Democracies are under intense pressure as they face numerous global challenges, including those associated with the digital transformation. This talk by Věra Jourová explored how technological platforms, algorithms, and artificial intelligence shape individuals, society, public discourse, and democratic processes. She also addressed whether and under what conditions civic engagement and the responsible use of technology can contribute to upholding democratic principles.
The lecture was followed by a Q&A session, which offered an exclusive opportunity to speak with former EU Commissioner Věra Jourová about the political background in the making of EU landmark regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Digital Services Act, the Digital Markets Act, and the AI Act.
Věra Jourová is a Czech politician and lawyer who served as the European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality from 2014 to 2019 and as Vice-President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency from 2019 to 2024. She was a member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic between 2013 and 2014 and the Czech Minister for Regional Development in 2014. In 2019, Time magazine ranked Jourová in its list of 100 most influential people of the year, citing her role in the adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation and new privacy rights as European Commissioner. In February 2026, Jourová is the first Karel Schwarzenberg Fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) in Vienna.
Ludger Hagedorn, IWM Permanent Fellow, moderated the talk and the subsequent discussion.
