The third annual Techno-Politics Forum organised by the European Liberal Forum, took place on 20 November this year in Brussels, bringing together around 150 participants from European institutions, academia, industry and tech-enthusiastic community.
The opening panel, moderated by ELF Senior Fellow Francesco Cappelletti, highlighted the interconnected challenges and opportunities at the intersection of technology and democracy through engaging discussions with the audience.
MEP Anouk van Brug from Renew Europe Group shared her firsthand experiences during her political campaign, offering a compelling narrative on the dual-edged nature of digital platforms. She particularly emphasised the prevalence of hate speech in online spaces, shedding light on its corrosive impact on political discourse and civic engagement. Van Brug called for a balanced approach to counter online abuse, blending regulatory measures with fostering a culture of respect and accountability in digital interactions.
Dr. Katja Muñoz, drawing on her extensive research at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), delved into the psychological components and social engineering dynamics embedded within algorithmic systems. She illustrated how these systems manipulate user behaviour, amplify biases, and influence societal perceptions. Like a kind of Doppler effect or a stone falling into the water, the waves of information in Katja’s metaphor propagate, clashing with each other and influencing the behaviour of actors online.
Quang-Minh Lepescheux from Microsoft represented the industry perspective, emphasising the essential role of technology companies in shaping responsible digital ecosystems. He outlined key global trends in technology governance, advocating for collaborative solutions that unite corporate responsibility, regulatory oversight, and cross-border partnerships to address the societal risks posed by AI and digital platforms.
Rounding out the discussion, Krisztina Stump, Head of Unit for Media Convergence and Social Media at the European Commission’s DG CNECT, highlighted the critical role of the European Commission in coordinating the EU’s approach to addressing the digital transformation’s impact on democracy. She detailed the Commission’s efforts to harmonise policies across member states, focusing on creating a robust regulatory framework to combat disinformation, protect media integrity, and ensure accountability from tech companies.
The conference also tackled critical energy issues in a second panel moderated by Dr. Antonios Nestoras, ELF focusing on the transition to sustainable energy and economic resilience.
Maxime Bureau, Senior Director of Government Affairs & Sustainability at 3M, stressed the need for a technology-neutral energy strategy, advocating for hydrogen, carbon capture, and grid upgrades. He stressed the need to focus on cost-efficiency and carbon intensity rather than solely pursuing green hydrogen. Infrastructure investment, particularly in grids, was deemed essential to integrate renewables, reduce waste, and address transportation issues, with panellists calling for more public funding in this area.
MEP João Cotrim De Figueiredo from Renew Europe Group framed the energy transition as a balancing act between two existential risks: saving the planet and preserving the EU’s economic viability. He highlighted the immense financial cost of transitioning to 100% renewable energy—estimated at €15 trillion over 25 years—and criticised inconsistent EU policies that hinder private-sector investment. Cotrim called for faster decision-making, infrastructure prioritisation, and breakthroughs in technologies like carbon capture and nuclear fusion.
MEP Jeannette Baljeu from Renew Europe Group emphasised the need to protect European competitiveness during the energy transition, particularly in industrial clusters like the Port of Rotterdam. She advocated for policy stability, phased solutions, and integrated planning to connect renewable production to consumption hubs. Baljeu warned against policies that could lead to industrial relocation outside Europe.
Alain Mathuren from Fuels Europe highlighted the need for technology openness and the role of renewable fuels alongside electrification. Noting Europe’s modest global CO2 footprint (6%), he called for international cooperation and a systemic approach to the transition, emphasising a mixed-energy future rather than a total replacement of traditional fuels.
The third panel, moderated by ELF Executive Director Alva Finn, focused on the potential for AI to contribute to the common good, bringing us to a present and future where our lives, our health and work are improved by AI. Yet, if AI becomes too powerful or unfettered AI without human oversight or values it could lead to dangerous consequences and become a meteor.
Professor Hugues Bersini from FARI highlighted that AI extends beyond large language models and has existed for decades. Rather than manifesto-writing, we should harness AI for practical solutions.
Elisabetta Gatti from J&J emphasised AI’s transformative role and potential in healthcare—improving diagnostics, care delivery, and systems—but stressed the need for an EU-wide data ecosystem, transparency, and AI monitoring to augment rather than replace human intelligence.
Julia Ebert of the Vodafone Institute saw AI as a job creator, easing repetitive tasks and enhancing work quality. She cited Vodafone Institute’s findings as an evidence of how we can direct AI to the common good: AI could save 4 million hours of administrative waiting time and enable 10 million extra doctor-patient interactions. However, she warned of the need to address skills shortages.
MEP Brigitte van den Berg, Deputy Coordinator in the EMPL Committee, urged cautious regulation to avoid stifling AI’s democratising potential. She emphasised that people need to have access to and understand AI and invest in value-based AI. She advocated for accessible, value-based AI and warned that failure to embark on the AI boat could turn AI into a “meteor” rather than a “satellite” for Europe.
Read our studies on these topics here.