The European Internet Forum (EIF) held a pivotal debate - chaired by Birgit Sippel MEP - centered on safeguarding children in digital spaces. The event gathered policymakers, industry leaders, legal experts, youth representatives, and civil society advocates to deliberate on the complex challenges young people face online, ranging from privacy and safety to mental health and misinformation.

Our Tech Masterclasses are specifically tailored for MEP assistants, advisors, and European Parliament staff, providing them with hands-on learning opportunities in a professional, in-person setting. In the recent masterclass titled “The Internet,” participants explored the intricate technologies enabling the seamless data transmission that Europeans depend on daily.

The session delved into the mechanics of global data sharing and the governance challenges inherent in maintaining an open and secure internet.

Presentations by:

• Expert: Lars Johan Liman, Senior Systems Specialist and co-founder of NetNod

• Facilitator: Pearse O’Donohue, Director for the Future Networks Directorate, DG CONNECT, European Commission

As with all our Tech Masterclasses, Q&A sessions are off the record and are excluded from video recordings to foster open dialogue.

Our Tech Masterclasses are designed for MEP assistants and advisors and for European Parliament staff, who attend them in person.

In this masterclass, participants learned how fiber optics, mobile networks, submarine cables, and satellites work together to create the global communication infrastructure Europeans rely on every day, how they interconnect to deliver fast, reliable internet and communication services worldwide.

Presentations by:

Expert
Owen Bryant, Head of Global Infrastructure & Deployment at Vodafone

Facilitator
Anna Renata Pisarkiewicz, Research Fellow, European University Institute

At our Tech Masterclasses, Q&As are off the records and are therefore removed from video recordings whenever they occur.