Almost 400 registered participants at a nationwide conference on technologies for citizen contact, data security, and transparency in Vienna
Press Release – Vienna, 13 February 2025 – Concerns about the impact of fake news, data theft, and artificial intelligence on democracy preoccupy European politicians and institutions such as cities and municipalities. At the same time, new technologies offer the opportunity to improve contact between administrations and citizens, for example, in relation to citizen information and participation.
For this reason, The Innovation in Politics Institute has launched a high-level convention: the Safe Democracy Convention. Cities, municipalities, technological companies, and civil society representatives came together to discuss how democracy can be strengthened with the help of technology.
The Safe Democracy Convention took place on 13 February at Vienna City Hall in cooperation with the City of Vienna, the Austrian Association of Municipalities, the Austrian Association of Cities and Towns, and the companies Samsung and Cisco. Other partners included DXC Technology, A-Trust, Cyclomedia, Elmon, the Federal Computing Center, epicenter.works, and DATUM magazine.
Almost 400 decision-makers from over 50 cities and municipalities came together to discuss solutions that have already been implemented and learn about new technological developments. The initiators drew on successful examples from cities such as Zurich, Munich, Hamburg, and Berlin.
A key topic was the development of standards and guidelines for cities and municipalities. The focus was also on the exchange of pilot projects in the areas of digital citizen participation, transparency of administrations, protection against fake news, data security for citizens, and the digital sovereignty of Europe.
Below, you will find statements from the protagonists of the Safe Democracy Convention:
Jürgen Czernohorszky, Executive City Councillor for Climate, Environment, Democracy, and Human Resources: “We are currently experiencing worldwide that democratic achievements cannot be taken for granted. That is why it is so important to defend democratic values and institutions with all our strength and to support initiatives to strengthen democracy. As European Capital of Democracy, the City of Vienna wants to make a contribution to this.”
Johannes Pressl, Mayor of Ardagger, President of the Austrian Association of Municipalities: “Citizen participation, communication with citizens, transparency, and digital technologies are important topics for the future of all Austrian municipalities. Sharing ideas, looking at the challenges of digital communication, and learning from each other will lead to new input for the work in our municipalities and cities.”
Elisabeth Mayr, Deputy Mayor of the City of Innsbruck, representative of the Austrian Association of Cities and Towns:
“Digital tools for democratic participation are undoubtedly a great opportunity. This is because it makes it easier for people who find it more difficult to take part in participation evenings, such as women due to care work, people who don’t speak German very well and perhaps don’t have the right to vote, as well as people with disabilities or limited mobility, to access co-determination. It is also important not to forget analog access to enable real equality.”
Marvin Peters, Director Mobile Samsung Austria: “Digitalization must not only be efficient, but also secure. At the Safe Democracy Convention, Samsung’s best practices show how we digitize municipalities, cities, and public administrations and ensure the necessary data protection for them.”
Mikel Gindy, Head of National Digitalization Cisco Austria: “Through partnerships with governments, cities, and municipalities, Cisco helps to provide modern technologies and solutions that improve the efficiency, security, and transparency of public services. This collaboration makes it possible to create innovative infrastructures that benefit citizens. The Safe Democracy initiative promotes digital transformation and strengthens citizens’ trust in public institutions. It is in Cisco’s DNA to promote and support such initiatives.”
Martina Fürrutter, Head of Advisory at Innovation in Politics Institute: “Our democracy is challenged to renew and protect itself. The Safe Democracy Convention shows which technologies we need for a strong democracy. Federal states, cities and municipalities, technology companies, experts, and citizens can work together to find the best solutions.”
The group photo from the press conference can be found here.
You can find the program of the convention here: https://safe-democracy.at/programm/ The list of Austrian and international experts and speakers can be found here: https://safe-democracy.at/#Expert:innen
