The EU Commission DG CNECT and Project Liberty Institute convenes European builders and experts to shape the future of innovation in Europe
Participants at the EU Commission DG CNECT and Project Liberty Institute workshop on human-centered data ecosystems in Brussels.
The workshop “Enabling Human-Centered Data Ecosystems: AI, Digital Identity and the Future of Social Networks in the EU,” organized jointly by the EU Commission DG CNECT and Project Liberty Institute, was held May 28, 2026 in Brussels at the DG CNECT headquarters.
Over 30 invited participants from across Europe brought their diverse experiences and expertise to bear on the question: how can we move from research and enlightening use-cases to functioning, durable human-centered digital infrastructure, and how can the European Commission help catalyse and scale these public-interest solutions?
From Regulation to Infrastructure
This past decade EU regulation built the foundation to create a safer digital space and a fairer playing field. With a 360° approach covering technology, governance and economic models, the discussions explored the technical building blocks for human-centered digital infrastructure, alternative business models, opportunities to scale beyond pilots, and what a shared toolbox should include to support this transition.
Workshop participants discussed the technical, governance, and economic building blocks needed to scale public-interest digital infrastructure in Europe.
Bringing Europe’s Builders Together
The workshop was opened by EU Commission DG CNECT leadership Prahbat Agarwal, Director “Online Platforms : Society” and Project Liberty Institute’s Policy & Research Manager, Sarah Nicole. Participants, under Chatham House rule, all shared strong optimism and hopefulness for Europe to play a key role in building a human-centered digital economy, particularly given the current state of AI development and the international situation. Rita Wezenbeek, Director “Online Platforms : Economy” at the EU Commission DG CNECT closed the discussions.
This workshop confirmed that Europe has the builders, innovators, funders, and experts who can advance Europe’s leadership in establishing trusted and thriving data ecosystems. Project Liberty Institute and the EU Commission DG CNECT demonstrated the importance of bringing these actors together in the same room.
From Dialogue to Action
Insights and recommendations generated by the workshop will be translated into a practical toolkit, outlining steps that policymakers, builders, investors and others can take to move from dialogue to action. This will be a living document and will be open for further comment.