EDCEweek 25, presented at the 1st Global Digital Rights Forum

18-05-2026

The forum aimed to tackle how rapid technological change was redefining fundamental rights. Set against a backdrop of AI, big data, disinformation, and the digital divide, this event served as a crucial platform for generating knowledge, reaching consensus on proposals, and promoting safe, inclusive, and people-centered digitalization. It focused on five key themes: youth and social media, freedom of expression, cybersecurity, identity and privacy, and artificial intelligence, positioning Spain at the forefront of the global discussion on digital rights while establishing the Spanish Charter of Digital Rights as an international benchmark.

Scheduled to take place at the Llotja de Mar, the forum united government representatives, public and private institutions, and influential voices in technology, ethics, and digital governance. Featured speakers included Yael Eisenstat, a technology policy expert and former Facebook executive; Carl Öhman, a researcher at the Oxford Internet Institute; and Carissa Véliz, an esteemed philosopher specializing in digital ethics and privacy.

As the first International Digital Rights Forum unfolded, Barcelona became the global epicenter of digital rights. The event highlighted the importance of raising awareness about digital rights, as noted by Jesús Herrero, General Director of Red.es, who emphasized the need for institutions and society to collaborate towards a more just and secure digital future.

The forum also hosted esteemed speakers such as Anu Bradford, an expert in international law and digital regulation; Cory Doctorow, a digital rights activist; and Erika von Holstein, an advisor on AI to the Government of Spain. With 40% of citizens still unaware that their fundamental rights also extended to the digital realm, this forum aimed to promote awareness and trust in innovation, ensuring that digitalization prioritized people.

Francesc Fajula, CEO of Mobile World Capital Barcelona, remarked that the forum emphasized Barcelona's leadership in the global technology debate, advocating for a regulatory framework that fostered trust and security among citizens. Luisa Alli, General Director of the Hermes Foundation, stressed the importance of viewing digital rights as a democratic priority, aiming for a rights-based digital governance model.

The program addressed five significant challenges in the digital ecosystem: protection of minors, freedom of expression and disinformation, cybersecurity and technological sovereignty, identity and privacy, and the ethical implications of artificial intelligence. Beyond keynote speeches and panel discussions, the forum featured public workshops and panels focused on practical education, fostering dialogue among civil society, businesses, and public administrations to promote a safer, more inclusive digital environment, placing Spain at the center of the global debate on digital rights and internet governance.

During her presentation, Diana shared the stage with notable figures such as Nadia Garrido Annoni, Director of Public Affairs at SOS Children’s Villages International; Angie Carrasco, Coordinator of the Municipal Center for Digital Transformation in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat City Council; María Ruiz de Assín de los Santos, Project Manager at Cibervoluntarios Foundation; and Núria Valls Carol, President of Fundación Esplai and Director of the Observatorio de las Brechas Digitales.

Additionally, the European Digital Citizenship Education Week 2025 was presented as one of the 10 good practices at the Exhibition Corner during the event. 

Learn more about the forum here https://encuentroderechosdigitales.com/en/ 

Save the date for the next edition of the EDCE week: 14-20 September 2026.