List of proposals for EuroDIG 2026

16-01-26 | 11:17 Access & literacy | Human rights & privacy | Innovation & economic issues Generative artificial intelligence and justice: The good, the bad and the ugly. The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) by legal professionals is growing, whether for summary generation, text correction, drafting legal documents based on case law, or interacting with litigants (e.g. explaining sentences to clients). Many countries are facilitating the use of generative AI tools in public administration and courts. While the implementation of AI in judicial systems has the potential to increase efficiency, it also raises questions that could threaten public confidence in the judicial system. These include a lack of transparency and explainability, the erosion of human judgement and empathy, and the risk of discrimination. There are also concerns about data security and integrity, democratic legitimacy, and accountability. Another significant challenge is the radical transformation of the legal profession, with fears that job losses could prevent the needs of litigants from being met. Related sessions should address two main questions: Firstly, how can (generative) AI be deployed productively to improve the law in line with human rights and the rule of law? Secondly, how can we ensure that the justice system remains a fair and trusted conflict resolution mechanism that supports social cohesion and societal prosperity?

Submitted by: Daniel Schmidt

Affiliation: Council of Europe

Stakeholder: Intergovernmental organisation

16-01-26 | 16:09 Media & content Media Coverage of Elections: Shaping Public Opinion in the Digital Age Elections shape democratic discourse, serving as a mechanism for political choice through which public opinion is formed, contested, and expressed. In the digital age, public opinion is influenced by algorithms, platform/AI-driven content, and user-generated media, creating opportunities for pluralism while also raising risks such as disinformation and polarisation. Against this backdrop, media coverage should be guided by democratic values supporting ethical journalism. Council of Europe standards remain a vital safeguard, ensuring that media continue to fulfil their democratic function despite evolving technological challenges. This approach aligns with the Council of Europe’s vision for democratic resilience, reflected in the New Democratic Pact for Europe, which highlights the need to strengthen democratic participation and media freedom. Recent Council of Europe instruments—PACE Resolution 2254 (2019) and Resolution 2326 (2020) —build upon existing standards, addressing the risks of the digital information ecosystem. This session will foster dialogue among policymakers, media regulators, journalists, civil society, and platforms. It will examine the impact of digital media on elections and public opinion. Participants will discuss best practices for ethical, impartial, and transparent media coverage, exploring also regulatory frameworks as well as other means of strengthening democratic resilience.

Submitted by: Evangelia VASALOU

Affiliation: Council of Europe

Stakeholder: Intergovernmental organisation

16-01-26 | 18:35 Access & literacy | Human rights & privacy | Gender Equality Emerging technologies are profoundly shaping European societies. They can strengthen gender equality by improving access, participation, and empowerment for women and girls. At the same time, technology also creates and amplifies structural risks for women and girls, including new forms of violence, discrimination and exclusion in online and offline spaces. Technology-facilitated violence against women and girls causes serious and lasting harm, reinforces gender inequality and leads to silencing women and girls, limiting their participation in public life and democratic processes. Artificial intelligence systems may reproduce or exacerbate gender-based discrimination through biased data, design choices or lack of transparency and accountability. The work of the Council of Europe’s monitoring body on violence against women (GREVIO) is revealing a growing prevalence of online and technology-facilitated violence against women in Europe, including through the use of AI technologies. Effectively addressing these challenges calls for coordinated efforts across governments, civil society, and the technology sector. EuroDIG offers a timely multi-stakeholder platform to examine the impact of technology on gender equality and to explore how it can be governed in a way that protects rights, prevents harm, and advances gender equality across Europe.

Submitted by: Charlotte Gilmartin

Affiliation: Council of Europe

Stakeholder: Intergovernmental organisation

17-01-26 | 15:16 Access & literacy | Human rights & privacy | Security & crime AI is increasingly permeating every aspect of our daily lives, presenting significant challenges to the protection of fundamental rights. Algorithmic discrimination emerges as a particularly pressing concern. Research has demonstrated that algorithmic bias not only reflects but also exacerbates existing social inequalities. Building on new studies, it is proposed to reflects on how the EU AI Act and the Council of Europe Framework Convention on artificial intelligence and human rights, democracy and the rule of law strengthening protections against algorithmic discrimination, assesses the lacunae, and reflect on role of national human-rights structures, national authorities, civil society and groups at risk of discrimination can identify and mitigate the risks.

Submitted by: Menno Ettema

Affiliation: Council of Europe

Stakeholder: Intergovernmental organisation

17-01-26 | 18:54 Human rights & privacy | Media & content | Technical & operational issues Media Pluralism in the Age of AI-Driven Information Environments Media pluralism is essential to democratic societies. Today, the diversity and quality of content people see are heavily influenced by the algorithms of recommender systems and AI-driven content generators. As a few major platforms shape access to information, several pressing questions arise: • How can we define and protect media pluralism in environments governed by algorithms? • Can media pluralism be separated from reliability and trustworthiness? • Should assessments of systemic risk address pluralism, and how can this be measured? • What measures could restore user agency, allowing individuals more control over their information feeds? • Could “pluralism of recommender systems,” such as user choice among third-party recommendation tools, foster more diverse media content? • As large language models (LLMs) become key sources of information, how can media pluralism be built into their development and use? This discussion will convene policymakers, technologists, and civil society to share perspectives and consider practical steps to support pluralism in digital information systems. Collaborative dialogue can help clarify the risks and opportunities posed by AI, shaping policies and technologies that promote open, diverse, and trustworthy information environments.