Les Midis d’Europa Expérience #4 – Digital & AI: Is Europe Falling Behind?

Les Midis d’Europa Expérience #4 – Digital & AI: Is Europe Falling Behind? 

*This event will be held in French

Date: 9 June 2026, from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM

Location: Europa Experience, 28 Place de la Madeleine, 75008 Paris

Context:

Digital technologies and artificial intelligence now occupy a central place in the European Union’s agenda. Through regulations such as the GDPR, the DSA, and the DMA, Europe aims to protect citizens from the excesses of digital platforms while asserting its regulatory power in an environment largely dominated by major American and Chinese tech companies.

However, with the rapid rise of generative AI, growing concerns over the use of personal data, the influence of social media on elections, and the protection of minors online, new questions are emerging: can Europe truly become an autonomous digital power? Can it still foster its own technological champions and regain control over the tools that increasingly shape our democracies and societies?

Key Questions:

In this context, the discussion with expert Charles Thibout will explore several key issues:

• Can Europe reconcile innovation, competitiveness, and regulation?
• How can Europe reduce its dependencies in strategic technologies and artificial intelligence?
• To what extent should the EU regulate platforms (particularly for younger users) and AI-generated content?

Speaker:

Charles Thibout is an Associate Research Fellow at IRIS. A specialist in the relationship between multinational tech companies and public authorities, his research focuses on the influence strategies of major technology firms, the politicisation of Big Tech, and the political implications of artificial intelligence in both public policy and international relations. He is also Associate Professor of Political Science at Sciences Po Strasbourg (SAGE).

What are Les Midis d’Europa Expérience?

Once a month, Europa Experience, in cooperation with the Jacques Delors Institute, hosts a series of conferences led by experts on current European and international issues. Designed primarily for students aged 16 and over, these events take place from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM and are free of charge. Light refreshments will be provided.