2026 IDeaS Conference: 2026 IDeaS Conference on Governing in the Digital Age: AI, Platforms, and Online Harms Policy Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA, United States, October 12-14, 2026 |
| Conference web page | https://www.cmu.edu/ideas-social-cybersecurity/events/conference-index.html |
| Submission link | https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=2026ideasconference |
| Abstract registration deadline | June 15, 2026 |
| Submission deadline | August 21, 2026 |
October 12-14, 2026
Carnegie Mellon University & Online
Co-located with the 19th International Conference on Social Computing, Behavioral-Cultural Modeling & Prediction and Behavior Representation in Modeling and Simulation
Carnegie Mellon University’s Center for Information Democracy & Social–cybersecurity (IDeaS) is hosting a conference focused on policy challenges emerging from the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and digital platforms. Advances in AI systems, shifts in platform governance, and the scale and speed of online communication are transforming how information is produced, distributed, and consumed. At the same time, online harms – including illegal, abusive, and deceptively manipulated content – are increasingly linked to offline social and economic outcomes, with significant implications for democratic institutions and communities. This conference asks: How are AI systems and platforms governed today? Who is responsible for mitigating digital harms? What policy frameworks can balance innovation, accountability, and public trust?
IDeaS will bring together academics, policymakers, industry practitioners, and civil society leaders to evaluate the state of the field, identify gaps in current approaches, and share insights to inform future research and policy. Participants will engage with topics such as AI governance, platform regulation, online harms policy, and the real-world impacts of digital systems.
Submission Guidelines (Due August 21, 2026)
- Papers: The papers must be in English and MUST be formatted according to the Springer-Verlag LNCS/LNAI guidelines. View sample LaTeX2e and WORD files and instructions here. All regular paper submissions should be submitted as a paper with a maximum of 10 pages. Total page count includes all figures, tables, and references.
- Posters and Demos: A one or two-page abstract detailing the content of your poster or demo and the research to be presented should be submitted for Please use the same paper formatting guidelines above for papers.
- Challenge Response: Submit an approximately 15-page report addressing the challenge problem. What are users’ perspectives on AI overviews, and how might changes in design and disclosure requirements enhance their evaluation? The focus is on developing user-centric disclosure criteria for AI overviews displayed in web search results.
For additional details on submission requirements and information about the Challenge Problem, please visit our website: https://www.cmu.edu/ideas-social-cybersecurity/events/conference-2026.html
Publication
Selected papers and challenge problem winners will be nominated for an extended version to be submitted to a special issue of Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory.
Contact
Please direct questions to centerforideas@andrew.cmu.edu