A round-table discussion in Rome organised by I-Com and Altroconsumo
Digital fraud cannot be tackled solely through more sophisticated technologies or new European regulations. We need more informed citizens, simpler services and ongoing investment in digital education. This is the message that emerged from the conference Digitalizzati: Fraud Prevention and Digital Education, organised by the Institute for Competitiveness (I-Com) in collaboration with Altroconsumo. The event brought together representatives from institutions, the research community, the business sector and the third sector in Rome to take stock of the project’s results and discuss the challenges posed by the evolution of artificial intelligence and the European regulatory framework, starting with the forthcoming Digital Fairness Act.
The proceedings were opened by Stefano da Empoli, president of I-Com, and Luisa Crisigiovanni, head of European projects at Altroconsumo, who outlined the initial results of the “Digitalizzati” project. In just a few months, over 3,272 reports of fraud were collected, whilst the experimental AI-based consumer assistance service handled almost 4,000 interactions, confirming just how widespread the phenomenon is and how great the need is for guidance and support tools.
From security to trust
Among the speakers, Mirta Michilli, Director-General of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale ETS, proposed broadening the perspective.
“Perhaps we should talk not only about the security of citizens, consumers and users, but also about trust,” she observed, explaining that the aim is not merely to protect people from digital risks, but to guide them in building an informed relationship with technologies that are increasingly present in everyday life. Drawing on the Fondazione Mondo Digitale’s twenty-five years of experience, Michilli emphasised that the need for support cuts across all generations and affects citizens, students, workers and businesses.
In his speech, he also pointed out that the conclusion of the extraordinary measures funded by the PNRR – which also supported the Digital Facilitation Centres – makes it even more urgent to develop structural policies for lifelong learning. Hence the proposal to accompany every new digital public service – from the electronic health record to the digital signature – with training and communication programmes aimed at citizens, so that innovation can translate into the genuine exercise of rights.
The new challenges of regulation
The discussion also provided an overview of European and national initiatives to strengthen the protection of citizens in the digital environment.
Martin Przysiwek, from the European Commission, outlined the objectives of the future Digital Fairness Act, which aims to combat unfair commercial practices, manipulative interfaces (dark patterns) and digital models designed to influence user behaviour, with a particular focus on minors.
Massimiliano Capitanio, an AGCOM commissioner, drew attention to the growing opacity of algorithmic systems and the need to develop a digital culture capable of preserving critical thinking, even when interacting with artificial intelligence tools.
From the perspective of operational security, Cristiano Leggeri, Director of the Postal Police, spoke of the need to build ‘generative security’, based on collaboration between institutions, businesses and citizens in a context where attack surfaces are constantly expanding.
Finally, Michele Caviglia, from the Bank of Italy, pointed out that digital fraud not only results in financial losses but also has a profound impact on people’s trust in the financial system and digital services.
An investment that concerns society as a whole
A shared conviction emerged from the discussion: digital transformation requires a balance between innovation, the protection of rights and the development of skills. Regulations are essential, as are technological prevention tools, but they are not enough on their own.
To ensure that citizens truly play a leading role in the digital ecosystem, we must invest in ongoing programmes of education, support and participation, capable of strengthening autonomy, awareness and trust. This is a challenge that calls upon institutions, businesses, schools, universities and the third sector, in the belief that digital security is, first and foremost, a civic responsibility.
