Minister of the STF opened the event in the capital of São Paulo this Monday morning (June 1st)
Minister Gilmar Mendes, of the Federal Supreme Court, opened this Monday morning (June 1, 2026) the 14th Lisbon Forum, in the Portuguese capital.
Gilmar addressed the topic of regulating digital platforms and artificial intelligence “not as peripheral issues, but as a condition for preserving the democratic regime itself”.
Watch the 14th Lisbon Forum:
Read the full speech by Gilmar Mendes at the opening of the event:
“We are living in a moment of inflection in the global order. The coordinates that have organized international coexistence since the post-war period – multilateralism, institutional cooperation and the primacy of law in relations between States – are under great tension. Armed conflicts, unilateral sanctions, trade wars, disputes for technological supremacy and the resurgence of nationalisms of different shades are redrawing the geopolitical board. On the internal level, democracies face no less serious challenges. Extreme polarization and sectarianism erode the foundations of public debate, disinformation and algorithmic manipulation undermine the
formation of democratic will and the relationship between Powers has been marked by instability and increasingly strong and frequent clashes. The Judiciary, in particular, finds itself faced with a paradox: it is urged to act as a guarantor of institutional stability, but, in doing so, it is criticized for ‘exorbitating its powers’.
“Bobbio, in his classic work ‘The Future of Democracy’, written in the 1980s, identified the ‘unfulfilled promises’ of the modern democratic project: among them, the persistence of oligarchies, the low penetration of democracy in social life, the survival of invisible power and the insufficiency of education for citizenship. To these unfulfilled promises of 20th century democracy, which according to Bobbio acted as threats to its support, there is now a threat that he could not have imagined in all its dimensions: the emergence of colossal transnational private powers endowed with surveillance, manipulation and control capabilities unprecedented in human history. Yanis Varoufakis, former Greek Minister of Finance, maintains that conventional capitalism has given way in contemporary times to a new order: technofeudalism. In this configuration, power is no longer established through free competition between capitals, but through the absolute dominance exercised by digital platforms, which monopolize collective attention, dictate behavior and extract. income of both users and entrepreneurs. Citizens assume the status of digital servants. Companies pay fees to operate on platforms managed by the new ‘lords of the land’ — the big techs, who today aim to subjugate and to see the States themselves bowed before them.
“The diagnosis — threatening and alarming — directly challenges all of us, democrats: we are facing a concentration of economic, informational and political power never seen before. Thus, it is necessary for constitutionalism, in its centuries-old struggle against excessive power, to inaugurate a new front of struggle.
“What has been called Digital Constitutionalism is precisely the movement that emerged with the aim of, in addition to the classic dealings of constitutionalism with the control of state power, seeking to limit the private power of major internet actors through the recognition, affirmation and protection of fundamental rights in the digital environment. Alongside the concern with safeguarding citizens’ rights, authorities and civil society must view the regulation of digital platforms and artificial intelligence not as peripheral issues, but as a condition for preserving the democratic regime itself. Faced with this scenario, Brazil has been doing its part. In June 2025, the Supreme Court, in its judgment on Topics 987 and 533 of the general repercussion system, declared the partial unconstitutionality of article 19 of the Marco Civil da Internet and established new parameters for the liability of digital platforms. And ten days ago, the Federal Government published Decrees nº 12,975 and 12,976, of 2026, which make that decision operational, assigning the National Data Protection Authority the competence to monitor platforms’ compliance with the rules. This is, as I have said, a civilizing advance: the protection of rights on the internet and the guarantee of a healthy and functional digital environment require of the constituted powers a proactive and innovative stance towards outlining a fair and effective regulatory architecture. But the isolated efforts of one country are not enough. Confronting a power whose great characteristic is its fluidity – and even its ubiquity – demands a supranational effort. The great mark of sovereignty in the global and digital era – and this is another paradox of our times – is that it can no longer assert itself through isolation, but only through international coordination and cooperation.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is the scope of the fourteenth Lisbon Forum, whose theme is ‘New international order, technology and sovereignty: democratic, economic and social challenges’. There will be more than 450 debaters, from Brazil, Portugal and 15 other countries (American, European and African), discussing, in more than 70 panels, a broad catalog of topics – from democracy, public management, economy, development to sustainability, technological innovation, regulation and digital sovereignty. Furthermore, the meeting will feature representatives from various legal and political traditions, especially CPLP member countries, reaffirming the Forum’s vocation for multilateral dialogue and influence.
“I would also like to express my gratitude to all foreign professors who graciously accepted our invitation to take part in this event. Thank you. I would also like to warmly thank all foreign professors who accepted our invitation and take part in this forum. Thank you.
“I would also like to thank, on behalf of IDP, the other organizing institutions – Lisbon Public Law Research Center (LPL/FDUL) and Center for Innovation, Administration and Research in the Judiciary (FGV Justiça) –, the Faculty of Law from the University of Lisbon, to FIBE and to everyone who contributed to the renewed success of this event, which was officially endorsed with the High Patronage of the Presidency of the Portuguese Republic.
“I would like to close by evoking the memory of Jürgen Habermas, a philosopher who dedicated his life to demonstrating that democracy cannot be sustained without the civilizing force of dialogue, and who left us just over two months ago. He said that ‘It is in the conversation of citizens among themselves that things are verbalized and configured’. That is exactly what this Forum is about: a space in which jurists, managers, legislators, magistrates, businesspeople, academics and outstanding professionals from different areas and different nationalities come together – in the sole capacity of citizens of the world – to talk and thus configure, through the force of argument, and aiming for consensus, responses to the challenges of our time. Habermas taught us that the public sphere is a condition for the existence of democracy; It is up to us – especially at a time when this sphere is colonized by algorithms, misinformation and proselytism – to keep it alive and fruitful. That’s what we’ve been doing here, every edition, for fourteen years. Welcome everyone to the XIV Lisbon Forum! May we have excellent debates!”
14TH LISBON FORUM
The theme of this year’s Lisbon Forum is “New international order, technology and sovereignty: democratic, economic and social challenges”. All debates will be held from June 1st to 3rd at .
The event will be attended by names such as Gabriel Galípolo, president of the Central Bank, Magda Chambriard, president of Petrobras, and Aloízio Mercadante, president of the National Bank for Economic and Social Development.
The total number of participants at the Lisbon Forum increased from 360 in 2025 to 450 in 2026. It is a record for the event. But the total number of Brazilian authorities fell compared to last year – the only exception is in the Legislature, which will have 2 more congressmen this year. The change in approach to the meeting’s central theme, , is the reason why there are more speakers from other countries and not just Brazil and Portugal.
The 14th Lisbon Forum o High Patronage of the Presidency of the Portuguese Republic, given by the Portuguese president to initiatives, events, congresses, projects or celebrations that are considered to be of special public interest, civic, cultural, scientific, social or economic relevance for Portugal.
It is not about providing financing or material support. It is a seal of recognition and institutional prestige.
The distinction, according to the organization of the event, “recognizes the institutional, academic and civic relevance of the event, as well as its contribution to strengthening democratic debate and reflection on contemporary challenges faced by Portugal, Brazil and the international community”.
PARTIES AND PRIVATE DINNERS
During the days they spend in Portugal, representatives of private companies take the opportunity to offer private parties and dinners for participants – an opportunity that businesspeople have to get closer to legal operators who work in the Judiciary. This type of contact is criticized by those who consider such meetings inappropriate.
Gilmar Mendes differently. The Dean of the STF that meetings such as the São Paulo Forum allow members of the Judiciary to reflect on relevant contemporary issues, exchange experiences with each other and thus be better prepared for the exercise of the judiciary.
Among the entrepreneurs confirmed at the Lisbon 2026 Forum are:
- André Esteves – co-founder of Inteli, chairman and senior partner of BTG Pactual;
- Fábio Chilo – legal director of JBS;
- Luiza Trajano – president of the Board of Directors Magazine Luiza;
- Luiz Carlos Trabuco Cappi – president of the Board of Directors of Banco Bradesco;
- Ricardo Faria – founder and chairman of the Granja Faria Group;
- Fábio Gaspar – Country Tax Manager da Shell Brasil;
- Eduardo Lopes – senior director of Public Policies at Nubank and CEO of Zetta;
- Anderson Baranov – CEO Norsk Hydro Brasil and president of the Board of Directors of Simineral PA.;
- Eduardo Sattamini – CEO of Engie Brasil.
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