Brave digital world

Goethe-Institut Athen (14-16 Omirou st., Athens)

Who decides which technologies shape our daily lives? What safeguards protect personal data—or even state secrets? And what does it mean for democracy when essential public functions depend increasingly on big tech companies? In recent years, technological developments have accelerated at lightning pace, while legislation remains inadequate and public debate fragmented both at European and at national level.

Against this backdrop, the “Brave Digital World” event aims to open a conversation that is largely missing: a conversation about public oversight, democratic accountability, and the limits of the state’s dependence on big tech. By bringing together civil society experts, independent journalists, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners working on digital rights and the protection of privacy, the event seeks to shed light on these pressing topics.

The goal is to strengthen evidence‑based public dialogue, highlight the real challenges at stake, and pose the fundamental questions that concern us all—from who shapes digital policy to how technological dependence affects human rights and the resilience of democracy.

The keynote speaker will be Meredith Whittaker, President of Signal, one of the world’s leading secure communication platforms. Drawing on nearly 20 years of experience across the technology industry, academic research, and policymaking, she has become one of the most influential international voices on artificial intelligence, digital surveillance, and the power structures and business models of Big Tech corporations.

Following the keynote, Meredith Whittaker will be joined in conversation by Jan Philipp Albrecht, Co-Chair of the Heinrich Böll Foundation. A former Member of the European Parliament, chief negotiator of the GDPR on behalf of the European Parliament, and former Minister for Digital Affairs in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, Jan Philipp Albrecht has long been at the forefront of efforts to strengthen citizens’ rights and democratic oversight in the digital era.

* The event will also feature a closed session with Udbhav Tiwari, Vice President of Signal (open to invited participants only)

Co-organised by: Goethe-Institut Athen

Agenda

14:00-15:30 

Panel 1 – Greece: beyond the success story of digitalization

Greece’s digital transition has improved the everyday reality of citizens, but it also comes with challenges that are not always openly discussed. The complexity of digital systems, along with the concealment of facts and information, makes it hard for citizens and journalists to monitor how reforms are implemented, while storing sensitive personal and national data on infrastructures owned by international companies raises concerns about privacy and security. At the same time, the broad outsourcing of digital projects to private actors limits transparency and increases institutional dependence. This panel looks at how accountability can be strengthened, how public and journalistic oversight can be supported, and how a more informed conversation can develop around the impact of Greece’s digital transformation.

Discussants:

Danai Maragoudaki – Journalist, Solomon

Thodoros Karounos – Researcher at the Infostrag Team of the Laboratory of Industrial and Energy Economics at the National and Technical University of Athens, Board member of Open Technology Alliance (GFOSS)

Lefteris Chelioudakis – Executive director, Homo Digitalis

Moderator:

Nektaria Stamouli – Journalist, EastMed correspondent “Politico”, Deputy editor in chief “Kathimerini” English

15:30-16:00 

Coffee break 

16:00-17:30

Panel 2 – EU: prerequisites for genuine digital sovereignty

The debate on digital sovereignty is gaining momentum as the EU seeks to reduce its reliance on non-European tech companies. Yet the challenge is not only about where technology comes from, but also about the global business model built on surveillance, data extraction, and concentrated power. Despite ambitious EU initiatives, meaningful autonomy remains distant, and moving toward a different, democratically governed technological ecosystem requires substantial political and economic change. This panel explores what a realistic sovereignty strategy should involve, what conditions must be met, and how Europe can avoid reproducing the same problematic practices that shape today’s dominant digital economy.

Discussants:

Katharine Jarmul – Privacy in AI Systems, Founder of Kjamistan

Konstantinos Komaitis – Resident Senior Fellow at Democracy + Tech Initiative of Atlantic Council

Marcel Kolaja – Policy & Advocacy Director for Europe at Access Now

Moderator:

Drew Mitnick – Program Director for Digital Policy at the Heinrich Böll Stiftung - Washington 

17:30-18:00 

Coffee break

18:00-18:30

Keynote speech: 

Meredith Whittaker – Signal's President, Member of the Signal Foundation Board of Directors

18:30-19:00

Discussion: 

Meredith Whittaker– Signal's President, and Jan Philipp Albrecht– co-chair of Heinrich Boll Foundation

19:00-20:00 

Reception and Networking