<aside> ℹ️ This presentation features at PAIRS 2026 in New Delhi on 18th February 2026 at 15:30 IST
🎙️ Thread on PAIRS Discussion Server (Discord) (register first)
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This presentation builds on a published study about participation in the development of artificial intelligence regulation in Brazil, focusing on the public hearings organized by the Commission of Jurists on AI (CJSUBIA). Conducted by the civil society organization Derechos Digitales, which also took part in the process, the research combines documentary review and a data-scraping methodology to analyze the sectoral and geographic composition of participants.
The findings reveal clear asymmetries. Academic and private-sector representatives dominated both oral and written interventions, while civil society and government actors were less visible. Participation was also geographically concentrated in São Paulo, Brasília, and Rio de Janeiro, reinforcing regional inequalities in access and influence. These results suggest that the existence of formal participatory mechanisms does not necessarily translate into plural or equitable engagement.
The panel situates this case within broader experiences of public participation in technology governance, including Internet policy and data protection debates in Latin America. By comparing the CJSUBIA process with previous multi-stakeholder practices, it highlights both progress and ongoing challenges in designing inclusive frameworks for AI governance.
Ultimately, the work argues that achieving meaningful participation in AI policymaking requires more than consultation. It demands active strategies to redistribute power, strengthen under-represented voices, and ensure that public debate around AI regulation reflects the diversity of the societies it seeks to govern. The Brazilian experience offers valuable insights for other countries in the region currently shaping their own AI regulatory frameworks.