KT4D at the “Democracy and Youth in the Digital Age” Conference in Luxembourg

What if playing a game could teach you how to spot deepfakes, challenge algorithmic bias, and navigate the ethical dilemmas of AI? That question sparked the attention of participants at the recent international conference, “Democracy and Youth in the Digital Age: Evolving Technologies and Political Participation,” held at the University of Luxembourg from 19 to 21 March 2025. 

Democracy and youth: KT4D educational games

Amid researchers, policymakers, and civic actors gathered under Luxembourg’s chairmanship of the Council of Europe, the KT4D project representatves turned digital complexity into something citizens can engage with, learn from, and question. KT4D's Irene Medina Sánchez-Vilar from Fundación Cibervoluntarios took the stage in the panel Gaming versus Explaining? The Future of Political Education. But her mission wasn’t just to explain. It was to show how play can empower. Irene introduced the audience to the innovative educational games KT4D is developing, specifically designed to equip citizens with the skills and knowledge to critically engage with AI, Big Data, and the new digital realities shaping democratic life. 

Gamification and digital democracy

Rather than delivering a one-way lecture, Irene invited the audience to reflect on an urgent dilemma: how do we ensure that digital engagement isn’t just entertaining, but also meaningful? Her presentation sparked a lively discussion around how gamification can motivate citizens to take part in democratic processes without simplifying or trivialising complex issues. Participants wanted to know: how do you actually involve citizens in the design of these tools? What does it look like when people co-create games about the future of democracy? Irene shared with the audience the groundwork KT4D has been putting forward, bringing the project’s unique approach to life. 

Citizens at the heart of digital democracy

This conference was a clear signal that civic participation in the digital age requires new methods, new voices, and new ways of thinking. KT4D’s contribution resonated with one of the conference’s central goals: ensuring that young people, citizens, and communities have the tools to navigate the risks and opportunities of AI and Big Data. As KT4D enters its final year, events like this reinforce the importance of keeping citizens at the heart of digital democracy, not just as users or voters, but as informed, empowered participants in shaping the technologies that affect them.