Digital geopolitics and internet accountability in focus

The Global Initiative on the Future of the Internet (GIFI) – implemented by the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute (EUI) – convened a two-day conference on 2–3 October 2025 to explore the theme of internet accountability.

The first day took the form of the Internet Accountability Multistakeholder Forum, co-organized by BIG. Through workshops and roundtables, participants discussed key aspects of accountability in the digital sphere, including disinformation, the information environment, the future of digital governance, trusted connectivity, responsible AI, and approaches to digital resilience. Partners supporting the day included GIZ, Deutsche Welle, and Connect Europe.

Opening the Forum, Luuk van Middelaar, Founding Director of BIG, reflected on Europe’s strategic position in the digital realm:

‘Europe is being squeezed in a high-stakes digital triangle. On one side, US Big Tech dominates global platforms, algorithms, and standards – so much that Silicon Valley has a de facto seat at the White House and a direct line into the corridors of power worldwide. On the other, China exports a model of surveillance and authoritarian control, where the state monitors, restricts, and shapes online life. For Europe in the middle, defending a vision of a free and open internet means working with partners across the globe [...] At BIG, we believe that Europe’s geopolitical awakening is no longer confined to traditional spheres of hard power. It now extends decisively into digital space.’

The session Geopolitics of Disinformation: Digital Disruptors in an Era of Great Power Politics, organized by BIG, marked the launch of the Institute’s new research strand on democratic resilience and technological sovereignty.

Held under Chatham House Rules, the discussion explored how state-led regulation of disinformation could be implemented without veering into censorship. The organisers were particularly grateful for the contributions of Irene Khan, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, whose engagement greatly enriched the conversation.

In the course of the debate, the recent elections in Moldova were cited as a case study, illustrating how insufficient accountability by social media platforms such as TikTok and Meta allowed anti-democratic narratives to spread at unprecedented speed, ultimately benefiting pro-Russian political candidates. Participants highlighted the need for the EU to apply its information standards consistently, particularly regarding communications about the conflict in Gaza, as a step toward rebuilding credibility across the Global South. They also discussed potential opportunities for the European Commission – now the largest development aid donor following the collapse of USAID – to integrate digital information support into development cooperation programmes.

This session was conceived and developed by Kate O’Riordan, Junior Researcher at BIG, in collaboration with Sabine Muscat, external consultant, and Elisa Díaz Gras, Head of the Global South Programme.

The second day began with a presentation of the Internet Accountability Compass by Patryk Pawlak, Project Director of GIFI, and Nils Berglund, Project Lead. This was followed by policy-focused panel discussions on practical pathways to advance transparency, responsibility, and shared standards in internet governance.

Elisa Díaz Gras moderated the opening session of the day, Internet Accountability: Tools, Methods and Approaches, which examined the technical, policy, and legal dimensions of internet accountability and surveyed ongoing global efforts to strengthen responsible online governance.

This collaboration highlights BIG’s commitment to fostering informed dialogue and bridging perspectives across the political, technological, and intellectual communities shaping Europe’s strategic landscape.