Digital Tools and Democratic Participation: Who Has a Say?

Decision-making should be needs-based, inclusive, participatory, and representative—at all levels. This is what Sustainable Development Goal 16, “Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions,” of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda calls for. Digital tools can support these processes: They involve citizens in planning processes, create a platform where voices and views can be exchanged, or provide information about current developments, thereby laying the groundwork for dialogue.

But participatory processes need not be limited to the relationship between the state and its citizens. Wherever decisions are made, they can be made democratically and participatively.

In this panel discussion, we want to explore different perspectives on participation and digitalization: What options exist, and who can benefit from participatory decision-making? How do digital tools support this? When do they shift from being a catalyst to a dangerous shortcut? What role does AI play in this?

The panel will be moderated by the Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Fokus Mensch. This organization focuses on promoting the Sustainable Development Goals within the German digital sector, thereby providing insights into the state of the discussion within the industry itself. The discussion will feature four pioneers from this sector: They have experience in the field of digital participation in citizen engagement, municipal project planning, or corporate democratization.

Represented on the panel are:
- Liquid Democracy e.V. – Digital Democracy for All (Carolin Klingsporn)
- deliberAIde – From planning to insights to impact (Lukas Salecker)
- Mehr Demokratie e.V. with Consul – Shaping the future instead of just watching (Julia Thomaschki)
- Demokratie Wegweiser – Who are your political representatives? (Franziska Hollstein)