CSDSN Hosts Sandbox Conference on Protecting European Civic Space in the Digital Age

The event opened with keynote remarks from Pieter Omtzigt, a former member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and rapporteur on Pegasus and similar spyware. He addressed the exponential growth of mass surveillance capabilities and their implications for democratic governance.

Over three days, the programme covered a broad range of pressing issues. A circle conversation focused on sharing the lived experiences of individuals directly targeted by spyware, including activists, journalists, and refugees, and on the human cost behind technical threat reports.

Workshops addressed psychological resilience in the face of digital threats and the intersection of digital and physical security during protests, a topic of acute relevance given recent events in the Western Balkans. Panels explored legal protections against surveillance and cyberattacks, the rapidly shifting threat landscape introduced by artificial intelligence, and strategies for sustainable donor investment in civil society’s digital security. A dedicated Digital Forensic Team was present throughout the event. The team included specialists from SHARE Foundation, Reporters Without Borders, RFE/RL’s Balkan Bureau, and Access Now.

The Sandbox Conference reinforced BCSP’s commitment to advancing cyber resilience and democratic accountability in the region. It laid the foundation for ongoing collaboration among civil society actors, legal experts, and security professionals, all working to protect civic space in an increasingly contested digital environment.

Through its Civil Society Digital Security Network (CSDSN), BCSP is dedicated to building the capacities of journalists, activists, and CSOs to enhance their digital resilience.