The Future of the European Public Sphere in AI era

Abstract

The impact of digitalisation and recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) in public and political space have introduced several significant ethical, legal, and political challenges. These concerns involve information transparency, algorithm accountability, information pluralism, and fundamental rights protection. This panel aims to critically examine the future of the European public sphere in an era where digital technology not only mediates but actively shapes the conditions for democratic participation, access to information, public trust and social cohesion. The discussion will address the intersection of public algorithms, artificial intelligence and social media, with particular reference to news filtering, personalised timelines and information bubbles. The spread of disinformation, the manipulation of algorithms and the orchestration of digital campaigns pose significant challenges to the cultivation of public knowledge and the establishment of trust in European institutions. Theoretical, empirical, comparative, methodological contributions and case study proposals are welcome, provided they are rigorous and engage with the theoretical body of work on the public sphere and studies on media, AI and democracy. Contributions that explore the following themes, among others, are therefore encouraged: - The governance and regulation of European digital communication: key themes include artificial intelligence, algorithmic transparency, the right to be forgotten and digital rights; - The increasing use of digital technologies in the European institutional communication, including the employment of chatbots, artificial intelligence, and platforms by the Commission, Parliament, and EU agencies. - European digital deliberation tools: online public spheres opportunities, transnational civic platforms and public digital media. - Risks and opportunities for polarisation, pluralism and supranational deliberation that arise from the intersection of artificial intelligence and political pluralism. - Saveguarde of media pluralism and freedom of espression in an AI-driven environment. - The digital engagement of young individuals within hybrid public spheres and implications for representation, mobilisation, and advancements in democratic innovation. - European elections and the digital space: participation, online campaigns, interference and protection of electoral integrity.

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