GOVERNING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR DEMOCRACY: LAW, RIGHTS, AND ACCOUNTABILITY

On behalf of the Center of Democracy and National Resilience, Universitas Sebelas Maret, it is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the 6^th International Conference on Democracy and National Resilience 2026. This conference will be held on an online basis from 19^th to 20^th September 2026 at Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia.

The expansion of AI use that has spread widely in various aspects of life, has showed present complex implications, particularly in the context of law, human rights, and democracy. Thus, AI existence is inseparable from the legal framework and principles of democracy. However, to date, there is a lack of uniformity in AI regulations, resulting in fragmented AI regulations that tend to lag behind rapid technological developments. This gap between innovation and regulation creates unique challenges in building an effective legal protection system.

Furthermore, in democratic context, the use of AI also has implications for the quality of public participation and the formation of public opinions. Thus, affecting the collective decision-making process in a democratic system and should be the concern of the Government where this technological dominance could undermine the principle of popular sovereignty unless balanced by adequate oversight mechanism.

Indonesia has a constitutional commitment to realizing people’s sovereignty through transparent, accountable, and participatory governance. However, more than two decades after the Reformation, challenges in realizing democratic lawmaking remain layered. The legislative process is often closed, rushed, and lacks genuine public participation where many strategic policies are instead laden with the interests of political and economic oligarchies closely intertwined with the ruling elite. On the other hand, digital policies such as expanding the digital economy, big data, and regulations on personal data protection have not fully prioritized public interests. The digital access gap especially the potential for data exploitation poses new risks in the digital transformation era, which should support the democratization of knowledge and an inclusive economy.

We are honored to feature distinguished keynote speakers and a diverse array of participants from across the globe. It is our hope that this virtual gathering will spark meaningful dialogue, foster new collaborations, and inspire innovative solutions to dismantle oligarchic dominance and uphold green and digital justice.

We look forward to your active participation and insightful contributions.

Warm regards,
Prof. Sunny Ummul Firdaus
Chair of the Organizing Committee