Accent Obert, an open network that connects talent and innovation to secure the future of Catalan culture, and Xnet, a non-profit activist platform that develops and promotes alternative models for cultural dissemination in different fields related to digital rights, networked democracy and freedom of expression, have called for participation in the upcoming 4D European Conference on Democratic Digitalisation and Digital Rights, which will take place on October 28, 2025, in Barcelona, Spain. The full-day gathering is open to individuals, organisations, and institutions with an interest in the intersection of democracy, technology, and fundamental rights.
With free admission and simultaneous interpretation in Catalan, Spanish, and English, the conference will promote inclusive dialogue on the pressing questions surrounding the governance of digital infrastructure and the protection of rights in the digital sphere. Stakeholders from diverse sectors, civic organisations, academic institutions, public administrations, and the broader digital rights community are invited to engage in collaborative discussions aimed at shaping equitable and transparent digital policies.
The 2025 conference will explore how democratic societies can build and sustain public digital infrastructures that serve the common good, while resisting models of digital governance that prioritise commercial or authoritarian control. Participants will have the opportunity to examine a wide range of topics, including digital sovereignty, algorithmic accountability, data protection, surveillance, and platform regulation. A key focus will be on the conditions necessary to ensure that digitalisation processes are democratic, inclusive, and aligned with fundamental rights. The event will also highlight experiences and case studies from across Europe and beyond, drawing on both grassroots initiatives and institutional responses to the challenges of the digital age. Structured around panels, practical sessions, and participatory forums, the programme aims to generate policy recommendations for national and international authorities, as well as strategies for civil society engagement and advocacy.
The 4D European Conference is jointly organised by Accent Obert and Xnet. Accent Obert, formerly known as Fundació.cat, is a private non-profit foundation committed to promoting a diverse and open digital environment where the Catalan-speaking community can exercise agency and identity online. Its areas of focus include managing digital community infrastructure such as the .cat domain, defending digital rights, fostering digital talent, and developing tools that support digital engagement in Catalan. Xnet, the co-organiser, is a multidisciplinary institute focused on democratic digitalisation and rights-based technological governance. Its work spans a variety of themes, including digital privacy, net neutrality, artificial intelligence, transparency, whistleblower protection, and civic participation. Both organisations share a common goal of ensuring that digital technologies reinforce democratic values and public accountability.
The event is presented in collaboration with El Mundo Today and benefits from contributions by Pantomima Full. The University of Barcelona (UB) and the Department of Education of the Generalitat de Catalunya have officially recognised the conference as eight hours of accredited training for educational professionals. Faculty members affiliated with XTEC and UB will be automatically enrolled and certified through institutional channels. Other participants will be required to complete an attendance form and will receive their certificates by email for personal or professional use, including applications in competitive selection processes. Participants must attend at least 80% of the activities in person to qualify for certification.
Additional information, including the detailed programme, list of speakers, and registration instructions, will be available on the official conference website. For any questions or suggestions, interested participants can contact INFO@4D.CAT.
