EmpoderaLIVE Celebrates 20 Years of Citizen-Focused Technology in Málaga

Two Days Exploring the Future of Technology

Málaga will once again become a meeting point for international specialists, activists and organisations with the celebration of EmpoderaLIVE 2026. The event will take place at Teatro Echegaray on Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 October.

The gathering marks twenty years of a forum launched by Fundación Cibervoluntarios in 2006. Under the theme 20 Years Building Citizen Digital Sovereignty, this edition will examine who should participate in the design and governance of technology.

Artificial Intelligence, Neurorights and Disinformation

The programme will address issues including ethical artificial intelligence governance, mental privacy, disinformation, polarisation, open-source technologies and quantum computing.

The first day will begin with registration at 9:00 a.m., followed by the official opening at 9:30 a.m. Scheduled sessions will examine the role of the United Nations in AI governance, the right to retain control over the human mind and the need to recover spaces for digital conversation.

International Speakers at Teatro Echegaray

Featured participants include Juliana Rotich, co-founder of Ushahidi and BRCK, who will explore how communities can build their own technological sovereignty.

Other speakers include Ana García Robles, director of the United Nations AI Governance Lab for Humanity; responsible artificial intelligence specialist Suzy Madigan; Guido Girardi, a driving force behind the first neurorights legislation; Alicia Combaz from Make.org; and representatives of the Internet Society Foundation and the International Telecommunication Union.

The programme will also feature journalist Juan Zafra, who will reflect on the relationship between people and artificial intelligence, alongside specialists in humanitarian action, youth participation, cryptography and information sovereignty.

An Alliance to Give Civil Society a Voice

One of the central events will be the presentation of the Citizen Digital Sovereignty Alliance. This community brings together organisations and institutions interested in strengthening civil society’s participation in decisions concerning technology.

The event will include an intergenerational idea challenge where attendees can share experiences and develop proposals. Their contributions will form part of a recommendations document intended to promote public policies concerning artificial intelligence and digital rights.

Cultural Activities and Free Participation

The conferences and discussion panels will be accompanied by networking opportunities, a poetry performance by Sonia Aldama and a musical intervention by Javier Puche. These cultural activities will take place throughout the two-day event.

Attendance at EmpoderaLIVE is free, although places must be reserved in advance. Every session will also be streamed live through the organisation’s YouTube channel, allowing people outside Málaga to follow the event.