‘Total Trust’ Screening & Debate in Brussels

fides is a purposeful platform using the art of cinema to inspire critical conversations around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through a strategic blend of cinematic storytelling and public engagement, fides brings together EU policymakers, NGOs, experts, and businesses to explore, debate, and raise awareness of the pressing challenges faced in achieving sustainable development and democratic resilience.

Synopsis:

Total Trust is an eye-opening and deeply disturbing story of surveillance technology, abuse of power, and (self-)censorship. What can happen when our privacy is ignored? Through the haunting stories of people in China who have been monitored, intimidated, and even tortured, Total Trust exposes the dangers of Big Data and AI in the hands of unchecked power. Taking China as a mirror, the film sounds an alarm about the increasing use of surveillance tools around the world—even in democratically run countries.

China is currently the most heavily monitored country in the world.

Keynote Address & Panel Discussion

The screening will be preceded by a keynote address and a panel discussion on the EU’s role in safeguarding citizens’ rights and promoting ethical technology governance. Guest speakers will be announced shortly.

Evening Agenda

• 7:00 PM: Doors open
• 7:30 PM: Panel Discussion
• 8:00 PM: Screening – Total Trust (97 minutes)
• 9:00 PM: Networking
• 10:00 PM: End

Films & Politics

Films & Politics is a series by fides designed to bring social issues to life through cinema, focusing on the challenges of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Each monthly event features a film screening followed by a discussion with one or more expert panellists, fostering democratic participation and meaningful dialogue between civil society, industry, and policymakers.

Find out more about the event here.