Protecting citizens, preserving rights

How can law enforcement make effective use of data and technology while ensuring that fundamental rights and the rule of law remain protected? This question was at the heart of the 17th Europol Data Protection Experts Network (EDEN) conference, held in Lisbon, Portugal, on 22 and 23 September 2026 under the theme ‘Do Not Cross: Protecting Citizens, Preserving Rights’. The event brought together over 170 participants from across Europe, including law enforcement officials, data protection officers, representatives of national data protection authorities and academics. The conference was organised by Europol’s Data Protection Experts Network (EDEN) in cooperation with the Academy of European Law (ERA), and co-hosted by the Portuguese Sistema de Segurança Interna and Polícia Judiciária. Finding the boundaries At the opening of the conference, Jürgen Ebner, Acting Executive Director of Europol, Wojciech Wiewiorowski, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS), and Carlos Cabreiro, National Director of the Portuguese Judicial Police, highlighted the challenges law enforcement faces in an increasingly digital and data-driven environment. Jürgen Ebner Acting Executive Director of Europol Freedom and security are twin pillars of democracy. At Europol, our responsibility is to protect both, ensuring that our actions are necessary, proportionate, and rooted in fundamental rights. This conference challenges us to ask a fundamental question: how do we benefit from the opportunities of technology to protect citizens while safeguarding the principles we defend? Innovative law enforcement requires us to push what is possible but never to lose sight of our purpose and responsibilities. Europol stands for strength, innovation, and discipline: protecting Europe while upholding the values that define it. Carlos Cabreiro National Director of the Portuguese Judicial Police Proper data processing is no longer merely an administrative matter or a simple regulatory compliance exercise. Nowadays, it is an integral part of modern criminal investigation. It is a quality factor in information. It is a tool for strengthening institutional trust. It is a guarantee of evidence admissibility and credibility. It is an essential part of international cooperation. And it is, above all, an actual expression of respect for human dignity. Wojciech Wiewiorowski European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) I believe that in these times we are living in, the protection of personal data becomes more important than ever. The role of data protection extends far beyond the realm of privacy and indeed it often becomes a safeguard for democracy itself. The European project is built on the proposition that our fundamental rights and democratic freedoms are what defines us and the ultimate source of our strength. Under the overarching theme ‘Do Not Cross’, participants examined where the boundaries should lie between innovation and intrusion, operational effectiveness and privacy, and security and the rights protected by democratic societies. Discussions throughout the two-day event highlighted the increasingly complex relationship between security, technology, data protection, and fundamental rights. Safeguarding European sovereignty in the cloud The first of the various EDEN panels examined the implications of cloud technologies for law enforcement. Experts discussed the importance of maintaining appropriate levels of data protection and cybersecurity while ensuring that law enforcement can benefit from technological developments and secure digital infrastructure. The second day of the conference turned to several emerging challenges for law enforcement. Participants examined violent nihilistic tendencies online, including networks referred to as ‘The Com’, and discussed the implications of these developments for law enforcement and data protection. A Europol expert working on Project COMPASS provided insights into the realities investigators around the world face in tackling this phenomenon, leaving conference participants visibly shaken. The rapid development of artificial intelligence was another major theme and one panel explored how AI is changing the production, use, and assessment of digital evidence and what this means for law enforcement. The conference also addressed cybersecurity resilience in the context of war. The panel ‘Resilience in Times of War: The Ukrainian Experience’ brought together perspectives from Ukraine and academia to examine the challenges of maintaining resilient systems and protecting critical information in an environment of armed conflict. Since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the EDEN events have become a regular venue for Ukrainian representatives to share insight into the daily challenge of living in a society facing constant military hostility. Protecting people and information The discussions also explored how the principles of necessity, proportionality, security, and respect for fundamental rights apply to some of the most sensitive areas of law enforcement. Because data protection can have particularly direct consequences when the information processed by law enforcement concerns individuals whose safety may be at risk. During the EDEN Talk ‘A Matter of Survival’, participants considered the specific challenges of protecting witnesses in an increasingly data-driven environment, where the way sensitive information is processed and protected can have direct consequences for an individual’s safety. The final EDEN panel focused on the role of Data Protection Officers in helping law enforcement navigate operational requirements alongside ethical considerations, security, and data protection. A shared commitment to data protection As technology continues to reshape law enforcement, sustained dialogue between practitioners, experts, and policymakers will be essential to ensure that innovation and operational effectiveness remain grounded in the principles of necessity, proportionality, security, and respect for fundamental rights. About EDEN The Europol Data Protection Experts Network (EDEN) brings together experts from law enforcement and other relevant communities to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, experience and best practices on data protection and cybersecurity. Through its conferences, webinars and other activities, EDEN provides a platform for discussion on the challenges and opportunities arising from technological developments and the increasing use of data in law enforcement.