« The Paradox of Protection: How to Preserve Democratic Integrity Against Malign Interference and Influence »

The European Union’s democratic societies are increasingly confronted with sustained attempts at foreign influence and interference. Foreign state and non-state actors have exploited the permeability of democratic societies’ information environments, freedom of expression, and political pluralism through foreign interference, disinformation, and influence operations, often intentionally or unintentionally amplified by domestic movements. Foreign interference and influence has the propensity to subvert electoral processes, erode public trust and manipulate discourse, and influence domestic and foreign policy. These complex developments beg the question whether and to what extent governments should restrict certain democratic freedoms in order to safeguard democracy itself.

This conference examines the ethical and policy challenges of interference that contemporary democracies are faced with: Should governments restrict certain freedoms of expression and assembly to protect democracy from foreign interference and influence? In an age where liberal openness is both a value and a vulnerability, this dilemma captures a central paradox of democratic governance; defending freedom may at times require limiting it.

Experts from public institutions, academia, civil society, and the private sector will explore this question in a multi-stakeholder discussion situated within broader concerns about the resilience of European democracies, exploring whether and what countermeasures can safeguard democracy without sliding toward censorship.