December 8-10, 2025
For guests
Everyone interested in attending SplinterCon Paris as a guest should apply through the form below. Due to limited capacity and ambition to keep the meeting focused and productive, we carefully review all applications, and will invite participants via manual confirmation.
For speakers
SplinterCon is built from your presentations. We invite you to submit talks, demos, panels and project ideas, as an individual or an organisation working on topics related to this edition’s thematic focus (below) as well as our general interest in technologies and strategies for communicating with and within isolated digital networks. We will always welcome research and case studies that explore the impacts and methods of network shutdowns and fragmentation. SplinterCon features an open and interdisciplinary dialogue, welcoming a variety of submissions, as selected by our Program Committee.
Key Dates:
- Deadline for submissions: October, 31
- Author notification : November, 15
- Registration closes: December, 5
- Conference: December 8–10, 2025
Thematic Focus
Policy & Governance
How can governments balance protectionism without splintering the digital commons? Do ambitions for sovereignty lay the groundwork for isolation?
The European Union’s pursuit of digital sovereignty is both a regulatory and technical project, driven in part by a desire for independence from American and Chinese control over cyberspace. Elsewhere, countries such as Russia and Iran are developing sovereign networks under the banners of national security and social stability. These initiatives often entail deliberate disconnection from the global internet, including reproducing common tools and services for the national market. Meanwhile, a growing number of states, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, and South Africa, are also considering their own approaches, seeking to strengthen domestic industries and secure their networks. Are these models complementary, or do they reinforce competing visions of the internet?
There is no widely accepted definition or consistent policy for digital sovereignty. SplinterCon Paris will examine what it might mean for Europe to build an autonomous, cohesive digital infrastructure, one that protects its digital future while avoiding fragmentation and lock-in. The discussion will focus on pragmatic technological paths that move beyond regulation alone, exploring how to achieve sovereignty while keeping digital networks open, interoperable, and secure.
Innovation & Technology
As the internet is splintering into compartmentalized, monopolized and heavily censored networks, this conference highlights promising alternatives for preserving digital freedoms and self-determination online. Our event will showcase self-hosted, federated and decentralized communication solutions – in production, in development or conceptual. SplinterCon’s continued focus on communications with and within isolated networks invites wireless connectivity solutions, network measurement techniques, and innovative censorship evasion methods, such as mimicry, tunnelling and protocol obfuscation, among others, to apply to the CFP. We are keen to see privacy enhancing technologies that matter inside isolated networks, including solutions for hosting and content distribution. An ecosystem of solutions is required for the age of the splinternet – present yours during the Technology Showcase!
We’re interested in your ideas on how decentralization can also ensure privacy, integrity and usability in digital spaces. How can we foster a more equal and equitable decentralized ecosystem? Which lessons should we take from history – balancing utopias with realpolitik and cold headed market forces. How do we stand on the shoulders of giants and not fall off!
Submission Categories
- Research Papers: Research papers should explore new ideas, provide empirical data, or present theoretical contributions. We accept the following types of research submissions:
- Policy papers: Submissions that focus on policy issues, offering detailed analysis and recommendations. These papers should engage with current debates on Internet governance, socio-technical challenges, or digital sovereignty, and propose actionable policy solutions.
- Works in progress:Research or projects still under development. These submissions should demonstrate clear goals, hypotheses, and potential for future contributions, even if conclusive results are not yet available.
- Position papers:Opinion pieces or argumentative submissions that advocate for specific viewpoints or propose innovative solutions. Position papers should be provocative, well-reasoned, and designed to stimulate discussion and debate.
- Technology Showcases:Interactive sessions that demonstrate working technologies or prototypes. These should showcase innovative solutions related to the conference themes and allow participants to engage directly with the technology.
- Testimonies and Case Studies: We encourage submissions that highlight real-world experiences, particularly from regions or communities impacted by digital isolation or network shutdowns:
- Testimonies from Countries Affected by Network Shutdowns and Isolation:First-hand accounts or case studies from individuals, organizations, or communities impacted by network shutdowns or digital isolation. These submissions should offer valuable on-the-ground perspectives that highlight the human, political, or technical dimensions of these crises.
- Awareness-Raising and Capacity-Building Workshops:Practical workshops aimed at building skills or raising awareness around the conference’s core themes. Workshops should offer clear learning outcomes and be designed to increase participants’ understanding or capabilities in relevant areas.
Presentation Formats:
When submitting your paper, please indicate the format in which you plan to present:
Technology Showcases (30 minutes):Hands-on, interactive demonstrations of innovative technologies or prototypes. These sessions are designed to allow participants to engage directly with the technology in an open marketplace format.
Lightning Talks (15 minutes): Short, focused presentations that provide key insights or findings in a concise format. Ideal for sharing emerging ideas, theories, or initial results.
Full Presentations (30 minutes): More detailed explorations of research, case studies, or technologies. These presentations should provide deeper analysis and more comprehensive coverage of the subject matter.
Application Process
Ensure that your submission aligns with one of the categories listed above and fits within the thematic focus of the conference. Submissions will be evaluated based on relevance, originality, technical quality, and potential social or technical impact by the Advisory Council.
Due dates
Submission deadline: October 31, 2025
Author notification: November 06, 2025
Final work submission: November 28, 2025
We look forward to receiving your applications and working together to address the challenges of Internet fragmentation.