CiTiP panel at CPDP 2026

CiTiP will be present at CPDP 2026 with the panel A Child-Centred Approach to the EU Digital Rulebook

The European Union’s Digital Rulebook has undergone significant transformation with the introduction of several new chapters in the past decade (such as the DSA, DMA, or AI Act), while proposals to review its very foundation have been recently introduced, such as the Omnibus package. These fast-paced changes create the need to understand how these frameworks interact and whether they complement or contradict each other. The stakes are even higher when the rights of vulnerable groups, particularly children, are affected. A holistic approach is therefore required to ensure a coherent reading, addressing possible tensions in line with the best interests of the child. The panel explores key areas of interplay across regulatory regimes through the lens of children’s rights, highlighting opportunities and identifying gaps. Discussions will span from age-assurance mechanisms to profiling, social-media bans and children’s mental health.

Questions to be answered by the panel:

• What role do children’s rights play in the EU Digital Rulebook when balancing competing interests?

• What does a rights-respecting approach to age-assurance mechanisms look like in practice?

• Do proposals to ban children’s access to social media represent an effective response to the challenges they pose?

• What are the risks and opportunities of profiling children in digital environments?

Panellists:

• Andrea Palumbo (Moderator) - KU Leuven Centre for IT & IP Law (CiTiP)

• Simone van der Hof - Leiden University

• Elora Fernandes - KU Leuven Centre for IT & IP Law (CiTiP)

• Greta Faieta - European Commission

• Nicoleta Prutean - Centre for Future Generations