Centre for Digital Ethics

EU Legislative Interests

The Centre for Digital Ethics focuses on EU legislative and policy frameworks governing artificial intelligence, digital services, platform accountability, data governance, and the protection of fundamental rights in digital environments. Our work is particularly concerned with the implementation, interpretation, and future development of the AI Act, the Digital Services Act, the Digital Markets Act, the GDPR, the Data Governance Act, the Data Act, the Cyber Resilience Act, and the revised Product Liability Directive for defective products, including software-enabled and AI-related products. We also engage with wider EU policy debates concerning online child safety, age assurance, addictive and manipulative design, recommender systems, disinformation, transparency, risk assessment, redress, democratic integrity, and the impact of AI systems on autonomy, dignity, and human flourishing. This includes engagement with emerging consumer-protection and digital-environment reforms such as the proposed Digital Fairness Act, as well as the broader evolution of EU privacy and confidentiality rules in electronic communications. Our interest is public-interest and rights-focused. We monitor both legislative development and practical enforcement, with particular attention to how EU digital regulation can better address psychological, relational, epistemic, and democratic harms arising from AI systems, platform design, and data-driven technologies. This includes contributing research, policy analysis, consultation responses, and stakeholder dialogue on human-centred, rights-respecting digital governance at European level.

Communication Activities

The Centre for Digital Ethics undertakes communication and public-engagement activities relating to digital and technology policy through research publications, policy commentary, consultation responses, stakeholder meetings, public events, educational materials, media engagement, and digital communications. Its publications and commentary address matters such as AI governance, platform accountability, online safety, child protection, manipulative and addictive design, data governance, privacy, digital rights, and the protection of autonomy, dignity, and democratic participation in digital environments. The organisation communicates its work through its website, articles, public statements, blog posts, social media channels, and participation in relevant conferences, workshops, and policy dialogues. It may also contribute written submissions, position papers, briefing notes, and evidence to public consultations or legislative and regulatory processes at Irish, EU, and international level. Where relevant, it engages with academics, civil society organisations, policymakers, lawyers, technologists, and other stakeholders to promote informed discussion of the legal and ethical implications of digital technologies. Its communication activities are intended to inform public debate, support rights-respecting digital governance, and encourage greater transparency and accountability in the development, deployment, and regulation of AI and other digital systems.

Interests Represented

Does not represent commercial interests

Member Of

https://www.linkedin.com/company/centre-for-digital-ethics

Organisation Members

https://www.linkedin.com/in/niamh-lenihan-9858546b

Additional Information

We are only recently established (08.12.2025) and operate on a fully voluntary basis at present. We are not currently in receipt of any funding from the EU or otherwise.