Barlaeus Dinner on Trust in Decentralized Data Infrastructures

Twice a year the University of Amsterdam (UvA) invites the most distinguished members of the Dutch society, scientists, business leaders, high ranking public servants for a dinner to discuss impactful societal, economic, cultural or scientific issues. The Barlaeus dinners – honoring Caspar Barlaeus (1584–1648), the Dutch mathematician, historian, poet, humanist, and theologian – provide a platform for academia, industry and public administration to learn from each other, and coordinate action for the benefit of society. Its latest edition was hosted by the Institute for Information Law’s (IViR) Blockchain and Society Policy Research Lab among the classical statutes of the Allard Pierson Museum, on 24 of May 2018. The event was devoted to the controversial yet thrilling topic of trust in decentralized data infrastructures, such as blockchains. In this document we summarize the discussions that took place among the extraordinary group of guests including, among others, the Rector Magnificus of the UvA, the Chief Scientist of the City of Amsterdam, the CEOs of IBM, and ING, partners from the biggest Dutch law firms, and senior UvA scientists, such as the Dean of the Business School, or the Directors of IViR, and the Institute for Network Cultures.