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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260414T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260414T190000
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
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UID:516000-1776189600-1776193200@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:AI and the Concentration of Power
DESCRIPTION:Zoë Hitzig\, known for her research and writing on the political economy of AI\, including a widely discussed op-ed reflecting on her decision to leave OpenAI\, will examine how AI systems may reshape where knowledge resides and how decisions are made. As these systems begin to capture and operationalize forms of tacit\, experience-based knowledge long embedded in workers and local contexts\, information itself may become more concentrated—and with it\, power. This shift raises broader questions about how institutions act as information powerbrokers\, and what happens when expertise and decision-making move from individuals and local settings into centralized systems. Hitzig will be joined in conversation with HLS Professor of Entrepreneurial Legal Studies Yochai Benkler to discuss how AI systems may reshape where knowledge resides in the economy. \nClick here to learn more and register to attend. \nNote: Event details are listed in ET (UTC-5). 
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/ai-and-the-concentration-of-power/
LOCATION:Hybrid
CATEGORIES:Talk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260416T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260416T235959
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260413T185517Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260413T185517Z
UID:516002-1776297600-1776383999@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Digital Identity Symposium: Towards User-Owned Identity
DESCRIPTION:Logging into social media platforms and other apps increasingly requires revealing sensitive information\, like your birthday and full legal name. That data is collected\, processed and shared in ways that can be opaque to the user. It’s no wonder six-in-ten U.S. adults say they do not think it is possible to go through daily life without having data collected about them by companies or the government\, according to a 2019 report by the Pew Research Center. \nWhat if there were a better way to prove your identity online\, one that gives you greater control over the information you share in a secure way\, without sacrificing access or participation? \nJoin us on Thursday\, April 16 for the Digital Identity Symposium: Towards User-Owned Identity\, featuring the public launch of the Keyring wallet\, an open source application that demonstrates how technology can enable individuals to take control of their digital identity in a secure and portable way. This half-day symposium will include discussions on the motivations behind this work\, a live demo of Keyring\, and conversations about the future of user-owned identity systems. \nThis is an in-person event at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society for Harvard ID holders. Registration and an active Harvard ID are required.
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/digital-identity-symposium-towards-user-owned-identity/
LOCATION:Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society\, Harvard University\, 1557 Massachusetts Avenue\, Cambridge\, MA\, 02138\, United States
CATEGORIES:Symposium
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260416T000000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260417T235959
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260415T153942Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260415T153942Z
UID:516053-1776297600-1776470399@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Global Forum: FIMI & Hybrid Threats
DESCRIPTION:About the Forum\nOver the past two years\, FIMI has shifted from isolated disinformation campaigns to coordinated\, AI-enabled operations that combine narrative manipulation\, cyber disruption\, economic pressure\, and reputational attacks — often running simultaneously. The threat is no longer niche. It targets governments\, democratic institutions\, corporations\, and civil society at the same time. \nThis forum brings together two focused days of expert-led sessions with 15+ speakers from leading research institutions\, governments\, and the security sector — full lineup to be announced soon. \nEach day runs as a continuous live marathon on Livestorm. You’ll receive two joining links — one for each day — delivered to your inbox after registration.
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/global-forum-fimi-hybrid-threats/
LOCATION:Hybrid
CATEGORIES:Conference
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Berlin:20260417T000000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Berlin:20260417T235959
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260413T191000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260413T191118Z
UID:516006-1776384000-1776470399@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:The Civic Toolkit: Digital Literacy in the Age of AI
DESCRIPTION:Democracies around the world are grappling with declining trust in public institutions\, increasing polarisation and the rapid spread of disinformation\, often amplified by AI. How can we best build digital literacy and strengthen democratic culture to reconnect citizens with decision-making?‍ \nAt this critical moment\, civic engagement feels increasingly fragile. Yet it remains one of our most powerful tools for collective progress\, strengthening democratic culture\, enabling shared problem-solving and accountability\, and even a source of hope.  An urgent conversation is needed around democratic renewal – and artificial intelligence’s place at the very heart of this moment. \nWhile AI can deepen polarisation and entrench bias\, it can also expand participation\, strengthen transparency and reconnect citizens with decision-making. The question is not whether technology will shape our democratic future – but how. That’s why citizens need a blueprint to play an active role. \nBuilding a Citizens’ Toolkit: Digital Literacy in the Era of AI is a non-partisan initiative designed to strengthen the discussion around democratic culture through structured learning spaces that explore civic innovation\, digital resilience and the responsible role for AI in public life. \nAt our first convening on 17 April\, we will bring together citizens\, educators\, technologists\, community leaders and policymakers to examine how innovation can serve democratic values – and reimagine the public square for the digital age.  This conference is not just about AI. It is a conversation about the kind of society we want and how we build it together. \nWhat To Expect \nStart the day by learning from leading voices on the challenges facing democracy in the modern technological age\, before stepping into interactive sessions designed for reflection and problem-solving. Participants will build digital literacy\, critical insight and gain practical tools to confidently navigate today’s information landscape. \nAgenda \nThe one-day convening will unfold in four key acts\, as we work together to build a toolkit to explore civic participation\, AI and the future of democratic culture. \n11:00: Welcome and Opening \nIntroductions and context-setting \n11:10 – 12:30: AI in the World: Navigating Truth\, Trust & Technology \nWe open by zooming out: The world is being reorganised by competing powers\, and AI is accelerating this in ways that democratic systems were never designed to withstand. \nWe trace how democracy erodes when disinformation spreads\, and probe: What do we do about it – and does democracy’s operating system need a fundamental update? AI does not have to be simply a risk to manage – it is a genuine opportunity to reimagine how states decide\, how citizens participate\, and how institutions regain legitimacy. \n12:30 – 13:30: Networking Lunch \n  \n13:30 – 14:30: The Agora \nIn the second session\, we explore what it looks like to design AI that actively protects democratic systems and show how this is already happening. We introduce AI tools that make political information more accessible and dig into what rebuilding trust in democratic institutions requires on the ground\, not just the theory\, and ask: How do we use AI to maximize its benefits and minimises its harms? \n15:00 – 15:45: The Democracy Lab \nThis session belongs to the room. Participants break into small groups\, work through specific challenges\, and bring their own knowledge\, experience\, and concerns to the table. \n15:45 – 17:00: Return to the Agora  \nThe Democracy Lab findings come back to the full room in an Open Mic session. We close the day with what computer science and algorithmic design can tell us about building decision-making systems that are fair\, transparent\, and worthy of democratic trust.
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/the-civic-toolkit-digital-literacy-in-the-age-of-ai/
LOCATION:The Civic Toolkit 2026\, Wasserturm\, EUREF-Campus 18\, Berlin\, 10829\, Germany
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260421T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260421T130000
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260413T170137Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260413T170137Z
UID:515991-1776772800-1776776400@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:AI Can Make Conflict Worse or Better
DESCRIPTION:Join the Tech Impact and Policy Center on April 21st from 12PM–1PM Pacific for a seminarwith Jonathan Stray. \nAbout the Seminar: \nThere has been much discussion of how AI can help humans cooperate\, but much less about what happens when you add AI to humans who disagree — potentially violently. Social media systems\, which are increasingly AI driven\, may amplify divisive or escalatory narratives. LLMs may similarly exacerbate conflict\, especially if they give different answers to people on different sides. I’ll present recent work testing alternative social media algorithms with real users on real platforms in an attempt to reduce polarization around the 2024 election\, and using LLMs to produce “politically neutral” answers on maximally controversial topics. These early experiments give us a glimpse into the turbulent future of AI-mediated conflict. \nAbout the Speaker: \nJonathan Stray is a Senior Scientist at the Center for Human-compatible AI at UC Berkeley\, where he works on the design of AI-driven media with a particular interest in well-being and conflict. Previously\, he taught the dual masters degree in computer science and journalism at Columbia University\, worked as an editor at the Associated Press\, and built document mining software for investigative journalism. \nClick here to learn more and register to attend. \nNote: Event details are listed in PDT (UTC-8).
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/ai-can-make-conflict-worse-or-better/
LOCATION:Hybrid
CATEGORIES:Seminar
ORGANIZER;CN="Cyber Policy Center | Stanford University":MAILTO:cyber-center@stanford.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260421T140000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260421T150000
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260415T161859Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260415T161928Z
UID:516056-1776780000-1776783600@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Doing Digital Platform Research with Australian Internet Observatory
DESCRIPTION:A free Australian Internet Observatory Webinar exploring the tool and process for using data donations as a method for collecting digital platform data. Presented by Prof Dan Angus (QUT)\, Prof Nic Carah (University of Queensland) and Dr Amanda Lawrence (RMIT University).\n\nDigital platforms shape how Australians access information\, communicate\, entertain\, engage with government services\, participate in public discourse\, and conduct business. Understanding digital platforms\, and how we interact with them\, may offer new insights for a wide range of critical public interest issues across public health\, education\, entertainment\, cybersecurity and democratic inclusion.\n\nDespite the importance of digital platforms and the abundance of data they contain\, the capacity to independently collect and analyse data from digital platforms for research remains limited.\n\nTo address this challenge\, the Australian Internet Observatory is developing new tools and methods for social data research using data donations\, APIs and other methods. These newer approaches can also be combined with other established methods such as surveys\, interviews\, focus groups\, content analysis\, administrative data\, simulations and other qualitative and quantitative techniques.  Prof Dan Angus\, Prof Nic Carah and Dr Amanda Lawrence will provide an overview of the tools being developed at AIO and how they are currently being applied in research projects.\n\nFind out more about what we are building and how you can use these tools for your research.\nMore information\nRegister now: https://events.humanitix.com/digital-platform-research-aio\n\nNote: Event details are listed in AEST (UTC+10).
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/doing-digital-platform-research-with-australian-internet-observatory/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20260424T100000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20260424T160000
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260407T180253Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260410T164228Z
UID:515886-1777024800-1777046400@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Influencer Diplomacy Symposium
DESCRIPTION:The Influencer Ethnography Research Lab (IERLab) is hosting our next symposium on Influencer Diplomacy\, to be held via Zoom on 24 April 2026\, 10:00 – 16:00 (AWST). \nThis one-day online event focuses on the generative concept of “influencer diplomacy\,” understood as the ways in which influencer cultures\, practices\, and industries shape diplomatic processes. This includes influencers taking on diplomatic roles and politicians adopting influencer strategies\, to the ways influencer diplomacy extends beyond formal state and institutional settings into everyday politics\, influencing public discourse and social engagement. \nThis symposium features a Keynote from A/Prof Zoe Hurley on Influencer Cultures in the UAE: Navigating Crisis and Orientalist Framings\, and five panels of presentations from researchers across disciplines to examine the emerging role of influencers in shaping contemporary diplomacy. \nClick here to register to attend
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/influencer-diplomacy/
LOCATION:Virtual
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260430T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260430T235959
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260413T203148Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260413T203148Z
UID:516022-1777507200-1777593599@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Call for Contributions: Search Engines and Society Annual Conference (SEASON 2026)
DESCRIPTION:On behalf of the Search Engines and Society Network (SEASON)\, we invite submissions for the 2026 edition of the Search Engines and Society Annual Conference (SEASON 2026)\, to be held at HAW Hamburg\, Germany\, from 15–17 September 2026. \nFollowing the success of SEASON 2025\, which brought together an engaged and diverse international community of researchers\, practitioners\, and students\, SEASON continues as a dedicated conference series for critical and interdisciplinary research on search engines and their societal implications. \nSEASON explores the multifaceted role of search engines in today’s culture and society. The conference fosters interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration to deepen our understanding of search engines as cultural\, societal\, political\, and technical artifacts\, as well as their role in everyday practices. \nWe invite submissions for: \n\nLong presentations\nShort presentations\nInteractive sessions (e.g.\, panels and workshops)\nPosters\n\nTopics of interest include\, but are not limited to: \n\nSocial and cultural aspects of relevance  \nEpistemic implications of search engine use  \nSearch engines and Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG)  \nSearch engines and information disorders (e.g.\, disinformation\, data voids)  \nAI and changing patterns of search engine use  \nSearch engines and environmental crises  \nPolitical economy of search \nAccountability and responsibility of search engine providers  \nSearch engine bias and fair search  \nEthical and affective dimensions of search  \nMedia and information literacy  \nSearch engines in everyday life and educational settings  \nSearch engines and specific communities  \nMethods and data collection for search engine research  \nComparative and historical studies of web search  \nApproaches to opening the “black box” of search engine rankings  \n\nWe welcome conceptual and empirical contributions from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds\, including the humanities\, social sciences\, and technical disciplines. Interdisciplinary approaches\, work in progress\, submissions from practitioners\, and student contributions are especially encouraged. \nClick here to learn more\, or here to submit your proposal. The submission deadline is April 30\, 2026. 
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/call-for-contributions-search-engines-and-society-annual-conference-season-2026/
CATEGORIES:Call for Paper or Proposal,Conference
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260430T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260430T235959
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260413T204418Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260413T204418Z
UID:516027-1777507200-1777593599@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:"AI\, Algorithmic Media\, and Digital Governance: Power\, Control\, and Technological Transformation" | Call for Papers for Special Issue
DESCRIPTION:We are pleased to announce a Call for Papers for a forthcoming special issue titled “AI\, Algorithmic Media\, and Digital Governance: Power\, Control\, and Technological Transformation\,” to be published in the journal Global Media and China.\n\nThe accelerating integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into digital infrastructures represents a profound transformation in contemporary media environments and governance systems. AI-driven platforms\, algorithmic recommendation systems\, and automated content moderation increasingly shape how information circulates\, how public discourse is structured\, and how political authority is exercised across different societies. These developments raise important questions about algorithmic governance\, digital sovereignty\, media regulation\, and the broader political implications of AI-mediated communication.\n\nThis special issue seeks to advance interdisciplinary scholarship examining the evolving relationships between AI technologies\, media systems\, and governance practices. We welcome contributions that critically explore how algorithmic systems influence media production\, platform governance\, public communication\, and political power across diverse institutional and geopolitical contexts.\nWe invite empirical\, theoretical\, and methodological contributions from scholars working in communication and media studies\, political science\, digital governance\, sociology\, science and technology studies\, and related disciplines. Submissions may focus on China\, or adopt comparative and transnational perspectives.\n\nPossible topics include\, but are not limited to:\n\nAlgorithmic governance\, digital statecraft\, and political authority\nAI-driven propaganda\, information manipulation\, and computational misinformation\nState-led AI governance and digital surveillance regimes\nPlatform politics and the political economy of algorithmic systems\nPublic perceptions of AI and the politics of digital rights\nAI infrastructures\, technological sovereignty\, and global asymmetries in digital power\nSmart cities\, Internet of Things systems\, and algorithmic governance in public administration\n\nKey dates\nAbstract submission deadline: 20 May 2026\nNotification of invitations for full papers: 1 June 2026\nFull paper submission deadline: 30 October 2026\n\nPlease submit an abstract of up to 500 words to the guest editors with the subject line “GMAC Special Issue Submission.”\n\nFull details for the Call for Papers can be found here.
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/ai-algorithmic-media-and-digital-governance-power-control-and-technological-transformation-call-for-papers-for-special-issue/
CATEGORIES:Call for Paper or Proposal
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260430T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260430T235959
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260413T204817Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260413T204817Z
UID:516029-1777507200-1777593599@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Synthetic Social Media: Studying Platform-Embedded AI | Call for Proposals
DESCRIPTION:Social media platforms are increasingly shaped by the integration of generative AI alongside long-standing analytical and predictive models. Today’s algorithmic systems are moving from the background infrastructure to the forefront of digital social life – where autonomous AI agents operate in coexistence with (or independently of) human users.  They intervene in the content feeds as conversational agents like xAI’s Grok\, reshape identity play through synthetic likenesses of OpenAI’s Sora-2\, and expand the social ecosystem itself through experimental projects like Butterflies AI and Moltbook. As these developments rapidly outpace existing research frameworks\, the need for mixed critical methodologies to explore the nested integration of GenAI into platforms grows more urgent. \nThe 2026 Autumn School edition of the CRC “Media of Cooperation” explores these developments by focusing on generative AI as an infrastructural\, cultural\, and regulated component of social media platforms across three intersecting dimensions: At the cultural level of everyday use\, it refers to the routinized practices of prompting or interacting with platform-embedded generative systems through multimodal inputs. Infrastructurally\, it signals a shift in agency\, as platforms keep multiplying affordances that nudge us into co-producing synthetic outputs. Finally\, it foregrounds research techniques for probing AI models in their entanglements with the platform governance and moderation regimes. \n\nThe deadline for submissions is April 30\, 2026.  \nThis event will take place on September 22-25\, 2026\, hosted by the CRC Media of Cooperation\, University of Siegen. \nFull details can be found here.
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/synthetic-social-media-studying-platform-embedded-ai-call-for-proposals/
CATEGORIES:Call for Paper or Proposal
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20260430T143000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20260430T153000
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260413T161209Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260413T162548Z
UID:515956-1777559400-1777563000@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Look What You Made Me Do: How FIMI Actors Weaponize Pop Culture
DESCRIPTION:What if viral cultural moments were not just entertainment\, but strategic entry points for influence? \nHigh-visibility events\, from major entertainment events to viral online controversies\, are increasingly used within the information environment as opportunities for influence and narrative shaping. \nThis webinar explores how Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) actors exploit these moments to inject geopolitical narratives\, and influence public discourse. From coordinated engagement around events\, such as Eurovision\, to the amplification of polarising online trends\, these dynamics reveal a shared playbook combining narrative seeding\, meme-driven framing\, and cross-platform amplification. \nJoin Rachele Gilman (Principal) and Zoé Fourel (Senior Analyst) from Cardigan Collective as they unpack how these strategies operate in practice\, how they intersect with domestic dynamics\, and how to distinguish between organic and orchestrated trends. \nClick here to learn more and register to attend. \nNote: Event details are listed in Central European Summer Time (CEST\, UTC+2). 
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/look-what-you-made-me-do-how-fimi-actors-weaponize-pop-culture/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20260504T000000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20260504T235959
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260413T165439Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260413T165439Z
UID:515985-1777852800-1777939199@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:PAIRSx Africa 2026: Shaping African AI Through Participatory Governance and Design
DESCRIPTION:In 2025\, the first PAIRSx Africa webinar was held alongside the Global AI Summit on Africa in Rwanda. The session brought together policy experts\, practitioners\, developers\, and academics to advance the practice of participatory AI across Africa. It served as a critical point for defining Africa’s participatory needs and establishing a community capable of formulating a shared vision for policy action. This webinar culminated in an open statement to the Summit Co-Chairs\, urging them to expand the conversation to address key areas that drafters and co-signers felt were insufficiently covered during the April 2025 Summit. These key areas included: Decent AI Jobs for Africa\, Public Engagement and Participation in AI Governance\, and Resourcing Participatory AI Development. \nPAIRSxAfrica @ Rightscon\nThe second iteration of PAIRSxAfrica will be hosted in-person alongside RightsCon in Lusaka\, Zambia\, on 4 May 2026\, under the theme: ‘Shaping African AI Through Participatory Governance and Design’. \nRightsCon is the ideal venue for the first in-person PAIRSxAfrica. Rightscon convenes a rich and experienced global digital rights community. Furthermore\, with “Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies” serving as one of the themes for this year’s conference\, the deliberations at PAIRS can directly inform and elevate discussions during the main event. \nWho is PAIRSxAfrica for?\nThis is a space to advance both Participatory AI scholarship and practice across the African continent. PAIRSxAfrica brings together representatives from civil society\, industry\, and academia who are dedicated to advancing Participatory AI as a method for aligning AI in Africa with public interest needs and outcomes. \nWe aim to highlight existing studies\, evidence\, frameworks\, and toolkits that demonstrate how African communities can directly shape AI governance and development\, and how the concerns of skeptical groups can be leveraged generatively. Additionally\, we seek to identify the research and evidence gaps that must be addressed to further advance participatory AI in Africa. \nWhat Tracks will be explored in 2026?\nBuilding on the work that began in 2025 and on the themes that emerged from webinar in 2025\, PAIRSxAfrica @ Rightscon will focus on advancing the following tracks: \nTrack 1: Moving from Consultative to Participatory AI Governance\nGuiding question: How can AI governance be structured and institutionalised to ensure impacted African communities can meaningfully shape outcomes at national and local as well as global levels? \nWhether at the African Union or within various African countries\, practices referred to as “participatory” are often merely consultations or validation meetings. In these settings\, the public or community members are invited to share opinions on governance decisions that have already been determined in their absence. While this approach seems ‘inclusive’\, it fails to address fundamental challenges such as extractive data practices\, the unequal distribution of benefits and harms\, or the power disparities among participants (such as those between civil society and Big Tech lobbyists). There should not be a presumption of knowledge or understanding of AI use regarding an individual or community. Specifically\, there should be a right to know when AI use affects decisions made in response to an individual or community. \nThis track aims to highlight participatory AI governance that empowers African communities to influence critical decisions regarding how AI is governed – locally\, nationally\, and globally. It seeks to move governance from tokenistic gestures toward meaningful practice. Additionally\, this track will explore “clear avenues to effectively engage the public\, movements\, and civil society organisations in contributing to AI governance\,” as called for in the open statement to the conveners of the 2025 Global AI Summit on Africa. \nTrack 2: Participatory AI Development\nGuiding question: How can those developing\, designing and localising AI systems center the needs of African communities\, without negating their historical and structural contexts? \nThe present day frontier AI models are developed outside of the continent\, giving Africans very little opportunity to shape their technical artifacts or socio-economic impacts. This means more investment is needed to: 1. create datasets that fit the context and use the languages in different African countries\, or 2. build small\, task-specific algorithmic systems that meet the needs of African communities. This track aims to explore design-justice and community-based participatory methodologies that take into account the historical and structural injustices poising over technological design; especially regarding frontier AI models emerging from the US and China that are developed and designed to meet the needs and fit the context of those countries. \nTrack 3: The Political Economy of AI and Participation\nGuiding question: How can community refusal\, contestations and critical engagement reshape AI development and  governance in African countries? \nGiven the disruptiveness of AI\, it is important to consider  how existing forms of contestation and refusal can inform more just and context-sensitive pathways for its adoption. Various African communities; including data workers\, epistemologists\, and ethicists\, have been sounding alarms regarding how AI affects labor practices\, knowledge systems\, and the values underpinning African societies. \nWhile many African communities are facing strenuous economic conditions\, these contestations and refusals of AI should not be dismissed because of a future which promises economic development. Rather\, they should be viewed as the foundation of a negotiation practice that could redirect focus toward alternative AI technologies or governance frameworks. These practices can open space not only for alternative technological trajectories\, but also for the recognition of diverse knowledge systems\, cosmovisions\, and governance traditions that have historically been excluded from dominant AI frameworks. Under this track\, we apply a political economy analysis of AI\, exploring how African values can be incorporated into its development\, deployment\, and management\, while critically analysing the economic motivations guiding adoption of AI. \nFrom this perspective\, Participatory AI does not solely rest on universal ethical principles or rights-based approaches. It must be grounded in the meaningful inclusion of plural epistemologies and community-based governance models\, particularly those of traditional communities.
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/pairsx-africa-2026-shaping-african-ai-through-participatory-governance-and-design/
LOCATION:Raddison Blu Hotel\, Lusaka\, 19029 Great East Rd\, Lusaka\, 10101\, Zambia
CATEGORIES:Conference
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260512T114000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260512T130000
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260413T165856Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260413T165856Z
UID:515989-1778586000-1778590800@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Rebuilding Belonging in a Digital Age: Teens\, Tech\, & Third Places
DESCRIPTION:Join the Tech Impact and Policy Center on May 12th from 12PM–1PM Pacific for a seminarwith Jennifer Heifferon & Alanna Powers-O’Brien. \nAbout the Seminar: \nAs adolescence becomes increasingly digital\, public discourse tends to focus on screen time\, platform design\, and online harms. Yet alongside these concerns\, a parallel transformation has unfolded: the steady erosion of physical spaces meant for teens. What happens to youth social life when the outside world contracts? This talk argues that the rise of digital adolescence must be understood alongside the decline of third places—low-barrier environments beyond home and school that once supported informal peer culture and autonomy. Drawing on original statewide data from caregiver focus groups and a survey of more than 1\,000 teens\, we examine how young people navigate belonging amid shrinking real-world options. By reframing youth technology use as intertwined with social infrastructure\, this research raises a new policy question: What would it mean to treat third places as essential civic infrastructure for youth in a digital age? \nAbout the Speaker: \nJennifer Heifferon is the Child Well-Being Program Director at the California Partners Project\, where she leads research and cross-sector initiatives focused on youth development in a digital age. Her work examines how technology\, family systems\, and community environments intersect to shape adolescent well-being\, with an emphasis on translating lived experience and empirical research into insights for families\, educators\, and civic decision-makers. Jennifer’s background bridges K–12 education as a teacher\, learning specialist\, and equity leader\, formal training and facilitation in diversity\, equity\, and inclusion\, and ongoing leadership in youth sports coaching. Prior to her work in education\, she worked in digital media as an interactive producer. She holds a BA in Psychology from Stanford University and an MA in Teaching from the University of San Francisco. \nAlanna Powers-O’Brien is the Research Specialist for the Family Online Safety Institute\, managing FOSI’s research projects. She is passionate about creating safer experiences for kids and families online. Alanna has created several resources and managed research projects that focus on informing parents\, educators and other stakeholders about concepts such as digital literacy\, wellbeing and AI. Her prior experiences were in both media and education. Alanna has taught English and communications courses at both the high school and college level\, and concentrated on the subject of media literacy education during her master’s program. Alanna has a master’s degree in Media Studies from the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. She also holds undergraduate degrees in both Public Relations and English from Penn State University\, and is a Fulbright alumna. \nClick here to learn more and register to attend. \nNote: Event details are listed in PDT (UTC-8).
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/rebuilding-belonging-in-a-digital-age-teens-tech-third-places/
LOCATION:Hybrid
ORGANIZER;CN="Cyber Policy Center | Stanford University":MAILTO:cyber-center@stanford.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Berlin:20260515T000000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Berlin:20260515T235959
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260413T194543Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260413T194543Z
UID:516012-1778803200-1778889599@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Call for Papers: Measuring Media Use and Effects | Annual Conference of the Methods Division of the German Communication Association (DGPuK)
DESCRIPTION:The increasing availability of digital behavioral data and computational tools has transformed how communication researchers study media use\, exposure\, and effects. These developments offer unprecedented analytical depth – but also introduce new complexities in measurement\, theory-building\, and ethical practice. This year’s conference of the Methods Division invites contributions that advance and critically engage with computational approaches to the measurement of media use and effects – through methodological innovation\, conceptual refinement\, or empirical application. \nWe seek submissions that explore how computational methods can not only extend but also rethink established approaches to studying media exposure\, its drivers\, and its consequences. \nThe deadline for submission is May 15\, 2026. Submissions can be in English or German. \nClick here to learn more.
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/call-for-papers-measuring-media-use-and-effects-annual-conference-of-the-methods-division-of-the-german-communication-association-dgpuk/
CATEGORIES:Call for Paper or Proposal
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260515T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260515T235959
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260413T202505Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260413T202505Z
UID:516019-1778803200-1778889599@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Conspiracy Theories in the Wake of Disaster | Call for Papers for Edited Volume
DESCRIPTION:In late September\, 2024\, Hurricane Helene made landfall in the continental United States\, churning its way up the Atlantic seaboard. The storm devastated North Carolina with massive rainfall and flooding of towns such as Asheville. All told\, the damage from Helene totaled over 50 billion dollars and the loss of entire communities. But Hurricane Helene inadvertently produced another storm in its wake\, a deluge of conspiracy theories about the “true” cause of the hurricane and about the response from the Federal government. Even as the Biden administration rushed to respond to the destruction\, conspiracy theories began circulating on X.com (formerly Twitter) about Biden ignoring the destruction due to senility\, about the government using the hurricane as a pretext for nefarious deeds\, and\, perhaps most bizarre of all\, about Federal agencies using secret weather technology to steer the hurricane into conservative parts of the country to dampen electoral turnout. Donald Trump\, then candidate for president\, circulated some of these conspiracy theories himself on Truth Social\, claiming that President Biden steered disaster aid to illegal immigrants\, among other lies. (Waldman and Aton\, 2024). The spread of these conspiracy theories forced the Federal Emergency Management Agency\, long a villain in conspiracy theory discourse\, to publish a fact-checking website to deal with public outrage (FEMA.gov). These false claims hindered disaster relief efforts and impacted the 2024 elections as Americans responded in outrage to perceived incompetence by the Biden administration (Gollom\, 2024).\n\nThe story of Hurricane Helene’s aftermath is not new. Conspiracy theories circulate in the wake of disasters because these events are such traumatic and sensational eruptions in media coverage that alternative narratives about their “true” causes are almost inevitable. If disasters are events that render the unthinkable thinkable (Cerulo\, 2006)\, then conspiracy theories twist this revelatory moment into a warped attempt to think about something else. They provide a context for disaster that provides a distorted simulacrum of an explanation of the destruction and death and loss by offering a convenient villain whose shadowy machinations are to blame for the tragic event. They turn what could be explained as an unfortunate but “normal accident” (Perrow\, 1999)\, into proof of nefarious agents. Shifting the focus from the human role in creating and exacerbating disastrous conditions (Erikson\, 1995)\, to a way of blaming a secretive cabal. And because many disasters are caused by human error or negligence or complicated historical trajectories\, conspiracy theories may seem plausible even when they are not. Conspiracism offers a satisfying explanation for the spectacle of destruction\, rooted in narratives about evildoers who cause such pain and anguish (Rice\, 2020). While at the same time providing a comforting assurance that the skeptics\, unlike the supposed experts\, are the ones who know the real explanation for what has happened (Murphy\, 2006; Buhs\, 2009).\n\nSuch conspiracy theories are detrimental because they produce suspicion\, fear\, and anger toward the very agencies responsible for responding to these disasters\, while undermining efforts to understand the decisions that have been made over decades (if not centuries) that generated the risks that eventually turned into disasters. And in the age of social media\, conspiracy theories can circulate with incredible speed and scope\, fueled by recommendation algorithms and the attention economy which ensures that the most sensational content is incentivized (Valaskivi\, 2022; Popken\, 2018). While thinking about worst case scenarios plays an important role in disaster preparedness (Clarke\, 2006; Thomas\, 2021; Wuthnow\, 2010)\, events such as Hurricane Helene demonstrate that today even as organizations like FEMA try to manage crises on the ground they find themselves bogged down combatting conspiracy theories online.\n\nConspiracy Theories in the Wake of Disaster will combine conspiracy theory research with disaster studies to launch a new horizon for research focused on the relationship between disasters and conspiracy\, which we see as an understudied and fruitful area of study. Contributions can include multiple authors from various disciplines and methodological approaches\, including work from sociology\, history\, communications\, philosophy\, information studies\, data science\, and other relevant disciplines\, and we are especially interested in approaches from science and technology studies\, extremism and conspiracism studies\, and disaster studies.\n\nAbstracts of 250-300 words and biographical statements will be due by May 15th\, 2026. Please send materials to both Matthew N. Hannah at matthew.hannah@wisc.edu and Zachary Loeb at zloeb@purdue.edu. While we are still working on identifying a press\, but we are currently in discussion with editors about publishing the book.\n\n\nPossible topics of interest include:\n\nHurricanes\, conspiracism\, and recovery efforts\nWildfire and water/forest management conspiracy theories\nMysterious technologies as cause of disasters\nAnalysis of social media discussions following disaster (Telegram\, X\, Truth Social)\nConspiracy theories about Federal disaster agencies such as FEMA or NOAA\nDisaster preparedness efforts and public conspiracism\nAnthropogenic disasters (Fukushima\, 3-Mile Island) and conspiracy theories\nFalse-flag operations and disasters (September 11)\nThe impact of conspiracism on civil society in the wake of disasters\nGeoengineering and disasters\nClimate change conspiracy theories
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/conspiracy-theories-in-the-wake-of-disaster-call-for-papers-for-edited-volume/
CATEGORIES:Call for Paper or Proposal
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260520T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260520T133000
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260413T163756Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260413T163857Z
UID:515976-1779278400-1779283800@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Inside the 2026 AI Index Report | Stanford HAI
DESCRIPTION:The AI Index\, currently in its ninth year\, tracks\, collates\, distills\, and visualizes data relating to artificial intelligence. What is changing in the field of AI? Join Stanford HAI’s AI Index Lead Sha Sajadieh for an exclusive look into this trusted source of AI intelligence. \nLearn about the year’s major AI breakthroughs\, changes in the workplace\, policy shifts\, and an evolving public sentiment for this technology. From technical advances to ethical considerations\, education trends to economic impact—get the unbiased\, data-driven insights that executives\, policymakers\, and global researchers rely on. \nClick here to learn more and register to attend online or in-person. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNote: Event details are listed in PST/PDT (UTC-8).
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/inside-the-2026-ai-index-report-stanford-hai/
LOCATION:Hybrid
CATEGORIES:Talk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260521T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260521T235959
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260512T142417Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260512T142518Z
UID:516203-1779321600-1779407999@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Call for Abstracts: The Politics of GenAI Governance
DESCRIPTION:João C. Magalhães (University of Manchester\, UK)\, Klara Matusewicz (University of Manchester\, UK)\, and Robert Gorwa (WZB Berlin Social Science Center\, Germany) are organising a two-day workshop\, The Politics of GenAI Governance\, at MANCEPT 2026 in Manchester\, 2–4 September 2026.\n\nThe workshop treats GenAI governance as a collective and contested political practice — asking which actors\, representing whose interests\, have more or less power and legitimacy to influence the mechanisms whereby GenAI is governed into being\, and who stands to benefit or lose from these processes. Contributions are welcome on topics including the conceptualisation of GenAI governance as a form of power\, its intersections with democracy and authoritarianism\, the political economy of GenAI\, and the democratisation of GenAI governance.\n\nSubmit a 500-word abstract by 21 May 2026 to joao.magalhaes@manchester.ac.uk.
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/the-politics-of-genai-governance/
CATEGORIES:Call for Paper or Proposal
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260526T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260526T113000
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260506T194132Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260506T194132Z
UID:516173-1779789600-1779795000@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:What Digital Futures Do We (Not) Want?
DESCRIPTION:  \n \nDemocracies today face profound challenges\, including the proliferation of fake news and online disinformation\, the rise of digital authoritarianism and digital fascism\, the big tech monopolies of online platforms such as Google\, YouTube\, TikTok\, Instagram\, Amazon\, WhatsApp\, ChatGPT\, etc.\, post-truth and algorithmic politics\, the danger of a new world war\, political polarisation\, the breakdown of the democratic public sphere\, the emotionalisation of politics\, echo chambers\, etc. \nTherefore\, it is an important question how the future of digital society will look\, and how digital democracy can be made resilient against its destruction. Digital futures research helps us to envision what the future of digital society and the Internet can look like and trigger discussions about what digital futures are desirable and undesirable\, how democratic digital futures can be advanced\, and how resilient digital democracy can be achieved. \nIn this online seminar\, INNOVADE’s Paderborn University team will present its research on digital futures conducted in the project. The Paderborn team will outline four scenarios for the future of digital society that together form a white paper on digital futures that uses a realist science fiction methodology. It will also present the methodology and selected results from the Futures of Digital Democracy Survey (FDDS) that was conducted in February and March 2026. The presentations will be followed by a discussion. \nWho should attend?\nThe event offers a forum for reflection and dialogue on urgent questions and will be of interest to: \n\ncitizens interested in how digital technologies change society;\npolicymakers and public officials working on democratic innovation\, digital governance\, or civic engagement;\nresearchers and students in political science\, digital governance\, media and communication studies\, sociology\, computer science\, and related fields;\ncivil society organisations and practitioners seeking to strengthen citizen participation;\ncivic tech developers and innovators designing tools for inclusive democratic practices.\n\nAgenda\n10.00-10.05 Introduction \n10.05-10.15 Kevin Friesch: The Futures of Digital Society: Four Scenarios \n10.15.10.25 Joel Museba: The Futures of Digital Democracy Survey’s Methodology \n10.25-10.45 Christian Fuchs: What Digital Futures\, Digital Society\, and Digital Platforms Do We (Not) Want? The Futures of Digital Democracy Survey (FDDS): Results and Policy Implications \n10.45-11.30 Discussion \n  \nClick here to learn more and register to attend. \nNote: Event details are listed in Central European Summer Time (CEST\, UTC+2). 
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/what-digital-futures-do-we-not-want/
LOCATION:Virtual
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260526T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260526T110000
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260512T160031Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260512T160044Z
UID:516217-1779793200-1779793200@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:AI companion bots as a public health issue: A new framework for regulation
DESCRIPTION:AI companion bots are reshaping how people connect\, confide\, and cope\, with children and adolescents among their most active users. Even as evidence of their potential social and developmental harms grows\, these products face limited regulatory oversight. \nOn May 26\, the Center for Universal Education at Brookings will host a conversation on whether AI companion bots should be governed as a product with public health implications. Gaia Bernstein will discuss findings from a forthcoming policy brief\, “From bans to recalls: A public health framework for AI companion bots.” The conversation will explore the public health risks of AI companion bots\, particularly for children; why existing regulatory frameworks may fall short; how tools such as recalls and pre-market approval could apply to AI systems; and what steps legislators\, companies\, families\, and advocates can take now to protect young users. \nOnline viewers can submit questions via e-mail to events@brookings.edu. \nLearn more and register to attend here. 
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/ai-companion-bots-as-a-public-health-issue-a-new-framework-for-regulation/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260526T160000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260526T170000
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260512T140342Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260512T140432Z
UID:516199-1779811200-1779814800@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:IPIE | Confronting AI-Generated Misinformation - What the Science Says
DESCRIPTION:Generative AI is changing how misinformation is produced\, circulated\, and perceived. What does the evidence tell us specifically about this cycle\, opportunities to mitigate it\, and what we don’t know yet? \nThe IPIE is pleased to invite you to our upcoming webinar\, presenting findings from our major new meta-analysis drawing on studies that involved more than 33\,000 participants. The IPIE report represents one of the world’s most comprehensive examinations of AI-generated misinformation research to date. \nWhat you will hear: \n\nFindings on how people respond to AI-produced false content\nEvidence on which interventions reduce its impact and which are more variable than commonly assumed\nAn honest discussion of where the science is still limited and what this means for policy\n\n\nClick here to learn more and register to attend. \nNote: Event details are listed in BST (UTC+1).
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/ipie-confronting-ai-generated-misinformation-what-the-science-says/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE)":MAILTO:Contact@IPIE.info
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260527T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260528T235959
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260512T162059Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260512T162105Z
UID:516226-1779840000-1780012799@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Global Disinformation Summit 2026
DESCRIPTION:The GLOBAL SUMMIT ON DISINFORMATION is a space for global interaction where journalists\, researchers\, academics\, fact-checkers\, media and government representatives\, civil society organizations\, professors\, and students meet annually to discuss\, and present actions\, proposals\, and success stories on the challenges of fighting disinformation at the global level. \nLearn more and register to attend here.  \nNote: This event is bilingual\, with simultaneous interpretation in Spanish and English. 
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/global-disinformation-summit-2026/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Conference
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20260528T143000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20260528T153000
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260413T162036Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260413T162635Z
UID:515962-1779978600-1779982200@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:David vs Goliath in the DSA era: Lessons from Bits of Freedom’s victory
DESCRIPTION:Article 38 of the EU Digital Services Act could be described as a masterpiece of legal drafting – 57 words to say very large online platforms must provide a version of their service not based on profiling. \nMeta provided a sludgy\, unusable option. In the absence of action from the European Commission\, Dutch NGO Bits of Freedom took on the mantle of David\, and took the Meta Goliath to court. And won. And then\, in appeal\, won again. \nWhat lessons were learnt? Can this success be replicated elsewhere? Are there pitfalls that need to be avoided? \nJoin the conversation to hear first-hand insights from Rejo Zenger\, Policy Advisor at Bits of Freedom. \nSpeaker: Rejo Zenger\, Policy Advisor at Bits of Freedom.ance Advisor \nRejo Zenger is a policy advisor at the leading Dutch digital civil rights organisation Bits of Freedom. There\, he is committed to protecting fundamental rights such as the right to privacy and freedom of expression\, and more broadly our democratic rule of law. Much of his work focuses on breaking down the power of dominant technology companies and the government. He leads Bits of Freedom’s lawsuit against Meta regarding user choice. \nModerator: Joe McNamee\, Senior Policy Expert\, EU DisinfoLab \nJoe McNamee has been working on topics related to internet regulation for over 20 years. Prior to his current role as Senior Policy Expert at EU DisinfoLab\, he worked as policy adviser for a political group in the European Parliament. From 2009 to 2018\, he led European Digital Rights\, the association of digital civil rights organisations in Europe\, working on major topics such as the adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation and the Copyright Directive. Prior to this\, Joe worked for a political consultancy specialised in telecommunications and internet policy\, where he led three research projects funded by the European Commission. During this time\, he also worked on the EU’s E-Commerce (the predecessor to the DSA) and ePrivacy Directives. Joe holds master’s degrees in European Politics and in International Law. \nClick here to learn more and register to attend. \nNote: Event details are listed in Central European Summer Time (CEST\, UTC+2). 
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/david-vs-goliath-in-the-dsa-era-lessons-from-bits-of-freedoms-victory/
LOCATION:Virtual
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260604T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260604T133000
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260506T193937Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260506T193937Z
UID:516181-1780576200-1780579800@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:We the Dead: Preserving Data at the End of the World
DESCRIPTION:In the late nineteenth century\, the U.S. government and American corporations generated an unprecedented amount of paper records. The data complex emerged as a national network of repositories built to house all those documents. Over the next several decades\, the data complex expanded from traditional archives and libraries to bombproof bunkers and securitized data banks. In the 21st century\, some tech companies are working to build data centers in outer space\, while others have figured out how to store backups of digital files in synthetic DNA. How did Americans become so obsessed with preserving data\, and how is the data complex expanding and changing today? How is it changing us? As we increasingly think\, communicate\, and relate through digital technology\, our nervous systems grow more entangled with fiber optics\, further blurring the line between human life and the life of machines\, between our everyday thoughts and the dreams of the data complex. \nBrian Michael Murphy is Chair and Associate Professor of American Studies at Williams College\, and a Faculty Associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. His book\, We the Dead: Preserving Data at the End of the World\, received both the Anne Friedberg Innovative Scholarship Award from the Society for Cinema and Media Studies\, and the Lois P. Rudnick Book Prize from the New England American Studies Association. His writings appear in The Kenyon Review\, Wall Street Journal\, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency\, Media-N\, Lapham’s Quarterly\, IGN\, and elsewhere. \n  \nClick here to register 
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/we-the-dead-preserving-data-at-the-end-of-the-world/
LOCATION:Virtual
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260604T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260604T173000
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260413T162427Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260413T162557Z
UID:515964-1780590600-1780594200@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Enforce on the DSA enforcers: how can Member States legally push the Commission to act?
DESCRIPTION:The DSA establishes a hybrid enforcement framework. The European Commission holds exclusive competence to supervise and enforce DSA obligations on Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) and Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs). National authorities — Digital Services Coordinators (DSCs) — handle all other intermediaries established in their territory. \nThis centralized exclusive competence creates a real structural tension and dependency: raising the question: what legal options do EU Member States have if the Commission fails to do its job as as a supervisory and enforcement body? \nWelcome to join our discussion with Legal Consultant & Governance Advisor Christine Allan de Lavenne from SIDE Law Office! \nSpeaker:Christine Allan de Lavenne\, Tech Innovation Legal Consultant & Governance Advisor \nChristine Allan de Lavenne is a legal and policy executive operating at the intersection of freedom of expression\, intellectual property\, and emerging technology governance. With more than two decades of experience across Europe and the United States\, she advises public institutions\, NGOs\, technology-driven organizations\, and founders on navigating complex legal and regulatory environments where fundamental rights\, innovation\, and public accountability intersect. \nChristine is the founding partner of SIDE Law Office and serves as an independent international tech innovation legal consultant and AI governance advisor. She advises NGOs\, public bodies\, and policy organizations on AI governance\, information integrity\, and cross-border regulatory strategy. Her work includes bridging international legal standards with the operational deployment of AI systems and contributing to policy initiatives addressing coordinated disinformation campaigns and their impact on democratic discourse and fundamental rights. Several of these contributions have informed government approaches and multilateral policy discussions. \nEarlier in her career\, Christine practiced media\, intellectual property\, and human rights law within leading European firms\, supporting politically sensitive matters involving freedom of expression\, reputation\, and international human rights\, as well as complex asylum and international criminal cases before French and international jurisdictions. She began her career at UNESCO\, where she served as a Consultant in the Human Rights Division\, coordinating the International Human Rights Forum and contributing to the organization’s human rights strategy across its member. \nChristine currently serves on and advises boards and initiatives focused on AI governance\, digital trust\, and information integrity. She is a dual U.S. and French citizen and is admitted to the Paris Bar. \nModerator: Alexandre Alaphilippe\, Executive Director\, EU DisinfoLab \nAlexandre Alaphilippe is the Executive Director and co-founder of the EU DisinfoLab. Since 2017\, he has coordinated work on some of the organisation’s largest investigations into Information Operations linked to Russia\, India and China. In 2022\, he led the exposure of Doppelganger\, which has been labeled as one of the largest information operation from Russia in the past years. He is a member of a number of working groups in Brussels and Washington DC linked to platform regulation\, transatlantic relations\, and hybrid threats\, where he emphasises the role of civil society in maintaining democratic values. He has published papers for the Brookings Institution and his work has been featured on CNN\, BBC\, Le Monde and Politico. \nClick here to learn more and register to attend. \nNote: Event details are listed in Central European Summer Time (CEST\, UTC+2). 
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/enforce-on-the-dsa-enforcers-how-can-member-states-legally-push-the-commission-to-act/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260618T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260620T235959
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260415T152651Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260415T152758Z
UID:516044-1781740800-1781999999@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Fake News Festival 2026
DESCRIPTION:How does our world change when artificial intelligence produces content faster than we can verify it?\nThe Fake News Festival brings together science\, practice\, and the public to examine disinformation\, artificial intelligence\, and the future of our information society from diverse perspectives. In keynotes\, lectures\, and workshops\, experts from research\, media\, politics\, and civil society discuss how AI is changing the creation and spread of fake news\, what risks and opportunities are associated with it\, and how we can better recognize and counter digital manipulation. \nThe festival is aimed at everyone who wants to understand how disinformation is created\, why it works – and what role AI plays in it. The goal is to make knowledge accessible\, to stimulate debate\, and to create space for exchange\, questions\, and new ideas. \nThe Initiative \nThe Fake News Festival is organized by the European University Viadrina . It is designed and organized by researchersandstudents of the Viadrina and brings current research\, teaching\, and societal debates surrounding disinformation\, AI\, and the digital public sphere to the stage. \nThe European University Viadrina stands for interdisciplinary research on digital transformation processes – and these perspectives shape the festival. At the same time\, it sees itself as an open format extending beyond the campus: with events at various locations in Frankfurt (Oder) and the surrounding area.The region creates spaces for exchange between science\, urban society\, schools\, initiatives and all interested parties. \n\nRead more and register to attend here.
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/fake-news-festival-2026/
LOCATION:European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder)\, Große Scharrnstraße 59\, Frankfurt\, 15230\, Germany
CATEGORIES:Conference
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260629T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260629T120000
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260625T130119Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260702T153933Z
UID:516456-1782730800-1782734400@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:AI and the future of teaching and learning | Brookings
DESCRIPTION:As generative AI rapidly reshapes classrooms around the globe\, educators and decisionmakers are grappling with a major concern: How can generative AI be used to help\, not harm\, teaching and learning? What is the role of technology in the classroom? \nThis past January\, the Center for Universal Education at Brookings released the report “A new direction for students in an AI world: Prosper\, prepare\, protect\,” alongside the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s “OECD Digital Education Outlook 2026.” These two reports examine how generative AI is being used in education today and what it could mean for the future of teaching and learning. The reports find that AI can be a powerful tool to support students and teachers when used narrowly with thoughtful design. However\, widespread use of general purpose AI tools can diminish student learning and development. \nOn June 29\, the Center for Universal Education at Brookings will host a conversation on the ways in which technology\, including AI\, impacts teaching\, learning\, and ultimately student development. Led by author and education technology veteran Michael B. Horn\, this discussion will explore when AI helps students succeed and where it falls short in the modern digital age.
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/ai-and-the-future-of-teaching-and-learning/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260630T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260630T150000
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260625T130320Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260702T153859Z
UID:516458-1782813600-1782831600@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:The Luddite Conference on Participatory Futures | The New School
DESCRIPTION:With companies like OpenAI taking Pentagon contracts and Elon Musk using government resources to scrape Americans’ data\, it’s hard to feel that there are any tangible ways to resist the techno-fascist backslide. To regain a sense of social agency\, we are convening a participatory conference inspired by the Luddite movement. We will tackle questions such as: What is the relationship between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon? What are the social and political consequences of new AI technologies? And what can we do in response? \nPlease join us for a day of learning how Big Tech brought us to this existentially threatening moment\, and how we can reclaim personal and collective agency for a participatory future. \nOur speakers will include William Hartung (author of Trillion Dollar War Machine)\, Koohan Paik-Mander (co-founder of the Tech-Critics Network)\, and Juan Sebastian Pinto (Colorado People’s Caucus on AI).
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/the-luddite-conference-on-participatory-futures/
LOCATION:The New School’s Tishman Auditorium\, 63 Fifth Avenue\, New York\, NY\, The New School's Tishman Auditorium\, 63 Fifth Avenue\, New York\, NY\, United States
CATEGORIES:Conference
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Berlin:20260702T143000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Berlin:20260702T153000
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260625T123551Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260702T152919Z
UID:516461-1783002600-1783006200@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:China’s AI strategy and its impact on the global information space | EU Disinfo Lab
DESCRIPTION:Can European software built on cheap Chinese AI models be trusted? \nAs open-source model families like Alibaba’s Qwen surge in global popularity\, an increasing number of international developers are quietly integrating them into their tech stacks. However\, this cost-effective accessibility may come with a significant hidden vulnerability: the systematic embedding of Chinese propaganda into core AI architectures. \nDrawing directly from a breakthrough report for the Swedish Psychological Defence Agency\, co-author Alex Colville examines the geopolitical strategy behind China’s ambitions\, Xi Jinping’s doctrine of controlling foundational AI development as a means of shaping global technological standards and international information ecosystems\, as well as its use for Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) purposes. \nThe session breaks down specific PRC tactics on how state-approved narratives are encoded into large language models (LLMs)\, dispelling common misconceptions about censorship and propaganda. It will also examine the practical steps that European policymakers\, developers\, and other stakeholders can take to mitigate FIMI-related risks associated with Chinese AI models and safeguard information integrity. \nNote: Event details are listed in CET (UTC +1)
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/chinas-ai-strategy-and-its-impact-on-the-global-information-space/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20260706T000000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20260710T235959
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260702T210725Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260702T210725Z
UID:516675-1783296000-1783727999@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2026
DESCRIPTION:The WSIS Forum serves as the central multistakeholder convening platform mandated to advance the implementation of the WSIS Action Lines and support global digital cooperation. Anchored in the renewed UNGA mandate\, the Forum brings together governments\, the private sector\, civil society\, technical communities\, academia\, youth\, and international organizations in a uniquely inclusive environment for dialogue\, collaboration\, and action. \nAs part of the WSIS+20 review process\, the United Nations General Assembly recognized the central role of the WSIS Forum as a global platform for advancing the WSIS vision. Through resolution A/RES/80/173\, the General Assembly acknowledged the work of ITU\, in collaboration with UNESCO\, UNCTAD and UNDP\, in establishing the annual WSIS Forum. \nThe Forum remains the principal mechanism for reviewing\, gathering multistakeholder input and advancing the WSIS Action Lines\, including their annual roadmaps. International Telecommunication Union leads the coordination of the Event and it is co organized by ITU\, UNESCO\, UNDP\, and UNCTAD\, in partnership with more than fifty United Nations entities\, ensuring a coherent system wide approach to the follow up of the WSIS outcomes. \nWSIS Forum is co-hosted by ITU and Switzerland. \nA defining component of the Forum is its High Level Track\, which convenes ministers\, regulators\, chief executives\, civil society heads\, mayors\, ambassadors and heads of UN agencies. The ministerial roundtables provide an opportunity for Member States to articulate national digital priorities\, exchange policy experiences\, and identify areas for collective action\, reinforcing the Forum’s role as the interface between policy level commitments and operational implementation. \nThe WSIS Forum has established itself as a global hub for innovation\, emerging trends\, and forward looking discussions. Each year\, it showcases new developments in artificial intelligence\, frontier connectivity\, digital public infrastructure\, cybersecurity\, digital inclusion\, and multilingual digital ecosystems. At the same time\, it provides a structured space to examine emerging risks\, such as online safety challenges\, misinformation\, data governance concerns\, and widening digital divides — enabling multistakeholder responses to evolving digital realities. \nLooking ahead\, WSIS Forum 2026 will take place from 6 to 10 July in Geneva\, hosted at ITU Headquarters from 6–7 July and at Palexpo from 8–10 July. As the first Forum convened after the WSIS+20 UNGA review\, it will play a vital role in supporting Member States as they begin implementing commitments set out in the December resolution. The 2026 edition will feature an expanded High Level Track\, strengthened ministerial participation\, the WSIS Prizes 2026\, thematic exhibitions\, and a programme shaped through the Open Consultation Process.
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/world-summit-on-the-information-society-wsis-forum-2026/
LOCATION:ITU Headquarters\, Pl. des Nations 1211\, Geneva\, 1202\, Switzerland
CATEGORIES:Conference
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Berlin:20260706T133000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Berlin:20260706T143000
DTSTAMP:20260928T141208
CREATED:20260625T123541Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260702T153743Z
UID:516443-1783344600-1783348200@mediawell.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:A Materialist Critique of Technofascism | ECPR
DESCRIPTION:In this talk\, Dr. Möllers parses the current debate on technofascism(s) to develop a materialist understanding of technofascist formations from Science and Technology Studies (STS) and anti-colonial perspectives. She demonstrates that a focus on materiality highlights both the ordinariness and global/planetary dimensions of contemporary technofascist formations. She argues that a materialist understanding of technofascist formations clarifies that the struggle against them must not be limited to resisting Big Tech but must encompass the abolition of all infrastructures of state violence.\n\nNorma Möllers is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Queen’s University\, where she researches and teaches on technologies of state violence. Her forthcoming book Against Bias\, available open access with MIT Press\, is an ethnography of how computer scientists make algorithmic surveillance technology. Her current research focuses on the relationship between algorithmic warfare and digital capitalism. At the moment\, she is thinking a lot about the responsibility of intellectuals in times of fascism and what we can do to support the collective struggle.\n\nNote: Event details are listed in BST (UTC + 1).
URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/a-materialist-critique-of-technofascism/
LOCATION:Virtual
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