Sted VOX, Lyngbyvej 100
Design the Future of Digital Democracy
Join us on Wednesday, 7 October 2026 for a day of co-creation, dialogue and panels on how to support inclusive democratic spaces in the digital world as part of Digital Democracy Days.
Global Focus invites civil society actors, donors, and others working to promote and protect human rights in the digital age to take part in designing the future of digital democracy.
Emerging technologies are changing the way people and organisations act, both in beneficial and harmful ways. Civil society actors use new tools available to everyone with a smartphone for organizing, campaigning, and documentation, as well as delivery of services, such as education, emergency aid, and medical assistance. However, the very same tools are also used by autocratic governments as well as non-state actors to clamp down and encroach on civic space, for example by deploying spyware, mass surveillance, internet censorship, and disinformation campaigns.
The event takes place in person only at VOX, Lyngbyvej 100, in Copenhagen.
Registration is free, but it is necessary due to limited capacity.
You can choose to participate in either part or join the full day event.
Register for Design the Future of Digital Democracy
Program
08.30-11:30 - User Research Lab: In this hands-on workshop, participants are invited to co-create user journeys for the digital platforms Connecting Current, created by Global Focus and the Global South Alliance, Theta by Os & Data, and the knowledge base of CAISA, the National Center for AI in Society. Get acquainted with all three projects and take part in shaping their future.
11.30-12.30 - Lunch: We serve sandwiches and it is possible to participate in a brown bag lunch organized with Danmission and IWGIA showcasing practical experiences of how Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and forest and climate defenders use digital tools to strengthen participation. You can also attend this event online. Register separately for this event here.
13:00-15:30 - Forum for the Future: The Forum explores how both civil society actors, and philanthropic and government donors respond to the challenges and possibilities of a rapidly changing world in the digital age, the strategies they are developing, and how they implement them to strengthen and safeguard digital democracy and build a rights-based digital future.
- Host: Nana Nwachukwu, Lawyer and AI Governance Expert
- Keynote: Gastón Wright, Co-director, Civic House
- Panelists:
- Gulnara Akhundova, Regional Director for Europe, International Media Support (IMS)
- David Berger, Advisor Data Generation and Analysis, International Working Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA)
- Marcin de Kaminski, Senior Vice President of Programs, Open Technology Fund (OTF)
- Ruben Kondrup, Network Advisor Building Responses together & Civic space, Global Focus
- Chris Locke, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Internet Society Foundation
- Marie-Louise Wegter, Director, Department for Humanitarian Action, Civil Society and Engagement (HUMCIV), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark
- Fredrik Westerholm, Specialist and Senior Advisor, Democracy and Human Rights, Freedom of Speech, Sida
- Alaphia Zoyab, Director, Policy & Partnerships, Luminate
15:30: Networking. It is also possible to participate in The Face of Digital Democracy 2026 by IMS and Good Commons where you can meet journalists, community builders, and people running platforms, from Kabul, Dar es Salaam, Amman, and Copenhagen. Register separately for that event here.
Design the Future of Digital Democracy is part of Digital Democracy Days, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark in collaboration with Danish civil society. Global Focus is a partner in the Digital Democracy Initiative launched in 2023 as a Team Europe Initiative, by Denmark, the EU Commission and Norway.
Register for Design the Future of Digital Democracy
If you have any questions for the event, please contact Henrik Chulu:
