Is European Tech Sovereignty Possible, Desirable and Achievable?

Anna Zeiter, AIGP, CIPP/E, CIPM, Associate General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer, eBay; Adjunct Lecturer, University of Bern
Axel Voss, Member, European Parliament
Jan Wittrodt, Director, Privacy, AI & Technology Law, Privacy & AI Governance, Privacy Product, Zalando SE
Yann Padova, Partner, Wilson Sonsini

In light of the ongoing geopolitical changes in the world, the theme of European sovereignty seems to be becoming a priority again for public decision-makers, business leaders and regulators. But European companies and economies are opened and interdependent on other players and other tools that are designed or located outside the EU. Faced with this reality, what does technological sovereignty in general and in Europe in particular mean in concrete terms? What steps can be taken to ensure that data protection does not turn into data protectionism? What balance should be found and how should it be defined operationally?

What you will learn:

• A clear view of what is meant by tech sovereignty and what it does not mean.
• Some tips from companies on how they navigate in these unstable times and uncharted waters.