As the digital realm weaves itself into the fabric of our societies, we are compelled to reflect on what this means for our democracies.

Co-funded by Creative Europe, European Digital Deal is a three-year investigation into how the accelerated, yet at times unconsidered adoption of new technologies - such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain and algorithmic processing – can alter or undermine democratic processes.

As these technologies become part and parcel of the ways in which we disseminate and consume information or interact with public administration, they mould our view of the world and our relationship with governments. Unpacking the entanglements of technology with the media and public administration is a first step in reaching a digital deal that is committed to democratic principles.

Beyond exposing the present-day risks, the project also questions the current architecture of innovation processes to make a case for the long-term environmental and societal impacts to be considered in designing fair, ethical and sustainable technologies in the future.

Through a myriad of programmes running from January 2023 to December 2025, we want to set up a new kind of public forum where cultural institutions, artists, researchers, educators gather to reflect on what a deal that safeguards democratic values in the digital realm might look like, and the role they can play in shaping it.

In 2024, The European Digital Deal consortium partners will host 12 residencies across Europe.

The topics of these residencies will explore different dimensions of the core themes: tech and media, tech and public administration, and fair, ethical and sustainable tech.

An open call for the residencies will be launched in October 2023. The winners of the residency programmes will be announced in January 2024.

More information coming soon.

Through a series of educational programmes, European Digital Deal addresses the younger, digital native generations.

This dimension of the project draws attention to the transformative capacity of digital literacy and its importance in safeguarding democratic values and the need to integrate it in the school curricula.

More information coming soon.

Ars Electronica; The Center for the Promotion of Science (CPN); The Culture Yard; Gluon; Teatro Circo de Braga; Braga Media Arts; gnration; iMAL; Kersnikova Institute; LABoral; Onassis Culture; Pro Progressione; Sineglossa; Waag; Zaragoza City of Knowledge Foundation (FZC)/Etopia.

More info about the partners here.

This project has been co-funded by the European Union’s Creative Europe programme under grant agreement No 101100036. Views and opinions expressed on this page are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) can be held responsible for them.