9:30AM - Opening Remarks

Prof Martin Grötschel, President of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities

Prof Antonio Loprieno, President of ALLEA, the European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities

President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, President of Re-Imagine Europa, former President of France

9:45AM - Issues of Democracy in a Digital Society

Prof Manuel Castells, Chairman of the Re-Imagine Europa Taskforce on Democracy in a Digital Society

10:10AM - Disinformation: A European Response

Ms Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society 

10:30AM - Plenary Discussion

In addition to the keynote speakers, the discussion will be animated by two expert commentators:

- Maria João Rodrigues, Member of the European Parliament, Vice-President of the S&D Group and President of FEPS - European Foundation of Progressive Studies

- Krzysztof Szubert, University of Oxford, Former Secretary of State / Deputy Minister of Digital Affairs, Poland

 

Chaired by: Anthony Gooch, Director of Public Affairs & Communications at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

11:10AM - Formation of breakout groups / room change

11:20AM - Breakout Sessions (coffee/tea served)

Participants will be grouped into four expert roundtables to discuss real solutions and options. Final questions will be published after initial talks with all experts 

The event “Democracy in a Digital Society – Trust, Evidence and Public Discourse in a Changing Media Environment” will address the most pressing questions on the impact of digital transformations on democratic institutions in Europe and beyond.

The forum will bring together leading experts from academia, politics, industry, civil society organisations and media to come up with some concrete proposals of what a European model for a digital society could look like and what values should guide this process.

The discussions will build on the work developed by the ALLEA Working Group Truth, Trust and Expertise and act as the starting point for Re-Imagine Europa’s task force on “Democracy in a Digital Society”. Questions addressed will include: How can we maintain a healthy media ecosystem in a digital world? How do information and disinformation spread on social media? How can we deal with big data in an ethical way? How are these tools used to sway public opinion? What is the role of narratives in creating shared worldviews? How is trust in scientific evidence, the media and long-established democratic institutions affected? What is the value of truth?

The communication ecosystem is central to a well-functioning society and its influence in shaping minds - and thus reality - has been emphasised by its enormous impact on recent events underlining the fact that the control and ownership of the internet will be one of the most important battles of our time.