The EU's Approach to Digital Policy and Lessons Learned From The GDPR

The EU's Approach to Digital Policy and Lessons Learned From The GDPR

Author: Brave Software February 12, 2025 Duration: 50:36

Kai Zenner, Head of Office and Digital Policy Adviser for German Member of the European Parliament Axel Voss, discusses the emerging regulatory landscape for artificial intelligence in Europe and its implications for innovation and consumer safety. He also discusses implementation hurdles of the EU AI Act, specifically the shortage of AI experts and the complexity of enforcement across 27 member states.

Key Takeaways: 

  • Challenges with the AI Act (such as vague use cases, balancing innovation with regulation, and the impact on SMEs)

  • Lessons from GDPR, including upcoming changes being considered that could impact data privacy

  • Horizontal legislative approaches and their implications

  • Future prospects for AI regulation in Europe

Guest Bio: Kai Zenner is Head of Office and Digital Policy Adviser for MEP Axel Voss in the European Parliament, focusing on AI, privacy, and the EU's digital transition. He is involved in negotiations on the AI Act, AI Liability Directive, ePrivacy Regulation, and GDPR revision. A member of the OECD.AI Network of Experts and the World Economic Forum's AI Governance Alliance, Zenner also served on the UN's High-Level Advisory Body on AI. He was named Best MEP Assistant in 2023, and ranked #13 in Politico's Power 40 for his influence on EU digital policy.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About this Show:

The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all!

Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together.

The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API.

Music by: Ari Dvorin

Produced by: Sam Laliberte

 


Hosted by Brave Software, The Brave Technologist is a series for anyone curious about the real human impact of our digital evolution. It moves past the surface-level buzzwords to ask how technologies like AI, machine learning, and Web3 actually affect everyday decisions, privacy, and the fabric of society. The conversations here are grounded and thoughtful, prioritizing the user's perspective in a landscape often dominated by abstract visions of disruption. You'll hear from builders, thinkers, and technologists who are shaping these tools, discussing not just what is possible, but what is responsible and meaningful. This podcast sits at the intersection of technology, business, and marketing, examining how these forces converge to shape our collective future. It’s for listeners who want to understand the "why" and "for whom" behind the code, offering a nuanced take that is often missing from tech commentary. Tune in for a deeper, more inclusive dialogue about the systems that are redesigning our world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Brave Technologist
Podcast Episodes
Inside MCP: How AI Agents Are Learning to Talk to Each Other [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:04
Andy Maskin, Director of AI Creative Technology at Publicis Sapient, explains why brands are shifting from SEO to "AI visibility," where success is no longer about ranking on search engines but instead showing up in tool…
AI Anxiety: The Occupational Identity Crisis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:17
Dr. Maha Hosain Aziz, an international relations professor at NYU and Global Foresight Advisor at the World Economic Forum, highlights the often-overlooked societal, economic, and psychological impacts of AI adoption. Sh…
The Human Layer in an AI-First World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:10
Joseph Ng, Chief Strategy Officer of GeneGenius and author of The Hybrid Mind, discusses how institutions must redesign decision architectures as humans and intelligent machines operate together. His vision for the "hybr…
The CHRO Is the New CTO: Leading in the AI Era [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:17
Elise Neel, Global Head of Strategy & Strategic Partnerships at Panasonic Go, shares lessons from leading innovation within large legacy companies and the cultural challenges of driving transformation. She explains how o…
Bri Teresi: Digital Sovereignty and Protecting Creator Freedom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:40
Bri Teresi, host of 'Free The Money' and a prominent crypto influencer, shares the biggest misunderstandings about cryptocurrency in mainstream media and consumer behavior, along with the biggest challenges faced by cont…
How SheFi is Onboarding More Women into Web3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:46
Maggie Love, Founder and CEO of SheFi, discusses the critical role of the community in managing decentralized spaces and making crypto accessible and relatable for all. She delves into the importance of building technolo…
AI That Acts: How Autonomous Agents Are Rewriting Org Charts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:32
Manoj Saxena, Founder and CEO of Trustwise, explains why agentic AI represents a major shift inside organizations: from AI as a tool to AI as an active participant. He addresses the operational challenges that organizati…
When AI and Enterprise Tech Feel Like Magic [Live from AI Summit] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:37
Kapil Gupta, former Enterprise AI Product & Platform Leader at Cigna, shares insights from more than two decades of turning cutting-edge technology into enterprise-ready products. He unpacks the difference between genera…