Opening Plenary: Working Together for a Human-Centred Digital Future – Parliamentary Cooperation for Democratic Digital Governance

As digital technologies increasingly shape our democracies, economies, and societies, parliaments and parliamentarians are central to ensuring that this transformation reflects shared values. This session brings together elected representatives from across the world to exchange experiences and explore how to shape digital governance that upholds human dignity, enables innovation, and supports inclusive development. It will highlight the role of parliaments in translating international standards – such as those of the Council of Europe, the EU, OECD, and the United Nations etc. – into national policies that both manage risks and harness opportunities offered by artificial intelligence and internet technologies. Rather than focusing solely on challenges, the event and ensuing exchange aim to explore how digital tools, when guided by clear democratic principles, can help advance transparency, scientific progress, participatory governance, and the protection of human rights.