Beyond the Algorithm: From Research to Action for Democratic Renewal
On 4 December 2025 in Brussels, the KT4D final event will take place as part of a joint conference of the AI, Big Data & Democracy Task Force and the European Association for Social Sciences and Humanities. This event marks the culmination of an ambitious collaboration between four Horizon Europe projects: AI4GOV, KT4D, ITHACA, and ORBIS. Together, these initiatives have 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. The final event provides 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.
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, will showcase these outcomes, ranging from methodological insights to policy recommendations and citizen engagement tools. It is 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 will present 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 will highlight how transparency, ethical governance, and civic participation can be advanced in practice. The event will also open a conversation about the long-term sustainability of the Task Force’s work, exploring how its knowledge, networks, and tools can continue to inform future regulation, civic education, and digital governance in Europe and beyond.
Provisional Agenda
The day will begin with a welcome and introduction to the cluster of projects, followed by three thematic panels. The first panel will focus 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, will feature contributions from ORBIS and KT4D, combined with perspectives from European Commission representatives. After a lunch and exhibition session, the third panel will address Democracy-Centred Technology, highlighting findings from KT4D and ORBIS while engaging with high-level policymakers and experts. In the afternoon, a keynote panel will set the stage for reflection and debate. The event will close with remarks and a brokerage session combined with the exhibition of tools and methodologies developed by the Task Force.
Why Attend
This conference represents a rare opportunity to gain insights from four major Horizon Europe projects in a single event. It comes at a decisive moment for Europe, as digital technologies increasingly intersect with democratic processes and regulatory frameworks. Participants will not only gain access to fresh research results and policy recommendations but will also engage directly with tools and methodologies designed to improve transparency and citizen participation. Beyond knowledge exchange, the event offers an important platform for networking, allowing policymakers, researchers, civil society, and innovators to connect and collaborate in shaping the future of democratic renewal.