When Algorithms Meet the Town Hall: Local Democracy in the Digital Age

As the EU advances initiatives such as the Democracy Shield, the Digital Networks Act, and the Cybersecurity Act 2, there is a growing debate over whether these frameworks boost democratic resilience or increase the concentration of digital power. At local level, governance and civic participation are increasingly dependent on platforms whose ownership and infrastructure are highly centralised. This raises concerns about who controls public digital space, how decisions are shaped by private actors, and what this means for democratic oversight. How can local democracy remain inclusive and autonomous in an environment where key digital infrastructure is not under their oversight?