Think Twice 2026: AI, Governance and the Choices Ahead
Pirate Parties International (PPI), together with the European Pirates (PPEU), is organizing Think Twice 2026 on 17 October 2026 in Brussels, Belgium.
The conference will focus on AI & Governance: Opportunities and Risks for Digital Freedom.
Artificial intelligence is no longer something we can think of as belonging to the distant future. It is already part of everyday life, influencing how we communicate, work, access services, make decisions, and take part in society.
As AI becomes more closely woven into public life, the conversation around it becomes bigger than technology. How can AI help strengthen democratic institutions without taking human judgment out of the picture? How can governments make use of AI while protecting fundamental rights? And when an AI-driven system gets something wrong, who should be responsible for putting it right?
Think Twice 2026 brings together voices from technology, politics, research, civil society and digital rights to examine these questions and the consequences of the choices being made today.
One Platform. Two Central Conversations.
AI, Data and Identity: Who controls the data behind automated systems? How should digital identity work in an increasingly automated world, and how can innovation move forward without sacrificing privacy, autonomy and individual choice?
AI and Democracy: As AI enters public services, political communication and democratic institutions, how do we maintain transparency, accountability and public trust? How much say should citizens have in deciding how these systems are built and used?
The aim is not to answer every question. It is to ask better questions.
Join Think Twice 2026
When: 17 October 2026
Where: Brussels, Belgium – Steigenberger Hotel
Time: 09:00–15:30
Language: English
Format: In-person conference
Registration is open to the public, subject to available capacity. Places are limited, so participants are encouraged to register in advance. Participants should also keep up with the European Pirates (PPEU) website for further updates about the programme, venue, access and participation. Information will also be posted on the dedicated Think Twice website.
Think Twice 2026 – PPEU Event Page
European Pirates – Further Updates
We hope to see Pirates, activists, researchers, technologists, policymakers and everyone interested in digital rights and democratic technology in Brussels.