18/11/2025 –, Main Room
The Open Knowledge Foundation will present a proposal for a comprehensive update to the Open Definition, originally developed in 2005 to define openness in relation to data and content. In light of profound changes in the technological landscape—including the rise of artificial intelligence, consolidation of cloud power, proliferation of Digital Public Infrastructure efforts, launch of regional and national Stack efforts, and the increasing politicisation of technology, the Foundation is seeking to relaunch the Open Definition Council and initiate a global, inclusive process to develop Version 3 of the definition. While AI is a major focus, the updated definition will apply more broadly to a range of sociotechnical systems.. The goal would be to ensure that openness continues to serve the public interest across domains where power, access, and control are increasingly contested. The effort will involve research, global dialogue, and consensus-building to ensure the new definition is technically sound, socially grounded, and resistant to misuse, thereby combating the pervasive phenomenon of openwashing. The effort aims at restoring clarity and purpose of openness as an effective framework for guiding technology policy and practice across countries and disciplines.
This talk will present a proposal from the Open Knowledge Foundation (OKFN) for a comprehensive update to the Open Definition, originally developed in 2005 to define openness in relation to data and content. In light of profound changes in the technological landscape — including the rise of artificial intelligence, consolidation of cloud power, proliferation of digital public infrastructure efforts, launch of regional and national stack efforts, and the increasing politicisation of technology, OKFN is seeking to relaunch the Open Definition Council and initiate a global, inclusive process to develop Version 3 of the definition. While AI is a major focus, the updated definition will apply more broadly to a range of sociotechnical systems. The goal would be to ensure that openness continues to serve the public interest across domains where power, access, and control are increasingly contested. The effort will involve research, global dialogue, and consensus-building to ensure the new definition is technically sound, socially grounded, and resistant to misuse, thereby combating the pervasive phenomenon of openwashing. The effort aims at restoring clarity and purpose of openness as an effective framework for guiding technology policy and practice across countries and disciplines.
Renata Avila is an international human rights and technology lawyer specialising in data governance, open knowledge, and digital justice. As the CEO of the Open Knowledge Foundation (OKFN), she leads global efforts to unlock the power of open data and knowledge commons, enabling individuals and organisations to drive social change through transparent and equitable access to information, knowledge, data and technical tools. With deep expertise in intellectual property and international trade policies shaping the digital economy, she actively analyses the intersection of intellectual property, data-driven innovation, and fair technology access, advocating for policies that prevent monopolistic control and foster open technologies. A vocal critic of restrictive digital trade agreements, she works to ensure that data sovereignty and emerging technologies contribute to economic justice rather than deepen inequalities.
A former fellow at the Stanford Institute of Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, she is affiliated with the Center for Internet and Society at CNRS, France. She serves on the boards of Open Future, the Center for the Advancement of Infrastructural Imagination, and Whistleblower Network Germany. She is a member of the Working Group on Data Governance at all levels, established by the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD).