OPERANDO was a European Union–funded research and innovation project dedicated to addressing one of the most pressing challenges of the digital age: how to protect personal data while enabling seamless and trustworthy digital services. Conducted under the Horizon 2020 programme from 2015 to 2018, OPERANDO brought together experts from academia, industry, and government to design and validate technologies that placed privacy and ethics at the heart of digital transformation.
Our vision was captured in the concept of “Privacy as a Service.” OPERANDO delivered a platform that allowed independent privacy service providers to mediate between online service operators and end-users, ensuring that privacy choices were not only respected but automatically enforced. End-users were given clear and accessible tools — such as a privacy dashboard — to express their preferences, while service providers could design and deploy access-control policies with confidence in their compliance. In parallel, data protection auditors and regulators were supported with mechanisms to evaluate and monitor services, reinforcing accountability and transparency.
The project combined technological innovation with real-world validation. Through field trials in areas such as eGovernment and healthcare, OPERANDO demonstrated that privacy-by-design solutions could be both practical and impactful. By aligning technical capabilities with regulatory requirements and ethical considerations, the project highlighted new ways of building trust between citizens, service providers, and public institutions.
Although the OPERANDO project has formally concluded, its relevance remains stronger than ever. The principles it advanced — user-centric privacy, trustworthy data governance, and regulatory alignment — continue to shape the global conversation on digital rights and technological responsibility.
From now on, this website will serve as a platform to share news, articles, and expert commentary on privacy, data protection, ethics, and digital trust. Our aim is to extend OPERANDO’s legacy by contributing thoughtful perspectives, highlighting emerging challenges, and showcasing innovations that align with the project’s original mission.
By maintaining this space, we remain committed to the values of OPERANDO: empowering individuals, supporting responsible service design, and fostering a digital ecosystem where trust and privacy are not optional, but fundamental.