The Faculty of Communication at Istanbul Aydın University announces the fourth International Symposium Communication, Digitization, and Society, whose theme this year is “From Democracy to Infocracy” and motto “Truth in the Optimized Society.” The event aims to bring together scholars, civil society representatives, artists, industry experts, as well as MA and PhD students for interdisciplinary academic dialogue.

The symposium will take place April 28–30, 2026, in a hybrid format (onsite and online). Abstracts may be submitted in English or Turkish.

Topics

We invite submissions on a wide range of topics related to digitization, communication, and society, including (but not limited to):

artificial intelligence and society; algorithmic governance and bias; digital journalism; disinformation; data journalism; digital diplomacy; digital culture and identity; platform economy; digital surveillance; privacy; political implications of technology monopolies; the impact of social media on democracy; post-truth politics; AI ethics; digital activism; media epistemology; philosophy of information; digital labor; transformation of propaganda; influencer economy; the concept of “infocracy,” etc. (see the official website for more).

Conceptual Framework

In the contemporary digital era, information is becoming not only a source of knowledge but also a structure of power. Infocracy defines an epoch in which information functions as the primary form of control, decision-making, and authority. Algorithmic systems increasingly shape social order, while “truth” is more and more associated with data generated by technical systems.

The motto “Truth in the Optimized Society” highlights the tension between the logic of algorithmic efficiency and the multifaceted, ambiguous nature of truth. The symposium seeks to critically examine how digital technologies are transforming the public sphere, political agency, and even the very conception of human existence.

Aim

The event invites academic and professional communities to discuss the impact of communication technologies in political, cultural, social, economic, legal, and ethical dimensions, and to analyze infocracy as a cognitive structure of contemporary society.

Important Dates

• Abstract submission deadline: March 2, 2026

• Notification of acceptance: March 15, 2026

• Registration deadline: April 1, 2026

• Program announcement: April 13, 2026

• Symposium dates: April 28–30, 2026

• Publication of abstract booklet: May 11, 2026

• Full paper submission deadline: July 27, 2026