From May 11 to 14, 2025, the Vienna Citizen Lab 2025, organized by DialoguePerspectives, convened 30 young European leaders, experts, and policymakers in Vienna to address the urgent challenges of hate speech, misinformation, and polarization in the digital era. Under the theme “Free Speech or Free-for-All? Tackling Hate, Misinformation and Polarisation in the Age of AI and Tech-Oligarchs,” the event featured interactive workshops, panel discussions, and hands-on training focused on the impact of social media algorithms, AI-driven content, and platform accountability on democratic values.
The programme included sessions on the amplification of hate speech and disinformation by algorithms, foreign digital manipulation, and the design of transparent and fair recommender systems. A highlight was the demonstration of the TWONy platform, an innovative tool for simulating online social networks, which allowed participants to experiment with different content ranking mechanisms and observe their effects on digital conversations. The event also featured collaborative policy prototyping, where attendees developed actionable recommendations to promote digital inclusion and democratic resilience across Europe.
The Interorthodox Centre of the Church of Greece was represented by Chief Coordinator Sergios Voilas, who actively participated in the discussions and contributed perspectives from the Centre. His engagement underscored the Centre’s commitment to safeguarding democracy and pluralism in the digital age and to fostering cooperation with European partners.
