Our Educational Talk at the University of Patras on Artificial Intelligence & Dark Patterns
Today, Stergios Konstantinou and Konstantinos Kakavoulis spoke at the CSI-COP project of the University of Patras on the processing of citizens’ data by AI and the influence of Dark Patterns on our online behaviour.
The event was attended by renowned data protection professionals, University professors, researchers and members of the Data Protection Authority.
Our participation in the summit "This Is What Police Tech Looks Like" of the JET Table of LSE in Belgrade
Last week, Homo Digitalis was in Belgrade to be present at the working groups held as part of the “This Is What Police Tech Looks Like” project, organised by the JET Table at The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
It was a unique opportunity to meet with academics, activists and civil society organisations working in the fields of policing and border management, to exchange ideas and views, and to talk about our related activities! We would like to thank the organizers for their kind invitation!
Over the last four years, we and our partners have had open cases before the Data Protection Authority in these areas, involving:
1) the retention of electronic communications metadata that is contrary to the case law of the CJEU and the provisions of the Charter of Fundamental Rights (August 2019),
2) the procurement by the Hellenic Police of facial recognition technologies (March 2020),
3) the illegal retention of biometric passport data by the Hellenic Police in a central database (June 2020),
4) the violation of the provisions on the use of cameras by the EL.AS. in public places (May 2021),
5) the procurement of the intervention systems YPERION and KENTAYROS by the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum (February 2022); and
6) the procurement of social media platform monitoring software by the Coast Guard (February 2022).
We are honoured by the interest shown in our actions and we look forward to the immediate decisions of the DPAA on the above cases, which are of paramount importance for the protection of our Rights and Freedoms, as well as of the Republic.
You can learn more about the program here.
Homo Digitalis was represented at the meeting by our Board Secretary, Eleftherios Chelioudakis.
Our educational talk on AI & border management
Last month, we received an invitation from the Greek Council for Refugees and the European Network Against Racism Aisbl (ENAR) to speak at the European Parliament Office in Greece about Homo Digitalis’ actions in the field of migration and border management, as well as about the relevant provisions of the proposed EU regulation on AI!
It was a great pleasure to exchange ideas and views with representatives of CSOs, journalists, academics and other stakeholders who were present as well as to discuss the #ProtectNotSurveil campaign of European Digital Rights, Access Now, Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) and Refugee Law Lab, of which we are members!
We would like to thank the organizers for the great cooperation! Our Board Secretary, Eleftherios Chelioudakis, represented us, presenting our work at the event.
You can learn more about the #ProtectNotSurveil Campaign here.
Educational Presentation at the Tositsio Arsakeio of Ekali
On Monday, Alkmini Gianni and Konstantinos Kakavoulis were at the Tositsio Arsakeio of Ekali.
They spoke with the students of the 2nd grade about the “Digital Footprint” and the rights we have to gain control over it.
We would like to thank our member, Alexandra Ziaka, and the school management for the excellent organization and reception.
Homo Digitalis’ informative actions in schools all over Greece continue!
Participation & Speech at the event celebrating 20 years of EDRi in Brussels
On 21-22 March Homo Digitalis was in Brussels to celebrate the birthday of European Digital Rights!
It was way back in 2003, when a handful of organisations and activists from 7 countries decided to found it! Twenty wonderful years later, full of dynamic interventions in the field of digital rights protection, EDRi has grown and its unique network of organisations now consists of 47 organisations in more than 22 countries!
At this great celebration, EDRi and its important contribution were spoken about by the Executive Vice President of the European Commission Margrethe Vestager, the President, Vice President and Director of EDRi, Anna Fielder, Thomas Lohninger and Claire Fernandez, respectively, Signal Technology Foundation President Meredith Whittaker, MEPs from different political parties, and many important contributors to EDRi’s activities, such as its former Director Joe McNamee and co-founder Sjoera Nas!
It is a huge honour for Homo Digitalis to be invited to talk about our actions and experiences! EDRi and its network were the main inspiration for the creation of Homo Digitalis in 2018, and we are honored to be its Greek member!
Homo Digitalis was represented by our President and Secretary of the Board Elpida Vamvaka and Eleftherios Chelioudakis, with the latter giving a speech about Homo Digitalis’ active participation in the EDRi network already in 2018.
Development of partnerships with JOIST Innovation Park and iED in Larissa
Yesterday, we were at the JOIST Innovation Park, a unique phygital ecosystem that fosters innovation and knowledge transfer in the fields of entrepreneurship, technology, science, art and design.
There, we had the great pleasure to tour the – high quality – spaces of the park, to meet the members of the JOIST team, the iED – Institute of Entrepreneurship Development and their partners, and to discuss together a number of interesting topics on the interaction between the use of new technologies and the protection of Human Rights.
Thank you very much for your excellent hospitality! Our team was represented at the meeting by Anastasios Arampatzis and Eleftherios Chelioudakis.
Learn more about Joist Innovation Park here.
Talk about DORA and NIS2 in an educational webinar
On March 29th, 15:00 – 17:00 GMT, Homo Digitalis will have the great pleasure to participate in the online webinar organized by Open Data Kosovo in the field of cybersecurity!
There we will talk about recent legislative initiatives at EU level, such as the DORA Regulation and the revised NIS2 Directive, while experts will also talk about the current situation in the neighbouring country.
Our team will be represented by Anastasios Arampatzis and Eleftherios Chelioudakis.
Free Registration here and more information about the event here.
The webinar is produced in the framework of the project “Increasing Civic Engagement in the Digital Agenda – ICEDA” with the support of the European Union, the South East Europe (SEE) Digital Rights Network and the SHARE Foundation!
Participation in a speech at the Nikos Poulantzas Institute
Tomorrow, Tuesday 14/3, Stefanos Vitoratos representing Homo Digitalis will participate in the series of events of the Nikos Poulantzas Institute “Workshops on Technologies – Tuesdays of March” and more specifically in the thematic “Are there new (digital) rights? What is the role of the state?”
The workshops are held in person and aim to explore from different perspectives what better/more democratic, fairer, inclusive technologies might mean.
We look forward to seeing you tomorrow and discussing in person!
More information and registration here.
Interview on SKAI 101.3
Tomorrow, Sunday, at 16.30, tune in to SKAI 100.3.
Konstantinos Kakavoulis will talk with Maria Douroudi about digital rights and how to protect them.