Annual Privacy Forum 2026
The growing reliance on digital services, connected technologies, and data-driven processes has increased the importance and value of personal data. At the same time, the complexity and interconnected nature of modern online services can make it difficult for individuals and organizations to maintain visibility and control over how personal data is collected, used, and shared.
The European Union’s data protection framework plays an important role in establishing safeguards for personal data and promoting accountability in its processing. As technology, business practices, and digital services continue to evolve, ongoing discussion is needed to address emerging privacy challenges and assess the effectiveness of existing approaches.
This year’s theme, Ten Years of GDPR – Engineering the Future, reflects on the impact of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) over the past decade and considers the future direction of privacy and data protection. Ten years after its adoption, GDPR remains an influential reference point for privacy regulation and individual rights. At the same time, developments in artificial intelligence, data-intensive business models, public-sector data use, and increasingly complex digital ecosystems present new questions for policymakers, researchers, legal experts, and practitioners.
The conference provides a forum for discussing these developments, sharing research and practical experience, and examining the technical, legal, and policy considerations that will shape the next generation of privacy and data protection practices.