of the GDPR and Directive 2016/680 LED, the significant decision by the Hellenic Data Protection Authority (HDPA) regarding the “KENTAYROS” and “YPERION” systems, as well as technical tools that human rights defenders can use in their work!
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the participants for their dynamic presence, to the team of outstanding trainers Nikola Kovačević, Djordje Alempijevic, and Arancha Garcia del Soto for their knowledge and expertise, and to the organizing team, Lola Girard and Veronica Grazzi, for their impeccable organization and contributions. It is a great honor for us to participate!
You can learn more here.
Stefanos Vitoratos from Homo Digitalis interviews Michalis Kritikos on the Digital Dialogues podcast for DGSG!
Is there fear or optimism regarding the impact of Artificial Intelligence on our lives?
In the 7th episode of the Digital Dialogues podcast, Michalis Kritikos, Expert on Artificial Intelligence Law at the European Commission and the Hellenic Foundation for European & Foreign Policy, speaks with Stefanos Vitoratos, the coordinator of the Digital World Summit Greece and Co-founder of Homo Digitalis, about the governance of Artificial Intelligence, its relationship with human rights, and the opportunities it brings to Greece and Europe.
At the same time, he analyzes the factors that shaped the “summer of Artificial Intelligence,” the alignment of the Green Transition with the development of Artificial Intelligence, and the implementation of the Artificial Intelligence Act in Greece.
It is a great honor for Homo Digitalis to be collaborators of the Digital World Summit Greece once again this year!
Listen to the entire discussion on the Digital World Summit Greece Spotify here.
Civil Society Calls on EU to Stop Europol-Egypt Agreement
Civil society is raising the alarm over a proposed agreement between Europol and Egypt. A coalition of 41 organisations and experts, including European Digital Rights (EDRi), has sent an open letter to the European Commission urging it to halt these negotiations.
If signed, the agreement risks legitimising illegal practices by Egyptian police and could pave the way for deeper cooperation with Egyptian authorities, including the harmful sharing of personal data.
This agreement is part of the EU’s broader strategy for police and judicial cooperation, border control, and migration in the Mediterranean region. However, such actions conflict with the EU’s fundamental rights standards. Egypt, which holds an estimated 60,000 political prisoners, has been flagged by the UN for systemic torture and ill-treatment of political opponents and government critics.
We call on the European Commission to:
–Halt the agreement,
–Ensure transparency on human rights and data protection assessments,
–Demand reforms in Egypt to uphold human rights, civil liberties, justice, and democracy.
Read and share the full open letter here.
Statements from our President, Elpida Vamvaka, at the 13th e-Business & Digital Marketing World 2024
The President of Homo Digitalis, Elpida Vamvaka, represented us with a speech at the 13th e-Business & Digital Marketing World 2024, with the central theme: “From WOW to HOW: e-commerce and digital marketing in the AI era!”, which was organized by SmartPress S.A. in December 2024.
Both her speech during the panel she participated in and the statements she gave to the organizers after the conference are now available.
You can view her statements here. You can view her speech and the panel she participated in (04:11:00) here.
The Award-Winning Cartoon Series Super-Cyber Kids Now Has Subtitles
The award-winning cartoon series Super-Cyber Kids, a production by ISC2 Hellenic Chapter, ICSI HELLAS S.A., and Homo Digitalis, with the support of ADACOM Cyber Security, Eurolife FFH, bora, and RESET CONSULTANTS, is now available with Greek subtitles! A big thank you to the amazing Panagiotis Soulos for this significant volunteer initiative!
- How can excessive use of social media negatively impact children’s performance in school or sports?
- Are there risks of personal data leaks and password theft when connecting to third-party WiFi networks?
- How do incidents of cyberbullying occur?
- What connection might cybersecurity have with the evolution of a war like the Trojan War?
- How can a teenage team win a soccer match by spying on their opponents’ social media?
Answers to all these questions and much more are provided in the five episodes of the series, available for free on our YouTube channels here.
Homo Digitalis Collaborates Once Again with the Digital World Summit Greece
We are delighted to announce that, for yet another year, the Digital World Summit Greece (DWS Greece) and Homo Digitalis are moving forward with a strategic partnership!
The Digital World Summit Greece (DWS Greece) aims to promote the democratic governance of new technologies. As a dialogue platform, it brings together diverse stakeholders and groups, shaping policies from the grassroots level to the top on issues related to artificial intelligence, platforms, the Internet of Things, and broader technological domains.
Homo Digitalis has actively supported DWS Greece since its inception, and it is a great honor for us to continue doing so dynamically. Together, we aim to contribute to the maturation of public discourse in Greece on issues related to digital rights.
You can learn more about the activities of the Digital World Summit Greece on their website, here.
2024 Article Review – Thank You!
We proudly look back on the past year and the 17 articles we shared with you in 2024, highlighting a variety of topics such as Artificial Intelligence, European Elections, Disinformation, Cybersecurity, GDPR, Climate Change, and the DMA!
A heartfelt thank you to our member-authors: Anastasios Arampatzis, Ioannis Vasilakis, Nikoletta Georgakopoulou, Charalampos Daftsios, christos zanganas, Dimos Kostoulas, Katerina Mezini, Anna Bougia, Avgi Saoulidou, Danai Skevi και Stavroula Chousou!
You can watch a short video we prepared about this here.
Bidding Farewell to 2024 with Pride, Joy, and Endless Gratitude
This year has been filled with significant milestones and successes for Homo Digitalis. Together, we achieved:
Organizing, for the first time in Greece, the General Assembly of European Digital Rights—our network, which is a landmark for the protection of digital rights globally!
Strengthening our team with the hiring of our second employee, enhancing our capacity to drive meaningful change.
Publishing three detailed studies on #AIACT, contributing to the cultivation of an informed public dialogue in Greece.
Volunteering to speak at over 25 schools and engaging with more than 3,500 students, teachers, and parents from every corner of the country.
Promoting transparency and accountability, leading to the imposition of a €175,000 fine on the Ministry of Migration & Asylum for the KENTAUROS and HYPERION systems.
These moments remind us of what we can achieve when we work with vision, passion, and collaboration. We wholeheartedly thank all those who stood by our side—volunteers, partners, and supporters.
Let’s continue making history in 2025!
You can watch the related video we prepared here.