The digital age has influenced the pillars of democracy in various ways, challenging electoral systems, political representation and civic participation. Along with this, it raises many questions about security and respect for our fundamental rights in the world of the Internet.

• How equality for all is guaranteed and are our rights protected in the digital environment?
• How do we integrate digital tools for providing public services and how will we make them accessible and secure?
• How will digital tools and platforms be regulated and what standards they meet (or will meet) when artificial intelligence is used to manage them and to process big data?
• Where is Bulgaria on the road to digital democracy?

In response to these questions and in search of solutions that guarantee our fundamental rights, we are initiating a series of publications and online seminars dedicated to the topic of "Digital Democracy".

 

THE PURPOSE OF THE SERIES:

• to gain a better understanding of the digitization processes and the risks which they bring along to our rights and democratic principles;
• to discuss how we can address the challenges of the digital world in order to ensure digital transformation which supports our sustainable development and respects our human rights;
• to ensure the participation of civil society organizations - human rights defenders, in the dialogue with institutions and companies on the effect of digitalization on our rights and freedoms and their protection.

SOURCES:

DISINFORMATION – On the pandemic proportions of disinformation

EUROPEAN DEMOCRACY ACTION PLAN - Democracy can only thrive in a climate where freedom of information and freedom of expression are both upheld

DIGITAL IDENTITY AND DIGITAL IDENTIFICATION - What is needed to create a sustainable eGovernment in Bulgaria

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE - Challenges to respect for human rights

10 WAYS FOR DIGITAL PLATFORMS TO IMPROVE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC PROCESSES - Examples and recommendations from practice

THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD IN THE DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT - General comment of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

ONLINE EVENTS:

8 of April 2021|10:00-12:00

WHAT STANDARDS SHOULD THE REGULATIONS ON THE INTERNET MEET

Co-organizers: The Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law (BCNL), BESCO – The Bulgarian Startup Association and The Applied Research and Communication Fund.

Invitations and more information about the event – to be expected.

   

LET'S STAY CONNECTED:

We share and discuss the materials online using SLACK – Digital participation (follow the link)

We keep you informed via VIBER community - Digital participation (use the search option of the application to find the community and join it)

 

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The series of materials and online seminars "Digital Democracy" are conducted with the support of the America for Bulgaria Foundation. The statements and opinions expressed in the series belong solely to the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law and the participants, authors and speakers, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the America Foundation for Bulgaria or its partners.