Dialogue of Experts – Privacy vs Secrecy: The Data Protection – Trade Secrets Interface

Welcome to follow a discussion on the theme “The Data Protection – Trade Secrets Interface” between two experts, professor Guido Noto la Diega, University of Strathclyde, and Salha Hanna, Counsel, Krogerus!

Note! New date and new time!

Increasingly, AI is used to make important decisions about people’s lives, ranging from determining how much should a delivery driver be paid to assessing whether someone is likely to commit a crime. For those wanting to fight these injustices, having access to the data used to make the decision and understanding how the AI decided is crucial in order to challenge the decision. However, AI companies often rely on trade secrets to shield themselves from scrutiny, claiming that opening up their proprietary systems would be in breach of their trade secrets and other business interests. This talk will question the soundness and fairness of this approach having regard to the fundamental rights to privacy, data protection, non-discrimination and fair trial. The focus will be on some recent rulings where the EU Court of Justice, for the first time, elaborated on what data rights victims of AI have.

Professor Guido Noto La Diega is an award‑winning scholar of law and emerging technologies. He leads the Socially Progressive AI Lab (SPAI-Lab) and the LLM/MSc in Law, Technology and Innovation at the University of Strathclyde, and is currently a Visiting Professor at the Helsinki Institute for Social Sciences and Humanities (HSSH). Noto La Diega’s research spans European, Italian and UK legal frameworks governing the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, cloud computing, robotics, blockchain and fashion, with a particular focus on intellectual property, consumer protection, data governance, contracts and liability. His work is guided by a commitment to ensuring that the law steers technological innovation toward socially just, inclusive and sustainable outcomes.

Salha Hanna is a seasoned legal counsel with over ten years of experience in data and technology law. She specialises in data protection, cybersecurity and AI, with a particular focus on the interplay between these fields in her day-to-day practice. She works as Counsel at Krogerus Attorneys and has previously led a data protection team at a Nordic law firm, served as Senior Legal Counsel at a cybersecurity company, and provided legal services through other firms. She is a certified information privacy professional (CIPP/E) and an experienced speaker and lecturer. Her work is particularly recognised for its practical approach and deep understanding of technology.