AI & Governance: Opportunities and Risks for Digital Freedom
17 October 2026 | Brussels, Belgium
Artificial intelligence is no longer something we can think of as belonging to the distant future. It is already part of everyday life, influencing how we communicate, work, access services, make decisions, and take part in society.
And as AI becomes more closely woven into public life, the conversation around it becomes bigger than technology.
How can AI help strengthen democratic institutions without taking human judgment out of the picture?
How can governments make use of AI while protecting fundamental rights?
And when an AI-driven system gets something wrong, who should be responsible for putting it right?
These are some of the questions at the heart of Think Twice 2026.
The conference brings together voices from technology, politics, research, civil society, and digital rights to look at AI from different perspectives. Rather than approaching the subject with ready-made answers, Think Twice creates space to examine today’s choices and their consequences for tomorrow.
Organized by European Pirates and Pirate Parties International, the conference will explore both the possibilities AI offers and the challenges it presents for a free, open and democratic digital society.
One Platform. Two Central Conversations.
AI, Data and Identity
AI needs data. Digital services increasingly need identity. And the two are becoming more closely connected.
But what happens when our personal information becomes part of automated systems that make or influence decisions about us?
Who controls the data behind these systems?
How should digital identity work in an increasingly automated world?
And how do we make sure that greater convenience does not come at the cost of privacy, autonomy, or individual choice?
This panel explores the growing intersection of AI, data, digital identity, and individual freedom, and asks how technological progress can move forward without leaving meaningful control over our personal information behind.
AI and Democracy
AI is already finding its way into public services, political communication, information platforms, and other parts of democratic life.
It can help institutions process information and interact with citizens. At the same time, it can influence what people see, how information reaches them, and how decisions are made.
So what happens when AI becomes part of the machinery of democracy?
How do we maintain transparency, accountability, and public trust?
And perhaps most importantly, how much say should citizens have in deciding how these systems are built and used?
This panel explores AI’s growing role in democratic institutions and civic life, and the choices that could determine whether technology ultimately strengthens democratic participation or puts it under new pressure.
Meet the Speakers
Think Twice 2026 brings together speakers with diverse experiences and perspectives spanning technology, politics, research, civil society, and digital rights.
From questions of data and digital identity to the future of democratic participation, our speakers will bring diverse perspectives to the conversations throughout the conference.
What to Expect
Think Twice is intended to be more than a series of talks.
Throughout the conference, speakers and participants will look at the questions that arise when technological possibilities meet real-world decisions and public responsibility.
Among the topics under discussion will be:
- Artificial intelligence and public decision-making
- Data, privacy and digital identity
- AI and democratic participation
- Transparency and accountability
- Human oversight and automated decisions
- Digital freedom and individual autonomy
- The role of governments and technology companies
- The future of democratic governance in an AI-driven society
There may not be one simple answer to these questions.
And that is precisely why they are worth discussing.
The aim is not to answer every question. It is to ask better questions.
Join Think Twice 2026
When:
17 October 2026
Where:
Brussels, Belgium
Venue Steigenberger hotel
Time:
09:00–15:30
Language:
English
Format:
In-person conference
Registration
Registration is open to the public, subject to available capacity.
REGISTER FOR THINK TWICE 2026
Fill in the form to register your interest for the event.
Places are limited, so register in advance.
We will provide further practical information about the venue, program, access, and participation to registered participants.
Why Think Twice?
AI is moving quickly. Regulation is catching up. Institutions are learning how to respond.
But technology alone will not determine what comes next.
Decisions made by governments, companies, researchers, and citizens will shape how AI becomes part of our public and private lives.
That makes the conversation about AI a conversation about us: our rights, our choices, our institutions, and the kind of digital society we want to build.
Think Twice 2026 invites you to join that conversation.
Think about the technology.
Question the choices behind it.
Think twice.
17 October 2026 · Brussels
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