Navigating the Interface Between the AI Act and GDPR: Combining Innovation and Privacy in Europe

  • Panel
  • Grande Halle
  • Thursday 22.05 — 16:00 - 17:15

Organising Institution

EDPS

Belgium

  • Academic 2
  • Policy 4
The European Union’s regulatory landscape is undergoing a transformative phase, marked by the introduction of the Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) and the ongoing application and enforcement of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Both frameworks aim to foster trust, accountability, and fundamental rights in the digital age, but their interplay raises critical questions for stakeholders. This panel will explore the synergies, tensions, and practical implications of ensuring the coherent and consistent applications of these landmark regulations. Experts from law, technology, and policy fields will discuss pathways to ensure compliance with the GDPR while fostering sustainable and responsible innovation in AI development and deployment.

Questions to be answered

  1. How will the experience with the GDPR help us effectively implement the AI Act?
  2. To what extent do the measures laid down in the AI Act serve to achieve and reinforce the parallel goals of GDPR, such as fostering innovation and strengthening data protection?
  3. How are businesses ensuring compliance with both the GDPR and AI Act provisions?

Moderator

Leonardo Cervera Navas

EDPS - Europe

Leonardo Cervera Navas is the Secretary General of the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS), the Data Protection Authority of the European Union. Law graduate of the University of Málaga and master’s degree in European Law from the University of Granada (Spain). He was a fellow at Duke University in North Carolina (US) as part of the EU Fellowship Programme of the European Commission. He also holds a post-graduate diploma in HR management by Kingston University (UK). He is Member of the Malaga Academy of Sciences (correspondent in Brussels). Leonardo joined the European Commission in 1999 and since then he has been working in the Data Protection field in the EU institutions. In 2010, he joined the EDPS as a manager and he was appointed Director in 2018. In July 2023, he has been appointed Secretary General. As Head of the Secretariat, he sits at the Management Board of the EDPS, advises the European Data Protection Supervisor and he is in charge of the coordination and implementation of the strategies and policies of the institution.

Speaker

Markus Wünschelbaum

Hamburg's Data Protection Commissioner - Germany

Dr. Markus Wünschelbaum currently serves as Policy and Digital Strategy Advisor to Hamburg's Data Protection Commissioner, where he develops strategic initiatives and provides expert guidance on complex regulatory matters, focusing on AI governance. Previously within the same authority, he contributed to enforcement actions, including fine proceedings, and handled fundamental data protection issues while working on freedom of information implementations. With experience spanning public regulatory work, private sector practice at an international law firm, and academic research, Markus Wünschelbaum bridges regulatory frameworks with practical implementation at the evolving intersection of data protection and AI governance.

Speaker

Uljan Sharka

iGenius - Italy

Uljan Sharka is the Founder & CEO of iGenius, a deep-tech company specialized in the development of AI solutions for companies operating in highly regulated industries, including financial services, government, and heavy industry. Uljan was previously a senior consultant at Apple. He is one of the Global Innovators of the World Economic Forum as well as an Advisory Board Member of the AI Hub for Sustainable Development, co-led by the G7 Italian Presidency and the United Nations. Under his leadership, iGenius became one of the leading unicorns in the European AI landscape and was recognized by Gartner as a “Cool Vendor” in AI Core Technologies. Today, the company operates in both Europe and the United States to support companies in adopting secure, private, and efficient AI at scale.

Speaker

Ignasi Belda

The Spanish Artificial Intelligence Supervisory Agency (AESIA) - Spain

Dr. Ignasi Belda is currently the General Director of the Spanish Artificial Intelligence Supervisory Agency (AESIA) and is the former CEO of the Barcelona Science Park. Belda is a computer scientist and holds two doctorate degrees, one in applied artificial intelligence and the second in law of science and technology. He has founded six international companies in the field of AI and has received multiple awards for his managing and innovation activities, including the Prince of Girona Foundation Business Award 2014. In parallel to his entrepreneurial activities, Ignasi Belda is an expert in business administration, finances, economy, accountability and taxation.

Speaker

Marietje Schaake

Stanford Cyber Policy Center - International

Marietje Schaake is international policy director at Stanford University Cyber Policy Center and international policy fellow at Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence and author of The Tech Coup: How to Save Democracy from Silicon Valley (Princeton University Press; Sept 2024). Between 2009 and 2019, she served as a Member of European Parliament for the Dutch liberal democratic party where she focused on trade, foreign affairs, and technology policies. Marietje writes a monthly column for the Financial Times and serves on the UN’s AI Advisory Body. She is an (Advisory) Board Member with a number of non-profits including MERICS, ECFR, ORF and AccessNow.