#callfor Confronting Technofeudalism and Digital Authoritarianism: Challenges and Solutions for the European Regulation (DARL)

Digital Authoritarianism Research Lab (DARL) invites scholars, researchers, and practitioners to submit papers for its upcoming annual conference on the intersections of technofeudalism, digital authoritarianism, and the European Union’s regulatory efforts in the digital sphere. As we navigate the complexities of the digital age, the European Union wants to play a pivotal role in shaping a democratic and humane digital future. The rise of technofeudalism – where dominant tech corporations exert disproportionate control over digital infrastructures – and the spread of digital authoritarian practices challenge fundamental rights, democratic governance, and individual autonomy. The conference critically examines these dynamics and assesses how EU policies, such as DSA, DMA, GDPR, and initiatives under Europe’s Digital Decade, address these pressing issues. In addition to these regulatory developments, the conference will explore the rapidly evolving impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies on democratic institutions and authoritarian regimes. As AI becomes a core infrastructure of governance, surveillance, and content moderation, it brings new risks for civil liberties, human rights, and political manipulation, particularly when embedded in systems of power that lack transparency and accountability. We welcome submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following topics: 1. The EU’s digital sovereignty initiatives and their impact on technofeudalism 2. The role of digital technologies in empowering authoritarianism and weakening democracy 3. Algorithmic governance and its effects on free speech and user-generated content 4. EU regulatory frameworks and their effectiveness in combating digital authoritarianism 5. Strategies for enhancing transparency and accountability in digital governance 6. Strategies limiting the dominance of tech companies 7. The tension between privacy protection and the free flow of information across borders 1 8. Future of online content moderation as a tool of repression 9. Advantages and disadvantages of the possible Brussels effect in the digital sphere 10. The global rise of digital authoritarianism 11. The role of AI models in enabling or resisting digital authoritarianism 12. AI-driven surveillance and predictive technologies 13. Building resilient AI systems in democracies: transparency, contestability, and fundamental rights by design Submissions should critically examine the EU’s approach to regulating the online sphere and propose innovative solutions for balancing technological progress with democratic values and individual rights. Date: October 17, 2025 (Friday) Venue: Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Faculty of Law (Budapest, Egyetem tér 1-3, 1053) Deadline for abstract submission (maximum 300 words without references): June 17, 2025 Notification of acceptance for the conference: July 17, 2025 Deadline for full paper submission: October 1, 2025 Abstracts – alongside a short bio and affiliations – should be sent to ziegler.tamas@tatk.elte.hu and gosztonyi@ajk.elte.hu