TICTeC 2024, London & online
Climate, AI & Democracy Under Threat
June 12, 2024 — June 13, 2024
Climate, AI & Democracy Under Threat
June 12, 2024 — June 13, 2024
The Impacts of Civic Technology Conference (TICTeC) 2024 took place in London and online on 12 and 13 June 2024, with thanks to support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). TICTeC 2025 bought together around 170 people from 35+ countries, all interested in sharing their civic tech research, knowledge and experience, with around 80 people joining online.
Thank you to all the wonderful TICTeC 2024 speakers, attendees and our sponsor.
The schedule of sessions that took place can be viewed below. Where there are videos and slides for a session, you can access them via the Schedule page below. Just click on ‘see session detail’ to see which resources there are.
The overarching questions for TICTeC 2024 were:
What is the role of civic tech in:
And within that theme, we saw strands emerge around topics like:
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If you’d like to be kept informed of our next TICTeC activities and events, please sign up for updates or get in touch if you have any questions.
Image credits: Vladislav Zolotov, © visitlondon.com/Jon Reid, © visitlondon.com/Antoine Buchet
9:00 am |
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Conference registration & refreshmentsOnly registered attendees can attend. Sign up here if you’d like to come! Where: Dickens, Virginia & Voysey rooms (Ground floor of Mary Ward House Conference Centre) |
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9:45 am |
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9:45 am · Mary Ward Hall (1st floor) / Livestreamed Welcome to TICTeC 2024: How can civic tech address today’s most pressing challenges?Speakers |
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10:00 am |
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10:00 am · Mary Ward Hall (1st floor) / Livestreamed Keynote address: Joining the dots on civic tech and anti-corruption
María will share insights drawn from a rich career working from different angles to support and defend democracy across Latin America and globally. She will share insights into Directorio Legislativo’s digital anti-corruption solution, and approach to consensus building across polarised stakeholders, the latest milestone in their work to strengthen democracies across Latin America and beyond.
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10:45 am |
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Refreshment breakWhere: Dickens, Virginia & Voysey rooms + outdoor terrace, weather permitting (Ground floor) |
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11:15 am |
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11:15 am · Mary Ward Hall (1st floor) / Livestreamed Democracy under threat – how does civic tech have to shift to adapt to the problems of the current era?
A panel discussion to dig deep into the urgency of the democratic crisis, and discuss how civic technology might need to evolve to enable true democratic governance.
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12:15 pm |
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Standing buffet lunchWhere: Dickens, Virginia & Voysey rooms + outdoor terrace, weather permitting (Ground floor) Optional side event – 12:30 – 13:00: UK Open Government Civil Society Network Lunch and huddle – Herschel Room (Ground floor) |
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1:30 pm |
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1:30 pm · Mary Ward Hall / Livestreamed OPTION 1: Civic tech in response to crisisMapping (dis)continued civic tech in post-revolution contexts
After Egypt's 2011 revolution, many civic tech initiatives emerged in line with the revolution's demands for freedom and justice. The article Mennatullah will present will explore four of these — Harassmap, Zabatak, Kahrabtak and Morsi Meter — to understand the conditions needed for civic tech initiatives to continue after an initial burst of post-revolution growth.
The critical role of civic technology and cybersecurity in sustaining Russian anti-war civil society in exileSpeakersTechnology and participation: lessons from the humanitarian sectorSpeakersQ&A for ‘Civic tech in response to crisis’ session (i.e. the above three presentations) |
1:30 pm · Lethaby Room OPTION 2: The place of civic tech in UK society“Help, my civic tech project became critical national infrastructure”- reflecting on the last 15 years of UK civic tech
It started as a fun tech project - then one day you woke up and realised the nation depends on it.
The panel look back at the UK's civic tech scene over the last 15 years, its relationship to governmental developments and the changing needs of UK civil society.
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1:30 pm · Herschel Room / Livestreamed OPTION 3: Using digital to deliberateCombining online mass-consultation with a citizens’ assembly for effective participation
How should we deal with disinformation?
The Forum against Fakes is a nationwide debate on the topic, run by Bertelsmann Stiftung with the German Ministry of the Interior. A multistep process combines online consultation with a citizens’ assembly, with the deliberate aim of combining the strengths of both.
Civic tech to advance peace: lessons from conflict-affected contextsSpeakersDeliberative mini-publics to develop more inclusive recommendations around climate change and local travel
Rowan makes the case for integrating maxi-publics — digital participation — with mini-publics such as citizens' juries on contentious issues such as climate change, and local transport infrastructure.
Discover how a three-pronged Local Climate Engagement programme in Lancaster in the UK helped shape ideas for action, supported by data, to present to the council.
Q&A for ‘Using digital to deliberate’ session (i.e. the above three presentations) |
2:45 pm |
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Refreshment breakWhere: Dickens, Virginia & Voysey rooms + outdoor terrace, weather permitting (Ground floor) |
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3:00 pm |
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3:00 pm · Mary Ward Hall / Livestreamed OPTION 1: Protecting human rightsCivic tech’s role in safeguarding democracy in East Asia
Civic tech projects in South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan bolster democracy through citizen participation, transparency, and government accountability, but face challenges including legal charges, cyberattacks, and death threats. And above all, many need to be ever adaptable under anti-democratic governments. This research project explored the role of civic tech communities in safeguarding democracy.
Challenges of implementing civic tech projects in adverse environments
Technology has demonstrated how impactful it can be in promoting, protecting and remedying human rights in Zimbabwe — but implementing it in an environment of adversity is a challenge. Difficulties include poor internet infrastructure, competing platforms for users' attention — and a hostile dictatorship that will clamp down on anything perceived as anti-government.
Fostering inclusive approaches to technological innovations for climate action
Nature-based solutions' pivotal role in addressing the climate crisis was acknowledged at COP28 — but such discussions often neglect examinations of the institutional power dynamics embedded in these agendas. By unpacking the dynamics at play, we can push for a nuanced understanding of technology's potential within the context of preserving and restoring our natural environment.
Q&A for ‘Protecting human rights’ session (i.e. the above presentations) |
3:00 pm · Lethaby Room OPTION 2: Civic tech in a civic democracy: opportunities and challenges in a new ParliamentSpeakers |
3:00 pm · Herschel Room / Livestreamed OPTION 3: Digital infrastructuresMoving from digital tools to digital public spaces: building infrastructures for digital citizen participationSpeakersRe-imagining critical digital infrastructure with the public
Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs believes that the future of digital infrastructure lies in software rather than the current hardware-dominant landscape. Continuing the traditional private-public-partnership social innovation approach in Taiwan, the nation is now reinventing its digital public service lifecycle and managing to involve the voice of citizens along the way.
Investing in digital infrastructure: how the Sovereign Tech Fund promotes civic tech and digital sovereignty
The Sovereign Tech Fund is a new public organisation backed by the German government, which invests in open-source infrastructure in the public interest.
Open-source software significantly contributes to civic technology. Open digital infrastructure has empowered successful civic tech projects, highlighting the vital role these technologies play in creating a more participative, transparent, and responsive society.
Q&A for ‘Digital infrastructures’ session (i.e. the above three presentations) |
4:15 pm |
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Refreshment breakWhere: Dickens, Virginia & Voysey rooms + outdoor terrace, weather permitting (Ground floor) |
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4:30 pm |
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4:30 pm · Mary Ward Hall / Livestreamed OPTION 1: Safeguarding elections and democraciesHow to build a country-led election coalitions and combat misinformation onlineSpeakersCommon civic tech needs across global contexts
Over the period of a year, The Civic Tech Field Guide team met with democracy activists working in countries whose democracies are under active threat. A surprising finding was the overlap in these groups' needs. What resources can begin to address these needs, and what more can we, as a field, do to help?
Empowering civic engagement: leveraging Ushahidi for transparent and inclusive electoral monitoring and governanceSpeakersQ&A for ‘Safeguarding elections and democracies’ session (i.e. the above three presentations) |
4:30 pm · Lethaby Room OPTION 2: Navigating uncertainty: Building civic tech in closing and conflict-affected spacesSpeakers |
4:30 pm · Herschel Room / Livestreamed OPTION 3: Citizen engagement and parliamentary monitoringFrom data to democracy: the role of DCinbox in shaping informed citizenship and government accountability
DCinbox is an archive of every official e-newsletter sent from members of the United States Congress, with nearly 200,000 missives spanning more than 15 years.
This data allows findings on political representation, public health information dissemination, propensities for legislators to emulate the style of the President, gendered communication, and more.
Thailand’s first parliamentary monitoring tool
Discover WeVis' path to launching Parliament Watch, an open-source comprehensive platform that serves as a one-stop solution for monitoring Thailand's parliament — and the challenges they faced along the way. Inspired by platforms like TheyWorkForYou and GovTrack, but adapting them to Thailand's own political landscape, the initiative aims to increase political transparency.
Empowering citizens: how Querido Diário is making Brazilian city policies accessible
Querido Diário meticulously maps, scrapes and publishes the official gazettes of 350 cities, rendering them accessible through a user-friendly web interface and API.
The project is implemented collaboratively by a community of more than a hundred people. Discover how Querido Diário is breaking down barriers and empowering citizens to engage with their cities’ policies.
Q&A for ‘Citizen engagement and parliamentary monitoring’ session (i.e. the above three presentations) |
5:45 pm |
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Drinks and canapés receptionWhere: Dickens, Virginia & Voysey rooms + outdoor terrace, weather permitting (Ground floor) |
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7:45 pm |
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End of Day 1 |
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9:00 am |
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Arrival & refreshmentsWhere: Dickens, Virginia & Voysey rooms (Ground floor) |
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9:15 am |
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9:15 am · Mary Ward Hall / Livestreamed Welcome to TICTeC 2024 Day 2Speakers |
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9:30 am |
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9:30 am · Mary Ward Hall / Livestreamed Keynote address: Putting Democracy back into Climate Action
Nick will open the second day of proceedings at TICTeC, by emphasising the need to put democratic values, institutional strengthening, and governance innovation back at the heart of climate action if we are serious about protecting everyone from catastrophic climate damage.
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10:15 am |
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10:15 am · Mary Ward Hall / Livestreamed What is the role of civic tech in enabling the effective and democratic change needed to meet the challenge of climate change?Speakers
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11:00 am |
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Refreshment breakWhere: Dickens, Virginia & Voysey rooms + outdoor terrace, weather permitting (Ground floor) |
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11:15 am |
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11:15 am · Mary Ward Hall / Livestreamed OPTION 1: mySociety and partners – working on climateData, prototyping and partnerships: mySociety’s approach to the climate/democracy problemSpeakersScoring councils on their climate action
What difference can a small organisation make? With the right data — a lot.
Climate Emergency UK first assessed every local council's Climate Action Plan, and then moved onto marking actual climate action, publishing the results as a set of in-depth Scorecards. The real-life impacts of these scores have been notable.
Fragmented climate data in the UKSpeakersQ&A for ‘mySociety and partners – working on climate’ session (i.e. the above three presentations) |
11:15 am · Lethaby Room OPTION 2: How developments in technology and civic participation will impact the future of citizen science
A backcasting workshop to spark new conversations and explore how developments in technology and civic participation will impact the future of citizen science. Discuss what might happen in the short to medium term future to enable decision makers and practitioners to develop more impactful and sustainable citizen science.
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11:15 am · Herschel Room / Livestreamed OPTION 3: Civic tech for transparencyHow civic tech is unveiling corruption and championing democracy and environmental protection in Brazil
Learn about two award-winning initiatives that address the power imbalance between society and the state, using Freedom of Information and a multidisciplinary approach integrating journalism, advocacy, training, and civic technology to monitor governmental spending and provide oversight of lobbying. The results? Pivotal public reports and significant legislative reforms.
Empowering communities: Budeshi’s impact on transparency and accountability in Nigerian government projects
Budeshi, the open-contracting tool, has emerged as a pivotal platform facilitating transparency and accountability in public procurement.
Data from Freedom of Information requests is published on the platform to allow thorough monitoring exercises across various Nigerian states. Journalists have been trained and communities empowered to independently investigate and report on discrepancies.
Have you empirically improved transparency and accountability?SpeakersQ&A for ‘Civic tech for transparency’ session (i.e. the above three presentations) |
12:30 pm |
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Standing buffet lunchWhere: Dickens, Virginia & Voysey rooms + outdoor terrace, weather permitting (Ground floor) |
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1:30 pm |
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1:30 pm · Mary Ward Hall / Livestreamed OPTION 1: Data for climate actionData Commons is using AI to make the world’s public data more accessible and helpfulSpeakersRouting algorithms, 20-minute neighbourhoods and hills in Scottish townsSpeakersUsing data to combat climate change
The 'Open Up Guide for Climate Action' is a practical tool designed to support governments, organisations and activists in sharing specific information for targeted use, thereby incorporating open data as a central ingredient for environmental policies. Learn about its implementation in Uruguay, and consider how innovative mechanisms for data publication might work for other countries.
Q&A for ‘Data for climate action’ session (i.e. the above three presentations) |
1:30 pm · Lethaby Room OPTION 2: Enhancing women’s and other marginalised communities’ inclusion within the civic tech sector
Gain knowledge and experience in designing learning programmes that enhance women's and other marginalised communities' inclusion within the civic tech sector. This workshop aims to bridge the gender gap and foster an inclusive civic tech ecosystem that champions innovation with everyone in mind.
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1:30 pm · Herschel Room / Livestreamed OPTION 3: Emerging tech and democracy (1)Overcoming the Red Queen problem: ensuring democracy keeps pace with emerging technologiesSpeakersData for democracy: a Canadian perspective on how governments can leverage civil society to hold big tech accountable
The SAMbot project uses machine learning to evaluate abusive content sent to Canadian political candidates during elections. Bill-63, a new draft bill from Canada’s federal government which incorporates an Online Harms Act, may be the key to supporting research into how digital technologies are affecting our social fabric.
Reflections on the challenges of practising digital democratic innovation
Critical discussion of digital innovation in democracy typically points to gaps between aspirations and realities. Despite initial optimism about the potential of new technologies, research has tended to be much more pessimistic. This paper explores the space between naïve optimism and cynical pessimism by asking us to reflect on digital tools' ability to enhance democracy in practice.
Q&A for ‘Emerging tech and democracy (1)’ session (i.e. the above three presentations) |
2:45 pm |
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2:45 pm · Mary Ward Hall / Livestreamed OPTION 1: Citizen science for climate actionEmpowering community action through open mapping in disaster response and climate action
When disaster strikes anywhere in the world, the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team can mobilise thousands of volunteers, online and on the ground, to create open data that enables disaster responders to reach those in need. Open mapping is mobilising mass community action in disaster response, and open source technologies are enabling the collective mapping efforts.
From data to action: FloodLight’s impact on disaster response in Pakistan
FloodLight, a volunteer-led disaster response platform, addresses the challenges of flooding in Pakistan. Launched in response to devastating floods which left one-third of the nation submerged, two million acres of agricultural land destroyed, and resulted in thousands of casualties, the platform emerged as a crucial tool in disaster management.
Civic tech and journalism: impact through collaboration
Impact beyond a project's runtime depends on embedding stakeholder interests from the start, to ensure uptake after a project is finished. Through European and Japanese examples of citizen-sensed data and journalistic storytelling as well as audience engagement, the presentation underlines the need for collaborations between civic tech activists and journalists.
Q&A for ‘Citizen science for climate action’ session (i.e. the above presentations) |
2:45 pm · Lethaby Room OPTION 2: How can we achieve better multi-stakeholder governance? Get hands-on with vTaiwan
This workshop provides a chance to get hands-on with the vTaiwan interface, and see first hand how it collects opinions, facilitates in-depth deliberations, and builds consensus to allow constructive discussions around any difficult issue. Members of the Ministry of Digital Affairs will also reflect on the government's experiences of using this platform.
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2:45 pm · Herschel Room / Livestreamed OPTION 3: Emerging tech and democracy (2)Beyond technological disruption: what AI use cases and tools can truly improve governance?
ACTE brings together the leading civic tech startups and organisations at the European level. Adrien shares their latest findings on how to approach the major shift imposed on our sector by AI; the way it impacts the tools and methods of civic tech, and its effects on our relationship with citizens.
Using AI to process and make sense of resident input: learnings from 100 local governments
Discover the power of artificial intelligence for processing public input, as Citizenlab draw on comprehensive insights from over 100 local governments worldwide that have implemented their AI Analysis and Sensemaking tool. Gain a new understanding of the practical applications of AI in public consultations, including challenges faced and unexplored areas for innovation.
Can robots lobby? AI, democracy and political persuasion
Lobbying is a negative influence often connected to corruption, secrecy and poor behaviour.
But can AI change things for the better, improving the abilities of those who monitor lobbying, or helping raise awareness of problems? Conversely, will AI bring increased powers for political persuaders, perhaps even introducing the robot lobbyist?
Q&A for ‘Emerging tech and democracy (2)’ session (i.e. the above presentations) |
4:00 pm |
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Refreshment breakWhere: Dickens, Virginia & Voysey rooms + outdoor terrace, weather permitting (Ground floor) |
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4:15 pm |
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4:15 pm · Mary Ward Hall / Livestreamed OPTION 1: Service design and digital governmentAdaptive re-use of data for the adaptive re-use of high streets: building and scaling a local data service for London’s local authorities
Despite narratives on the decline of UK high streets, there are many examples of local community partnerships applying strategies to repurpose traditional retail space and meet modern community needs. In London, this is supported by the High Streets Data Service and its adaptive re-use of big, private-sector data to deliver local, public-sector research and analysis.
Building Government Buy-In for Civic Tech Success: Lessons from Morocco & Kosovo
This presentation will explore the multifaceted strategies essential for cultivating government buy-in, highlighting the importance of aligning civic tech initiatives with governmental priorities, ensuring mutual benefits, and fostering an environment of trust and transparency.
Communities of practice for government: crowdsourcing knowledge and ideas for digital government services
In the civic technology ecosystem, creating spaces and pathways for government practitioners and teams to connect and learn from one another is critical as we seek to address ongoing challenges in the design and delivery of government services, attract talent to public service, and retain people with the knowledge, skills, and abilities in government roles.
Q&A for ‘Service design and digital government’ session (i.e. the above presentations) |
4:15 pm · Lethaby Room OPTION 2: Let the sunshine in: Shedding light on carbon markets
From a civic tech perspective, climate financing presents myriad challenges - from an overabundance of conflicting standards and taxonomies defining climate adaptation or mitigation, through to a lack of accessible and specialized digital tools to shed light on opaque and convoluted private and blended finance flows - obfuscating public scrutiny and fiscal transparency.
Come along to this workshop to generate integrated approaches to carbon market transparency.
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4:15 pm · Herschel Room / Livestreamed OPTION 3: Civic tech, AI and civil societyLearnings from Recursive Public, a collaboration between vTaiwan and Chatham HouseSpeakersHow to use AI in analysing mass responses to FOI requests
Authorities hold information that could clarify societal discussions — but the formats it is held in can make it challenging to interpret digitally. Fedrowanie streamlines the gathering of information from public institutions through mass FOI requests. A recent evolution from manual volunteer work to AI integration represents a leap in enhancing public discourse and governance.
Redefined civic tech: community-centric impact stories from GeorgiaSpeakersQ&A for ‘Civic tech, AI and civil society’ session (i.e. the above presentations) |
5:30 pm |
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5:30 pm · Mary Ward Hall Positive takeaways from TICTeC 2024
A chance to share and discuss key takeaways from TICTeC 2024, and how they’ll be put into practice in work going forwards. Also, a final opportunity to network before the conference finishes for another year.
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5:45 pm |
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End of Conference |
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