A European Parliament study examining how digital participation tools and AI can promote citizen engagement in EU policymaking. It analyses 94 digital participation tools worldwide, examines 11 representative cases in depth, identifies benefits and limitations, and proposes policy options, governance requirements, safeguards and technical approaches for connecting citizens’ voices with institutional decision-making.
Why it matters for ENACT-AI
AI is one of the study's central themes. It specifically examines current and potential uses of AI in digital participation, including the benefits, risks, conditions for effective participation and safeguards needed to ensure that technology genuinely strengthens democratic engagement.
Learning outcomes
Learners can explain how digital tools and AI can facilitate civic participation; identify opportunities and limitations of AI-supported participation; evaluate risks such as bias, exclusion and manipulation; understand why transparency, governance and safeguards matter; assess whether a digital participation tool genuinely represents citizens' voices; and propose principles for responsible AI-supported democratic participation.
Suggested activity
“Design a Democratic AI Participation Tool.” Students first examine several ways AI could support citizen participation—for example, summarising public comments, identifying common concerns or helping citizens navigate policy information. They then identify potential risks such as bias, unequal participation, privacy concerns or manipulation. Groups design their own AI-supported civic participation tool and create 5–7 safeguards that must be in place before it can be used democratically. Finally, groups pitch their designs and critically evaluate one another.