Open societies have witnessed a troubling trend in the past few years. In light of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified genocidal war on Ukraine, and reinforced by the pandemic and economic hardship, democracy, transparency and press and internet freedom have suffered setbacks globally. In its various forms, authoritarianism has weathered these storms and emerged as a resilient force, pushing its agenda internationally and taking advantage of corruption and cronyism, which remain potent in open societies.

While technology was long seen as a tool that could strengthen open societies and topple authoritarian regimes, the world is now confronted with the sobering realization that technology is not a panacea for the challenges of open societies. The spread of disinformation and propaganda, the rise of cyber-attacks and cyber warfare, the use of artificial intelligence to manipulate public opinion, and the challenges posed by the rapid change of emerging technologies such as biotech and AI have left some wondering whether the slow and unpredictable nature of democratic decision-making can govern the opportunities and risks that emerging technologies bring.

This autumn, the Tallinn Digital Summit wants to refresh the agenda of democracy and technology to chart a course for a more resilient, responsive and open future. These three key themes define the conference agenda and intend to make a crucial contribution to the global discourse around building resilient, modern democracies.