Opening Plenary 2026

Democracy: Stifled or Revived by Digital Disruption of the Public Sphere?

Guiding Questions:

1. How are European democracies and the digital public sphere faring in the face of rapid technological advancements?
2. What roles do tech industries (platforms, AI firms, social media, etc.) bear in safeguarding—or undermining—democratic integrity?
3. What keeps stakeholder up at night in terms of risks to democracy and digital public sphere linked to disruptive technologies?
4. What challenges and opportunities await us, and how should policymakers, civil society, and industry respond?