Christian D'Cunha, Head of the Cyber Coordination Task Force at the European Commission, discusses the critical role of GDPR during the pandemic, and explores how Europe balanced the necessity of contact tracing and mobility data with the imperative to protect personal privacy. He also shares the challenges regulators face in enforcing GDPR against tech giants, and the strategies these companies use to delay compliance.

Key Takeaways:

• The use of anonymized data during COVID-19, and the vital lessons learned from this unprecedented period

• The evolving landscape of data protection laws—including the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act—and their interaction with GDPR

• Critiques to the prescriptive nature of GDPR and its expectations

• How to ensure GDPR is upheld in an evolving technological landscape, and continues to be effective in the future

Guest Bio: Christian D'Cunha is Head of the Cyber Coordination Task Force in the Directorate-General for Communications, Content, and Technology in the European Commission. In recent years he oversaw a study into the future of digital advertising and its impact on privacy; drafted the Data Act proposal and EU cybersecurity strategy; and led the roll out of interoperable contact tracing apps during the COVID pandemic. He was head of the Private Office of the European Data Protection Supervisor from 2015-2020, advising on privacy-related legal and policy developments in the EU, including online manipulation, digital monopolies, digital ethics, and scientific research. He also served for several years as private secretary to the Chairman of the UK Labour Party.

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About this Show:

The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all!

Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together.

The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API.

Music by: Ari Dvorin

Produced by: Sam Laliberte