Beyond the Algorithm: From Research to Action for Democratic Renewal
Event Highlights
On 4 December 2025 in Brussels, the KT4D final event took place as part of a joint conference of the AI, Big Data & Democracy Task Force and the European Alliance for Social Sciences and Humanities. This event marked the culmination of an ambitious collaboration between four Horizon Europe projects: AI4GOV, KT4D, ITHACA, and ORBIS. Together, these initiatives worked under the umbrella of the Task Force to understand the benefits and risks of Artificial Intelligence and (Big) Data for democracy, while developing practical solutions for their responsible and democratic use.
This short video provides an at-a-glance overview of the event.
The event provided a unique opportunity to see the achievements of four projects in one place, highlighting how joint efforts can generate greater impact at the crossroads of research, policy, and civic engagement. The participation in the conference was free of charge.
Video Recording & Slides
If you missed the event, watch the video recording and download the slides.
Background and Purpose
The rapid spread of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data is reshaping democratic processes, economies, and societies worldwide. These technologies offer new avenues for civic participation, transparency, and efficiency, but they also raise profound challenges such as algorithmic bias, disinformation, privacy risks, cultural polarisation, and threats to democratic values. Recognising the urgency of these issues, the Task Force brought together diverse expertise from across Europe, building a collaborative framework that has led to timely outcomes. The KT4D final event, co-organised with its sister projects, showcased these outcomes, ranging from methodological insights to policy recommendations and citizen engagement tools. It was both a celebration of what has been achieved and a forward-looking moment to shape the legacy of this collaboration.
Objectives of the Conference
The event presented the most relevant findings of the four projects, with a strong emphasis on practical solutions, key exploitable results, and policy recommendations. It will facilitate high-level exchange between researchers, policymakers, civil society organisations, and practitioners on how to strengthen democratic processes in the digital age. Demonstrations of tools and methodologies highlighted how transparency, ethical governance, and civic participation can be advanced in practice. The event also opened a conversation about the long-term sustainability of the Task Force’s work, exploring how its knowledge, networks, and tools could continue to inform future regulation, civic education, and digital governance in Europe and beyond.
Why Attend
This conference represented a rare opportunity to gain insights from four major Horizon Europe projects in a single event. It came at a decisive moment for Europe, as digital technologies increasingly intersect with democratic processes and regulatory frameworks. Participants not only gained access to fresh research results and policy recommendations but also directly engaged with tools and methodologies designed to improve transparency and citizen participation. Beyond knowledge exchange, the event offered an important platform for networking, allowing policymakers, researchers, civil society, and innovators to connect and collaborate in shaping the future of democratic renewal.
Introduction to the AI, Big Data & Democracy Task Force.
Speakers:
Ilaria Mariani
Politecnico di Milano
ORBIS Project
Jennifer Edmond
Professor, Trinity College Dublin
Project Coordinator, KT4D
Trust is the foundation of democratic life. It is what allows citizens to delegate authority, share knowledge, and participate confidently in public life. Yet in today’s digital age, the foundations of that trust are being tested. Dedicated time to open discussion (30 minutes).
Speakers:
Anne Haglund-Morrissey
Deputy Head of Unit, Democracy, Equality and Culture - DG Research and Innovation, European Commission
Epameinondas Koutavelis
Konnektable Technologies
ITHACA Project
Spiros Borotis
Project Manager, Gruppo Maggioli
Coordinator, AI4GOV
Moderators:
Grazia Concilio
Politecnico di Milano
ORBIS Project
Tiffany Morisseau
Strane Innovation
KT4D
Speakers:
Anna Moro
Architect and PhD in Urban and Environmental Planning, is Assistant Professor in Urbanism at the DAStU Department, where she teaches Urban Design.
Archiect, Researcher, Politecnico di Milano
ORBIS Project
Eleonora Lima
Trinity College Dublin
KT4D
Ilaria Mariani
Politecnico di Milano
ORBIS Project
Jennifer Edmond
Professor, Trinity College Dublin
Project Coordinator, KT4D
Krisztina Stump
Krisztina Stump is Head of the Media Convergence and Social Media Unit, in Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology of the European Commission. The Unit is in charge of the Commission’s policy on combatting disinformation online. During the last ten years Krisztina has held various positions within DG CNECT of the European Commission, in particular in the fields of radio spectrum policy, audiovisual media, media freedom & pluralism and copyright.
Head of Unit Media Convergence and Social Media, European Commission, DG CNECT
Mara Almeida
Policy Analyst, European Commission
Moderators:
Angelos Liapis
CEO, Konnektable Technologies
ITHACA Project
Spiros Borotis
Project Manager, Gruppo Maggioli
Coordinator, AI4GOV
Speakers:
Anna De Liddo
Professor, The Open University
ORBIS Project
Elizabeth Calderón Lüning
Researcher, Democratic Society
KT4D Project
Gabi Lombardo
Director, EASSH - European Alliance for Social Sciences and Humanities
Zixuan Fu
Manager, PUBLIC
Moderators:
George Manias
AI4GOV Project
Researcher, University of Piraeus
Konstantinos Moustakas
Professor, University of Patras
ITHACA Project
Exhibition session with networking cocktail on the rooftop.
The day began with a welcome and introduction to the cluster of projects, followed by three thematic panels. The first panel focussed on Trust, bringing together insights from AI4GOV and ITHACA alongside external policy contributions, followed by a discussion on recommendations. The second panel, dedicated to Literacies, featured contributions from ORBIS and KT4D, combined with perspectives from European Commission representatives. After a lunch and exhibition session, the third panel addressed Democracy-Centred Technology, highlighting findings from KT4D and ORBIS while engaging with high-level policymakers and experts. In the afternoon, a keynote panel set the stage for reflection and debate. The event closed with remarks and a brokerage session combined with the exhibition of tools and methodologies developed by the Task Force.
The day began with a welcome and introduction to the cluster of projects, followed by three thematic panels. The first panel focussed on Trust, bringing together insights from AI4GOV and ITHACA alongside external policy contributions, followed by a discussion on recommendations. The second panel, dedicated to Literacies, featured contributions from ORBIS and KT4D, combined with perspectives from European Commission representatives. After a lunch and exhibition session, the third panel addressed Democracy-Centred Technology, highlighting findings from KT4D and ORBIS while engaging with high-level policymakers and experts. In the afternoon, a keynote panel set the stage for reflection and debate. The event closed with remarks and a brokerage session combined with the exhibition of tools and methodologies developed by the Task Force.