Navigating Digital Democracy: Challenges and Future Directions

Technology is transforming democracy—opening new channels for participation while introducing complex challenges that demand our attention. The EU is responding with strategic initiatives to safeguard democratic processes in this shifting landscape.

As we launch our innovative Horizon Europe projects at this crucial juncture, we confront a digital landscape that both enhances and challenges democratic processes. Technology has opened unprecedented channels for civic participation, yet simultaneously introduced complex hurdles including algorithmic bias that reinforces inequalities, sophisticated AI-driven disinformation campaigns that undermine public discourse, and persistent digital divides that exclude vulnerable populations from meaningful engagement.

The European Commission has recognised these challenges and responded decisively through strategic initiatives including the European Democracy Shield, Digital Services Act, and European Democracy Action Plan. These frameworks aim to protect democratic integrity, strengthen citizen participation, and prepare institutions for emerging digital threats through collaborative governance approaches and evidence-based policymaking that anticipates future developments.

Our three cornerstone projects—INNOVADE, AI4Deliberation, and PERYCLES—represent the practical implementation of these policy ambitions, developing research-based solutions that enhance democratic decision-making processes. These initiatives specifically address critical concerns around transparency in automated systems, cybersecurity vulnerabilities in democratic institutions, and the troubling decline in public trust that threatens democratic legitimacy in the digital era. Using innovative methodologies like Living Labs and co-creation processes, our projects directly engage citizens in developing solutions that work for diverse communities. This participatory approach ensures that technological innovations serve democratic values rather than undermine them, creating frameworks for ethical AI integration that amplifies citizen voices instead of drowning them out in algorithmic noise.

FEEDBACK SURVEY

This webinar brings together EC representatives, civil society organisations, researchers, and technology experts to share insights and build networks committed to democratic resilience. Participants will gain practical knowledge about policy-driven innovation, explore diverse perspectives from across Europe, and join a growing community of practitioners working to ensure that digital transformation strengthens rather than weakens our democratic foundations in an age of rapid technological change.

Agenda

Welcome & Introduction

14:00-14:10 Opening remarks, Nicholas Ferguson, (Trust-IT Services)

Policy perspective

14:10-14:20 Marie-Helene BOULANGER (EC, Head of Unit Democracy, Anti-Corruption, Union Citizenship and Free Movement)

Governance perspective

14:20-14:30 Berten Kempen (Stad Geel, Department of Organisational Development)

Societal perspective

14:30-14:40 Democratic Self-Organisation at Scale Andreas Nitsche (LiquidFeedback - PERYCLES)

Research perspective & Technology solutions

14:40-14:50 Fatih Yilmaz (INNOVADE Project Coordinator, Director of Projects & Partnerships at Beyond the Horizon ISSG)
14:50-15:00 prof. Efthimios Tambouris (AI4Deliberation Scientific Coordinator, University of Macedonia and ITI/CERTH)
15:00-15:10 Participatory Democracy that Scales: Scientific Foundations, prof. Davide Grossi (PERYCLES Project Coordinator, University of Groningen and University of Amsterdam)
 

Wrap-up

15:10-15:25 Q&A moderated by Nicholas Ferguson, Trust-IT Services

15:25-15:30 Closure Remarks