Academia
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UM co-hosts 15th EDEN Event: Data Protection and Cybersecurity in Law Enforcement
The 15th conference took place from 21 to 22 October 2025 at the University of Malta’s Valletta Campus. Jointly organised by the Academy of European Law (ERA) and EDEN, and co-hosted by the Maltese Police Force and the University of Malta, the event gathered senior policymakers, data protection officers, law enforcement officials and academics from across Europe.
This year’s conference title, ‘Red Light, Green Light! Reduce Complexity, Increase Speed, Defend EU Values’, drew inspiration from a term used in data protection and cybersecurity to signify compliance or non-compliance. This phrase also echoes the children's game popularised by the Netflix series Squid Game, where the stakes are extremely high – life or death. Similarly, data protection and cybersecurity in law enforcement can have severe, real-world implications for individuals.
The opening session featured speakers including:
- Jürgen Ebner, Deputy Executive Director of Europol, Governance Directorate
- Angelo Gafà, Maltese Police Commissioner
- Michael O’Flaherty, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe
- Wojciech Wiewiorowski, European Data Protection Supervisor
- Prof. Joe Cannataci, Head of the Department of ¸£ÀûÔÚÏßÃâ·Ñ Policy and Governance (IPG) at the University of Malta
Over the course of two days, the 180 attendees participated in a variety of panels and discussions that delved into crucial subjects. These included data retention in law enforcement, the intersection of privacy and human rights in the era of artificial intelligence, and the role of data protection officers in ethical policing. Additionally, the program explored the future of facial recognition technology and AI in law enforcement, as well as the tension between disinformation, digital sovereignty and free speech. The conference also examined the use of surveillance technologies in the fight against atrocities.
With participation from key European institutions, national authorities and academia, the 15th EDEN conference once again aimed to strengthen cooperation between data protection experts and law enforcement agencies. Discussions focused on how to streamline processes, increase operational speed and maintain the highest standards of data protection, which is crucial in defending the values of the European Union.
The provides a platform for dialogue between law enforcement, data protection authorities, academia, NGOs and industry, promoting the exchange of knowledge, best practices and research on privacy and cybersecurity in policing.
The is a leading provider of training and knowledge exchange for legal professionals throughout Europe, fostering understanding and implementation of EU law.
Photo:
Dr Aitana Radu from IPG moderating a panel on Surveillance Technologies in the Fight Against Atrocity
