The air 2026 event, organized by the CNIL, will take place on Monday, November 16, 2026, starting at 2 PM. It will address the ethical questions raised by the evolution of digital technologies in the context of elections, particularly voter protection and the risks of foreign interference.
Since the 2016 Law for a Digital Republic, the CNIL has been reflecting on the societal and ethical challenges of digital technology. The air (futures, innovations, revolutions) events aim to combine field and scientific expertise to shed light on these issues. The 2026 edition will focus on election manipulation, examining voters' rights, public opinion manipulation processes, and our democratic destiny in the face of influence attempts.
Political communication is strictly regulated, requiring consent for online political advertising targeting and data minimization. Voter protection will be central to the first panel discussion. Meanwhile, manipulation attempts by foreign actors, amplified by generative AI, pose a growing risk to democratic processes, as highlighted by VIGINUM, a service dedicated to detecting foreign information manipulation.
Two panel discussions will bring together specialists to discuss these issues. The first, moderated by journalist Guillaume Ledit, will focus on voter protection against political communications and targeting. The second will address the fight against disinformation and foreign interference, including risks related to deepfakes and trust in voting systems.
Speakers include Laurence Francheschini (Council of State, CNIL commissioner), Matthieu Gallard (Research Director at Ipsos bva), Hervé Letoqueux (CEO of Check First), Francesca Musiani (CNRS Research Director), Sorin Ioniță (President of Expert Forum), Benoit Loutrel (ARCOM member), Aude Géry (Legal Advisor at VIGINUM), Chine Labbé (NewsGuard), and David Chavalarias (CNRS Research Director).
A testimony from Sorin Ioniță on information manipulation during the 2024 Romanian presidential election is also scheduled. The event will conclude with remarks from Martin Ajdari, President of ARCOM.
