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Digital Demos: Data, Power and Politics in the EU and India  (9 and 10 September 2026)

International conference on Digital Demos: Data, Power and Politics in the EU and India is being organised by Jean Monnet Module on “Digital Democracy and Data Governance in the European Union” Human Sciences Research Centre, IIIT Hyderabad, in collaboration with IHub Data, IIIT Hyderabad and Department of Political Science, University of Hyderabad.

Date: September 9-10, 2026

Venue: IIIT Hyderabad

India Concept note

Who controls the flows of data that increasingly affect citizens’ lives? What new forms of power are emerging through data brokers, aggregators, monetisers, and digital infrastructures? Can regulatory frameworks keep pace with the rapidly evolving political economy of data-driven systems? As data becomes central to governance, economic value creation, and political authority, debates on digital regulation are expanding beyond privacy towards broader questions of power, ownership, and control. Data is no longer merely collected; it is aggregated, monetised, traded and embedded within complex infrastructures such as data centres, cloud architectures and digital platforms. This raises urgent concerns about accountability, transparency, and democratic oversight in an increasingly datafied world. Against this backdrop, the European Union and India represent two distinct yet influential approaches to governing data. While the EU’s rights-based model has shaped global normative values, India’s evolving approach reflects its emphasis on digital public infrastructure and developmental priorities. In this context, the second edition of Digital Demos examines data governance as an ecosystem, encompassing legal and policy frameworks, market actors, and technological infrastructures. It aims to provide a platform for rigorous academic dialogue and critical debate, examining data regulation and its absence, and fostering interdisciplinary and comparative insights on their global implications.

Themes

We encourage submissions that address, but are not necessarily limited to:

Comparative Frameworks for Data Governance
Data Infrastructures and Digital Ecosystems • Data Economies and Emerging Stakeholders
Data and the Public Good
Digital Public Infrastructure and Policies
Digital Divides and the Reimagining of Rights
Accountability and Transparency for Data Fiduciaries
Sustainability and Environmental Implications of Data Centres
Geopolitics of Data Sovereignty and Data Diplomacy
Future Trajectories of Data in AI Governance
Submission Guidelines

We invite submissions of original research papers from scholars across disciplines such as European and international law, political science, public policy, sociology, international relations, diplomacy studies, and development studies. Abstracts should be between 500 and 700 words and clearly include the paper title, research objectives, methodology, key findings, and the relevance to the conference theme. Each submission must be accompanied by a brief bio of the author(s), including their institutional affiliation and contact information.

Key Dates

Abstract Submission Deadline: June 30, 2026 (5 PM IST)

Notification of Acceptance: July 15, 2026

Draft Paper Submission Deadline: August 15, 2026

Link for Abstract Submission: https://forms.office.com/r/n3GMZt1DWV

Registration and Logistics: There is no registration fee. The conference organisers will provide catering for tea/coffee and lunch during the conference. All other expenses, including travel and accommodation, will be the responsibility of the participants.

Conference Convenor: Dr. Aakansha Natani, Human Sciences Research Centre, IIIT Hyderabad

Email: aakansha.natani@iiit.ac.in

Conference Co-Convenor: Prof. Manjari Katju, Department of Political Science, University of Hyderabad

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