The 14th iteration of Privacy Camp will take place on 13 October 2026, both in Brussels and via online access. Across Europe and globally, technological systems now exert an undeniable influence on daily existence. Digital infrastructure fundamentally shapes employment, social organisation, communication channels, service delivery, mobility, education, creative expression and forms of dissent. While these systems can amplify collective action and mutual support, they simultaneously enable expanded surveillance, data exploitation, unfair treatment, military applications and ecological damage.

The conference theme centres on transcending technological dependency and building self-determined digital futures. Central to this inquiry are foundational questions: What are the origins of the technologies we use? Who manufactures and maintains them? Where does actual power reside? And in current European policy discussions, which conception of "sovereignty" dominates the conversation?

Organisers seek to understand the underlying forces, mechanisms and physical realities underpinning contemporary technological systems. What insights emerge from examining supply chains of modern technologies, particularly artificial intelligence? How might historical experience inform future technological development? What contradictions surface when the EU's framing of "sovereignty" encounters challenges from communities, workers, migrants, people experiencing racial discrimination, occupied populations, environmental movements and the Global South?

Session proposals should investigate "The Origins of Future Technologies: Towards communities of digital self-determination" across several interconnected domains.

Material conditions in the Production of Technologies

  • Natural resources across supply chains: Which raw materials underpin AI and comparable technologies? What significance do these resources hold for securing essential components like semiconductors or sustaining critical infrastructure such as data processing facilities? In what ways do GDPR, ePrivacy and AI Act protections influence the material dimensions of AI systems, spanning data sourcing, biometric collection, computational infrastructure, employment practices and public systems?
  • Labour conditions: Who extracts the minerals essential to technological manufacturing? What union-busting tactics operate throughout technology supply chains? What collaborative initiatives can unite technology sector workers, organised labour, migrant advocacy groups, environmental movements and digital rights advocates? Which coalitions currently exist or require development in practice?
  • Capital: Which venture capital actors propel the contemporary AI boom, consolidating influence through defence, security and military channels? How do shifting business models reshape technological trajectories?

Political vision in the Use of Technologies

  • Military use: In what manner do military applications and security frameworks influence EU discussions on reducing regulatory oversight?
  • Political ideologies: Which ideological frameworks guide technological innovation? For communities experiencing racial profiling, surveillance systems, territorial occupation, enforcement at borders, workplace monitoring or climate impacts, what does digital self-determination represent?

Moving (Technologies) forward through communities

  • Community innovation for digital self-determination: Decentralised and independently-operated data management systems, AI developed by and responsive to community requirements; Which community-driven, independently-managed, public or collectively-owned digital systems can provide alternatives to prevailing digital sovereignty frameworks?
  • Law, deregulation and rights: Opposing the Digital Omnibus (particularly the 'Data Omnibus'), preserving GDPR and ePrivacy protections, guaranteeing data access, openness and rights regarding algorithmic decision-making, enforcing current digital regulations, enabling collective legal action, and contesting the narrative that rights obstruct EU economic competitiveness. When digital self-determination depends on the capacity to decline participation, what occurs if GDPR and ePrivacy modifications make it increasingly difficult to refuse tracking, categorisation and further data applications?
  • Building power through connecting grassroots movements, from technology workers organising for Palestine, to labour, migrant, lgbtqia+, climate, economic justice and landback movements: What assistance does the digital rights sector require presently to advance and reinforce worldwide and reciprocal solidarity efforts?

Session formats

Organisers particularly encourage interactive workshop submissions—formats that enable small-group engagement, knowledge sharing, and cross-sector and cross-disciplinary teamwork. Workshops function as spaces for exchanging methodologies, collective problem-solving and hands-on experimentation, shifting from discussion toward concrete strategic outcomes.

While workshops remain the preferred format for this year, panel discussions are also accepted, particularly those featuring varied perspectives and grounded participant experience, with adequate time for substantive audience participation.

Submission guidelines

  • Articulate a specific aim for your session—what successful outcomes would you envision?
  • Maximise interactivity and cultivate active audience involvement
  • Represent diverse viewpoints among presenters and incorporate multiple perspectives
  • Remember that typical sessions run 50 minutes
  • Select a format matching your concept (avoid forcing a panel structure into a workshop framework or vice versa). For workshop submissions, the organisers will supply additional direction, assistance and commentary

Workshop proposals should employ varied methods, techniques and materials enabling participant connection and fostering interactive, welcoming sessions. Articulate workshop objectives clearly, detailing your facilitation and structural approach. Ensure participants engage collaboratively in smaller units toward a concrete, pertinent objective.

Panel proposals should list up to four potential speakers. Representation should span academic institutions, non-governmental organisations and policy-making circles. Indicate which speaker(s) have already expressed preliminary agreement to participate.

Submissions must be completed via the designated form by 10 August 2026, 09.00 AM CEST.

Timeline

  • The Privacy Camp Content Committee evaluates submissions and communicates decisions before 21 August 2026
  • Organisers must confirm their commitment to proceed by 25 August
  • A preliminary programme launches on 4 September 2026
  • The complete programme releases on 28 September

If your session is approved on 21 August

Organisers with institutional backing are encouraged to manage their own costs. Where needed, reimbursement of up to 400 EUR per speaker or session organiser is available for both travel to and lodging in Brussels. Speakers arrange their own transportation and accommodation; reimbursement follows receipt of invoices and travel documentation. Further specifics regarding the reimbursement procedure will follow.

Speakers must be finalised by 10 September at the latest, alongside the complete session outline. Earlier speaker confirmation increases the likelihood that travel and accommodation expenses remain within the 400 EUR allocation. Delaying confirmation until the 10 September deadline raises the probability that this budget will prove insufficient for speaker transportation and lodging. Expenditures exceeding this threshold cannot unfortunately be covered.

About Privacy Camp

European Digital Rights (EDRi) organises Privacy Camp alongside partner institutions: the Research Group on Law, Science, Technology & Society (LSTS) at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Privacy Salon vzw, the Institute for European Studies (IEE) at Université Saint-Louis – Bruxelles and Racism and Technology Center.

The 2026 edition occurs on Tuesday, 13 October 2026 in hybrid format (in-person in Brussels with online streaming). Entry is free; early registration is currently available.

The 2026 Content Committee includes Andreea Belu (EDRi), Gloria González Fuster (LSTS, VUB), Jill Toh (Racism and Technology Center), Sanne Stevens (Justice, Equity and Technology Project) and Alexandra Giannopoulou (DFF).

Source: EDRi (European Digital Rights)