BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//MediaWell - ECPv6.6.4.2//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:MediaWell X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for MediaWell REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD TZID:Europe/Brussels BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 TZNAME:CEST DTSTART:20250330T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:CET DTSTART:20251026T010000 END:STANDARD TZID:America/Los_Angeles BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20250309T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20251102T090000 END:STANDARD TZID:America/Chicago BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20250309T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20251102T070000 END:STANDARD TZID:Asia/Kolkata BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0530 TZOFFSETTO:+0530 TZNAME:IST DTSTART:20260101T000000 END:STANDARD TZID:Europe/London BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:BST DTSTART:20260329T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:GMT DTSTART:20261025T010000 END:STANDARD TZID:Europe/Berlin BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 TZNAME:CEST DTSTART:20260329T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:CET DTSTART:20261025T010000 END:STANDARD TZID:America/Los_Angeles BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20260308T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20261101T090000 END:STANDARD TZID:Australia/Melbourne BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20260404T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20261003T160000 END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250514T123000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250514T133000 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20250513T162353Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250529T162817Z UID:512868-1747225800-1747229400@mediawell.ssrc.org SUMMARY:The Future of Social Media Transparency DESCRIPTION:Social media platforms have become increasingly opaque at precisely the moment their influence on society has reached unprecedented levels. Over the long-term\, we need to conceptualize true independent transparency as an infrastructure project built on four pillars—government requirements & legal protections\, international standards\, shared tooling\, and sustainable funding. We are making slow but steady progress on all four. \n[…] URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/the-future-of-social-media-transparency/ LOCATION:Harvard University\, Cambridge\, Massachusetts CATEGORIES:Talk END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250910T103000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250910T234500 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20250909T202115Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250909T202115Z UID:513575-1757500200-1757547900@mediawell.ssrc.org SUMMARY:Anger\, fear\, domination: Dark passions and the power of political speech DESCRIPTION:As liberal democracies around the world are faltering\, William Galston’s new book\, “Anger\, Fear\, Domination: Dark Passions and the Power of Political Speech\,” explores the sources of this decline that stem from the internal vulnerabilities of liberal democracy\, particularly the ability of ambitious leaders to mobilize public anger and fear in the service of domination. \nOn September 10\, Brookings Senior Fellows Jonathan Rauch and Galston will discuss the power of political speech in democracies to stoke the dark side of human nature and the need for a new liberal realism to counter anti-democratic forces. \nRegister to attend in person | Register to watch online URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/anger-fear-domination-dark-passions-and-the-power-of-political-speech/ LOCATION:The Brookings Institute\, 1775 Massachusetts Ave NW\, Washington\, D.C.\, 20036\, United States CATEGORIES:Talk END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250910T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250910T140000 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20250909T200257Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250909T200257Z UID:513565-1757509200-1757512800@mediawell.ssrc.org SUMMARY:Federal Efforts to Expand Access to State Administrative Data DESCRIPTION:Join the Center for Democracy & Technology\, the Leadership Conference’s Center for Civil Rights and Technology\, and Protect Democracy for a webinar on Federal Efforts to Expand Access to State Administrative Data. This event\, the third in a series related to government data privacy\, follows a recently-released explainer on Federal Efforts to Expand Access to Data from State-Run Programs and Individual Privacy. This discussion will focus on:\n\n \n\n The types of administrative data held by state-run programs\,\n \n Examples of historic and current efforts by the federal government to access state data\,\n \n The legal protections for federal attempts to access state administrative data\, and\n \n The potential future changes to and impacts of the federal government’s growing access\, use\, and sharing of state administrative data.\n\n \n\nThis event and its collaborative resources are the latest effort from our organizations to track this rapidly evolving issue and unpack implications for privacy\, civil liberties\, and civil rights\, including the potential violations of legal privacy protections and negative impacts to millions of people.\n\n\nFeatured Speakers:\n\n Quinn Anex-Ries\, Center for Democracy & Technology\n Frank Torres\, the Leadership Conference’s Center for Civil Rights and Technology\n Nicole Schneidman\, Protect Democracy\n Matthew Dunlap\, Maine State Auditor\n Angela Arsenault\, Vermont State Representative\n\nFor additional information\, please reach out to civictech@cdt.org\, techcenter@civilrights.org\, and techanddata@protectdemocracy.org. URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/federal-efforts-to-expand-access-to-state-administrative-data/ LOCATION:Webinar CATEGORIES:Talk ORGANIZER;CN="Center for Democracy & Technology":MAILTO:civictech@cdt.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250911T083000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250911T100000 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20250909T205537Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250909T205537Z UID:513591-1757579400-1757584800@mediawell.ssrc.org SUMMARY:The EU Code of Practice on disinformation: evaluating VLOPSE compliance and effectiveness DESCRIPTION:In this webinar\, Trisha Meyer (co-author) will present the findings of the recently published EDMO report on the compliance and effectiveness of Very Large Online Platforms and Search Engines’ (VLOPSE) actions to implement the Code of Practice (now Code of Conduct) on Disinformation\, focusing on Meta (Facebook and Instagram)\, Google (Search and YouTube)\, Microsoft (Bing and LinkedIn)\, and TikTok. Large online platforms submit transparency reports twice a year\, detailing their efforts to meet commitments under the Code. The report focuses on key areas such as supporting media literacy\, enhancing fact-checking partnerships\, improving transparency\, and enabling research\, as reported in 2024. The assessment examines the extent to which these seven VLOPSE services have met core commitments under the CoPD and evaluates the real-world impact of selected actions and initiatives taken under the Code. \n  \nSpeaker \nTrisha Meyer | Professor in Digital Governance and Participation; Co-Lead·Vrije Universiteit Brussel; EDMO BELUX \n\nTrisha Meyer is an Associate Professor in Digital Governance and Participation at the Brussels School of Governance of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel\, where she leads the Research Centre for Digitalisation\, Democracy and Innovation. Trisha is also principal investigator of EDMO BELUX\, a co-funded hub on research\, fact-checking and media literacy on online disinformation in Belgium and Luxembourg. Trisha researches the regulatory push toward and societal consequences of tech platforms taking proactive (automated) measures to moderate online content. A second closely related research strand pertains to participatory governance in digital policy. In recent years\, her research has focused on the balancing act necessary when developing responses to tackle disinformation online. URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/the-eu-code-of-practice-on-disinformation-evaluating-vlopse-compliance-and-effectiveness/ LOCATION:Webinar CATEGORIES:Talk END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250917T083000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250917T120000 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20250915T181033Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250915T181033Z UID:513624-1758097800-1758110400@mediawell.ssrc.org SUMMARY:Webcast | The Human Edge: Our Future with Artificial Intelligences DESCRIPTION:Higher education leaders\, researchers\, and practitioners will meet in Research Triangle Park on September 17th to explore the evolution of the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence (AI) systems. Attendees will generate a research agenda to understand and guide the evolution in a positive direction and to bring attention to regional AI capabilities. RTI International and Elon University are co-presenting this conference at RTI’s headquarters. \nThe conference will examine topics related to education\, workforce\, and labor; human agency and creativity; mental and physical health and well-being; and AI governance and democracy. With support from Burroughs Wellcome Fund\, the Knight Foundation\, and Schmidt Sciences\, the program is organized by the Imagining the Digital Future Center at Elon University\, and RTI International’s Fellows Program and University Collaboration Office. \nRegistration is required for both in-person and virtual attendance. Morning keynote sessions and the regional capabilities session will be streamed via Zoom. Registration for in-person programming has now closed. Please register for virtual attendance by September 15th. URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/webcast-the-human-edge-our-future-with-artificial-intelligences/ LOCATION:Hybrid END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250918T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250918T130000 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20250917T160641Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250917T160641Z UID:513657-1758196800-1758200400@mediawell.ssrc.org SUMMARY:Live Podcast Recording | Setting a ‘Tech Agenda’ for Climate Week with Tech Policy Press DESCRIPTION:From September 21–28\, New York City will host Climate Week. Leaders from business\, politics\, academia\, and civil society will gather to share ideas and develop strategies to address the climate crisis. \n​The tech industry intersects with climate concerns in a number of ways\, not least of which is through its own growing demand for natural resources and energy\, particularly to power data centers. What should a “tech agenda” for Climate Week include? What are the most important issues that need attention\, and how should challenges and opportunities be framed? \n​Join Tech Policy Press and expert guests for a live recording of The Tech Policy Press Podcast. Speakers include: \n\n\n​Justin Hendrix\, CEO and Editor\, Tech Policy Press \n\n\n​Alix Dunn\, Founder and CEO of The Maybe \n\n\n​Tamara Kneese\, Director of Data & Society‘s Climate\, Technology\, and Justice Program \n\n\n​Holly Alpine\, Co-Founder\, Enabled Emissions Campaign \n\n\n\nRead more and register to attend here.  URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/live-podcast-recording-setting-a-tech-agenda-for-climate-week-with-tech-policy-press/ LOCATION:Virtual CATEGORIES:Talk END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20250918T143000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20250918T153000 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20250909T205245Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250909T205306Z UID:513587-1758205800-1758209400@mediawell.ssrc.org SUMMARY:Operation Overload: smarter\, bolder\, powered by AI DESCRIPTION:The Russian propaganda operation targeted at media organisations and fact-checkers is going stronger than ever. Operation Overload\, which was first documented in June 2024\, is conquering new platforms and harnessing AI tools to target fact-checkers\, media and international audiences with Kremlin propaganda. \nDon’t miss this webinar with insights from Reset Tech and CheckFirst on how this influence campaign has hit record numbers on all metrics – including content creation\, multi-level impersonation\, number of targets – and how it has developed new Tactics\, Techniques\, and Procedures (TTPs) to embed itself in the public information space. URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/operation-overload-smarter-bolder-powered-by-ai/ LOCATION:Webinar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250922T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250922T130000 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20250917T161659Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250917T161728Z UID:513660-1758542400-1758546000@mediawell.ssrc.org SUMMARY:Webinar: The Double-Edged Sword of AI in Peacebuilding | International Panel on the Information Environment DESCRIPTION:On 22 September\, the International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE) invites you to the launch of its landmark report\, Artificial Intelligence and Peacebuilding: Opportunities and Challenges. \nAI is increasingly shaping peacebuilding efforts – helping monitor conflict risks\, support humanitarian coordination\, and foster dialogue. Yet\, the same technologies can also fuel repression\, surveillance\, disinformation\, and polarization. This webinar will explore the double-edged nature of AI in fragile contexts and highlight why human rights must be at the core of its design and deployment. \nDrawing on analysis of over 600 global sources\, the report provides the most comprehensive scientific assessment to date of AI’s potential in peacebuilding. It sets out five key recommendations for policymakers\, the private sector\, and civil society to ensure that AI contributes to peace rather than instability. \nThrough keynote insights\, expert discussion\, and audience engagement\, this session will examine: \n\nThe promise and perils of AI in conflict and post-conflict settings\nThe growing role of generative AI in peacebuilding\nThe importance of local knowledge\, data sovereignty\, and smaller language models\nHow to align AI innovation with human rights principles\, from privacy to freedom of expression\nPractical steps for building cross-sector partnerships that safeguards peace\n\nSpeakers include: \n\nProf. Fredrick Ogenga\, Chair of the IPIE’s Scientific Panel on AI and Peacebuilding\nDr. Evelyne Tauchnitz\, Vice Chair\nDr. Lisa Schirch\, Panel Member\nDr. Craig Zelizer\, Consulting Scientist\n\nThis event will be chaired by Prof. Sebastian Valenzuela\, Chief Science Officer at the IPIE. \nRegister to attend here.  URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/webinar-the-double-edged-sword-of-ai-in-peacebuilding-international-panel-on-the-information-environment/ LOCATION:Virtual CATEGORIES:Talk ORGANIZER;CN="International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE)":MAILTO:Contact@IPIE.info END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250923T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250923T193000 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20250909T212030Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250923T145725Z UID:513600-1758652200-1758655800@mediawell.ssrc.org SUMMARY:Understanding AI with Data & Society | The Environmental Costs of AI Are Surging – What Now? DESCRIPTION:Researcher Tamara Kneese speaks with environmental justice researcher Sanjana Paul and critical social scientist Jasmine McNealy about the environmental toll AI development is taking on local water supplies\, energy systems\, and communities around the world. \nThis event will take place online and in person at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library on the 7th Floor \nArtificial intelligence technologies run on powerful computers that require vast amounts of energy\, water\, and critical minerals. As AI use grows\, so does its environmental footprint. Yet there is little consensus on how to assess and address the technology’s toll on the climate before irreparable damage is done. How can we understand the impact AI data centers have on communities and the environment? How can we ensure that communities are able to use empirical data about those impacts to fight back? \nTo join the event in person | Doors will open 30 minutes before the program begins. For free events\, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance\, but registration does not guarantee admission. All registered seats are released shortly before start time\, and seats may become available at that time. A standby line will form 30 minutes before the program. \nTo join the event online | Whether you’re attending in person or online\, you must register with your email address. You will need a device with audio and/or video and an internet/cellular connection to view the livestream. \n\nABOUT THE SPEAKERS\nTamara Kneese is the director of Data & Society’s Climate\, Technology\, and Justice program. Previously\, she led Data & Society’s Algorithmic Impacts Lab (AIMLab). Tamara’s research juxtaposes histories of computing and automation with ethnographies of platform labor. Her first book\, Death Glitch: How Techno-Solutionism Fails Us in This Life and Beyond\, was published by Yale University Press in 2023. \nJasmine McNealy is an attorney\, critical public interest technologist\, and social scientist who studies emerging media & technology with a view toward influencing law and policy. An internationally recognized scholar\, her research is interdisciplinary\, centered at the intersection of media\, technology\, policy\, and law. Of particular focus are the areas of privacy\, surveillance\, and data governance and emphasizing technological and the impacts on marginalized and vulnerable communities. She is a professor at the University of Florida where she directs the Infrastructure for Communities\, Ecology for Data Hub (ICED Hub)\, which annually hosts the Rural x AI + Policy Workshop. She is also Faculty Associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. \nSanjana Paul is an engineer\, environmental justice researcher\, and systems thinker working at the intersection of infrastructure\, climate\, and technology. She is a PhD student at MIT\, where her research focuses on renewable energy\, energy justice\, and the electric grid. She is the co-founder of Rooted Futures Lab\, a research and action collective advancing environmental justice in technology\, and Earth Hacks\, a nonprofit harnessing hackathons as a form of climate action. Her work has ranged from atmospheric science software engineering at NASA to passing decarbonization policy at the local level. She holds a BS in electrical engineering and physics\, and a Master’s in City Planning from MIT. URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/understanding-ai-with-data-society-the-environmental-costs-of-ai-are-surging-what-now/ LOCATION:Hybrid CATEGORIES:Talk END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250925T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250926T235959 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20250915T180323Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250915T180527Z UID:513617-1758758400-1758931199@mediawell.ssrc.org SUMMARY:2025 Trust & Safety Research Conference | Stanford Cyber Policy Center DESCRIPTION:The Stanford Cyber Policy Center will host its fourth annual Trust & Safety Research Conference on September 25-26\, 2025 at Stanford University. The conference brings together trust and safety researchers and practitioners from academia\, industry\, civil society\, and government. The conference aims to advance research in trust and safety while fostering the exchange of ideas across various disciplines\, including computer science\, communication\, policy\, law\, and political science. Registration for the 2025 Trust & Safety Research is open now.  \nRegister to attend here through September 23. URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/the-4th-annual-trust-safety-research-conference/ LOCATION:Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center\, 326 Galvez Street\, Stanford\, CA\, 94305\, United States CATEGORIES:Conference ORGANIZER;CN="Cyber Policy Center | Stanford University":MAILTO:cyber-center@stanford.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250929T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250929T130000 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20250909T201647Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250909T201647Z UID:513569-1759143600-1759150800@mediawell.ssrc.org SUMMARY:Gender & Tech Online Talk Series: Technocapitalism & Environmental Justice DESCRIPTION:The Gender and Tech Talk Series brings together leading scholars\, advocates\, and practitioners to discuss the intersections of gender\, technology\, democracy and human rights. It critically examines how digital platforms and technologies impact women\, queer and gender-diverse individuals while exploring pathways for more inclusive\, rights-focused digital governance frameworks. \nThe fourth talk\, “Technocapitalism and Environmental Justice\,” will examine the intersection of technocapitalism\, environmental justice\, and gender\, exploring how the global dominance of tech corporations exacerbates environmental inequalities and impacts marginalized communities. We expect to discuss the environmental and social costs of digital technologies\, focusing on how technocapitalism contributes to resource extraction\, waste\, and exploitation\, particularly in the Global South. The conversation also aims at addressing the gendered dimensions of tech-environmental harm\, highlighting how marginalized communities bear the brunt of these impacts. \nThis online series\, co-organized by Yasmin Curzi and Jess Reia\, runs monthly featuring two speakers and international perspectives. It began in April 2025 and will end in December 2025\, with the following dates and topics: \n4/25 | Digital Colonialism\n5/27 | Data Governance\n8/28 | Platform Governance\n9/29 | Technocapitalism and environmental justice\n10/27 | Data Work and Political Participation\n11/24 | Trans-inclusive AI Governance \nThe discussions will become a report published in early spring 2026. \nAbout the panelists \nTamara Kneese directs Data & Society Research Institute’s Climate\, Justice\, and Technology program and previously led the Algorithmic Impact Methods Lab (AIMLab). Before joining D&S\, she was lead researcher at Green Software Foundation\, director of developer engagement on the Green Software team at Intel\, and assistant professor of Media Studies and director of Gender and Sexualities Studies at the University of San Francisco. She is the author of Death Glitch: How Techno-Solutionism Fails Us in This Life and Beyond (Yale University Press\, 2023) and co-author of Notes Toward a Digital Workers’ Inquiry (Common Notions Press\, 2025). Her work has been published in academic journals including Social Text\, Social Media + Society\, and the International Journal of Communication and in popular outlets such as Wired\, The Verge\, and The Baffler. Tamara holds a PhD in Media\, Culture and Communication from NYU. \nPaz Peña is a Mozilla Senior Fellow for 2025\, dedicated to studying the socio-environmental impacts of AI data centers in Latin America. With over 15 years of experience\, she explores the intersection of technology\, social justice\, and feminism\, working with governments\, civil society\, and international agencies. For the past seven years\, Paz has focused her research on the socio-environmental consequences of digital technologies in Latin America. In 2021\, she established the Latin American Institute of Terraforming (terraforminglatam.net)\, a unique space for reflecting on the relationship between technology and the ecological and climate crises we face. In 2023\, she published a summary of her research in the book “Tecnologías para un planeta en llamas” (Paidós). Paz is based in Santiago\, Chile. \nJess Reia (moderator) is an Assistant Professor of Data Science and a Faculty co-lead at the Digital Technology for Democracy Lab at the University of Virginia. In 2025\, Reia was selected as an Andrew Carnegie Fellow by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. They are also a Visiting Scholar at Fudan University in Shanghai and a Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for Democracy & Technology in Washington\, D.C. Reia works primarily on topics of technology policy and human rights transnationally\, being interested in the untold stories in our datasets\, citizen-generated data and how artificial intelligence is transforming the way we think about evidence and representation. \nA policymaker by training\, Reia’s research and advocacy agenda has focused on building collaborations with government and civil society organizations in Brazil\, Canada and the US for over a decade\, resulting in numerous resources to support policy- and decision-making and academic publications in four languages. Reia is also a public scholar whose writing and interviews were featured in various outlets\, including Estadão\, Le Devoir and BBC. Before joining UVA\, they were appointed Mellon Postdoctoral Researcher at McGill University\, studying the impact of smart-washing and datafication in nocturnal urban spaces and their communities. Reia held a two-year mandate as a member of MTL 24/24’s first Night Council in Montreal. Prior to that\, they worked at the Center for Technology & Society at FGV Law School in Rio de Janeiro. \nReia’s latest book\, “Urban Music Governance: What Busking Can Teach Us about Data\, Policy and Our Cities” (Intellect/University of Chicago Press\, 2025)\, explores what happens when precarious urban cultural laborers take data collection\, laws\, and policymaking into their own hands. A transnational exploration of often unseen aspects of urban governance\, it examines the intricate limits of legality\, data visibility\, and resistance from the perspective of those working at the social and regulatory margins of society. \nCurrently\, Reia teaches courses for future data scientists on ethics\, governance\, and policy. Past courses have included a focus on urban data\, digital rights\, intellectual property\, and research methods. URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/gender-tech-online-talk-series-technocapitalism-environmental-justice/ LOCATION:Webinar CATEGORIES:Talk END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250929T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250929T130000 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20250923T145503Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250923T145503Z UID:513691-1759147200-1759150800@mediawell.ssrc.org SUMMARY:AI Hype Working Group: Responsible use of AI in journalism | Public Tech Media Lab DESCRIPTION:Welcome to the last session of our AI Hype Working Group! We are thrilled to have Natali Helberger (University of Amsterdam) joining us as a guest speaker. Find more information about this session below: \nProposition: Responsible use of AI in journalism begins with responsible procurement. \nAbstract: The resilience of a democracy is invariably linked to the health of a society’s media ecosystem. In a recent report\, the Dutch Council of Government Policy (WRR) characterized the democratic role of the media as providing the ‘infrastructures of the public space.”This also means that some technology choices are editorial and co-shape our public information ecosystem. I will argue that the constitutionally protected freedom of the media also entails duties and responsibilities\, including a shared responsibility for shaping our media freedom infrastructure. Subject to the capacities and resources of individual media organizations\, each media organization can have some active role in co-shaping the technological infrastructures for media freedom – be that through experimenting with value-sensitive recommender design\, opting in favour of open source software or specialized start-ups\, through cooperation with a national LLM project instead of concluding a licensing deal with Open AI\, Llama\, and Co. \nBiography: Natali Helberger is Distinguished University Professor of Information Law and Digital Technology at the University of Amsterdam and a member of the Executive Board of the Institute for Information Law (IViR). Helberger is an elected member of the Royal Holland Society of Sciences (KHMW)\, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW)\, and the Social Science Council of the KNAW. Helberger’s research focuses on how AI and ADS (algorithmic decision systems) are changing society and what the implications are for law and governance. She is the founder and co-director of the AI\, Media & Democracy Lab\, and of the AlgoSoc (Public Values in the Algorithmic Society) Gravity Consortium. In her function as expert\, Natali advises the European Commission\, European Parliament\, Council of Europe\, and national regulators and civil society organisations. \nRead more and register to attend on the Public Tech Media Lab’s website. Note: Event times are in Central Daylight Time (CDT).  URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/ai-hype-working-group-responsible-use-of-ai-in-journalism-public-tech-media-lab/ LOCATION:Virtual END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251001T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251003T235959 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20250926T200648Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250926T200648Z UID:513746-1759276800-1759535999@mediawell.ssrc.org SUMMARY:Virtual Event | Deep Dive: Data Governance DESCRIPTION:Deep Dive: Data Governance\, a premier virtual gathering of leading AI & Data practitioners\, is a 3-day Virtual Event on Data Governance\, and Open Source AI. \n\nRead more about the conference and register to attend here. URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/virtual-event-deep-dive-data-governance/ LOCATION:Virtual CATEGORIES:Conference END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20251015T000000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20251016T235959 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20250923T142835Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250923T142835Z UID:513683-1760486400-1760659199@mediawell.ssrc.org SUMMARY:The Future of Democracy: Speech\, Thought\, Sovereignty\, and Power in the Age of Platforms and AI DESCRIPTION:The Open Markets Institute and ARTICLE 19 are convening a high-level two-day conference of leading thinkers\, lawmakers\, technologists\, and advocates to discuss the direct and growing threats to our democracies and basic liberties posed by today’s dominant online communications platforms\, the rise of AI\, and interference by foreign states. \nThe event will be a powerful statement in defense of human liberty and the sovereignty of democratic nations. We will be joined by Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa; former Italian President Mario Monti; former EVP of the European Commission Margrethe Vestager; and Jamie Raskin\, ranking member of House Judiciary\, among many other leading voices. Michael McGrath\, the Commissioner for Democracy\, Justice\, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection\, will be representing the European Commission. \nThis conference could not be timelier. In many ways\, the fight to protect freedom of speech and thought online is key to prevailing in today’s great battle for democracy. As the New York Times put it recently: “Trump Wants Europe to Stop Regulating Big Tech: Will it Bend?” \nJoin us in Brussels on October 15th at the Residence Palace and on October 16th at the European Parliament to hear some of the world’s leading voices come together to discuss how to collectively understand and counter these threats. The event will also be livestreamed online. \n\nRegister here for in-person or virtual attendance. Read more about this event on the Open Markets Institute website. \nNote: Event times are listed in Central European Summer Time (CEST).  URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/the-future-of-democracy-speech-thought-sovereignty-and-power-in-the-age-of-platforms-and-ai/ LOCATION:Residence Palace\, 155 Rue de la Loi\, Brussels\, 1040\, Belgium END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20251021T150000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20251021T163000 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20250915T161909Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250915T162014Z UID:513608-1761058800-1761064200@mediawell.ssrc.org SUMMARY:Webinar | Democracy in the Digital Age: Foundations of Digital Democracy Analysis DESCRIPTION:Democracies today face profound challenges. Digitalisation has reshaped political communication\, participation\, and governance. The public sphere — where citizens debate issues of common concern — has largely moved online. Digital technologies create new opportunities but also add complexity to politics and society. \nDigital tools have potentials to broaden citizen participation and can support civil society in novel ways and help fostering new governance models. The current crisis of democracy is therefore a turning point: it may lead to further democratic decline or to the development of democratic systems more resilient to today’s threats such as echo chambers\, fake news\, algorithmic politics\, and misinformation. \nINNOVADE’s digital democracy webinar will focus on three themes central to this debate. We will present the INNOVADE EU research project’s first research report\, the Interdisciplinary Knowledge Base on Digital Democracy. \nFirst\, Christian Fuchs from Paderborn University\, in his talk\, will ask: What is digital democracy? What models of democracy are there? How do they matter for digital democracy? Second\, Laurien Coenen from KU Leuven will take a look at open governance — the art of decision-making based on inclusiveness\, transparency\, and accountability\, supported by digital tools that enable participation and co-creation. Third\, Fatih Yilmaz from Beyond the Horizon will analyse societal developments that influence digital democracy\, such as the spread of misinformation\, the risks of foreign interference\, algorithmic bias\, and digital exclusion. \nThe seminar’s participants will be invited to reflect on key questions: How can we best advance (digital) democracy? Can governments move beyond symbolic consultation towards genuine co-creation with citizens? How can we prevent the erosion of democracy in a time of polarisation? By engaging with these issues\, the webinar will encourage dialogue across research\, policy\, and practice\, and highlight how digital tools can contribute to building democracies that are more inclusive\, resilient\, and future-oriented. \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\n\n\n\n15.00-15.05\nIntroduction\n(Trust-IT Services)\n\n\n15.05-15.20\nWhat is digital democracy?\nChristian Fuchs (Paderborn University)\n\n\n15.20-15.35\nHow can open governance work in practice?\nLaurien Coenen (KU Leuven)\n\n\n15.35-15.50\nWhat global trends shape the future of digital democracy?\nFatih Yilmaz (Beyond the Horizon)\n\n\n15.50-16.15\nQ&A and discussion\n\n\n\n\nClick here to register.  URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/webinar-democracy-in-the-digital-age-foundations-of-digital-democracy-analysis/ LOCATION:Virtual END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251022T003000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251022T133000 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20251021T173722Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251021T173722Z UID:514163-1761093000-1761139800@mediawell.ssrc.org SUMMARY:Automating Content Policy DESCRIPTION:AI is no longer just moderating individual posts — it is learning how to interpret and enforce policy itself. Dave Willner — who has led trust and safety teams at Facebook\, Airbnb\, and OpenAI — joins journalist Meg Marco for a conversation about the shifting terrain of moderation in the age of generative AI. \nFrom the tipping points of past technologies\, like the cell phone\, to today’s new “policy-rewriting machines” that can run millions of classifications in an hour\, Willner and Marco will explore how automation is changing the scale\, speed\, and stakes of online governance. \nNew systems can ingest a company’s policy documents\, apply them to vast datasets\, and make millions of classifications in hours. In doing so\, they both replicate the human task of drawing boundaries — deciding what falls inside or outside the rules — and extend that task far beyond traditional concerns like hate speech or misinformation. \nRead more about this event and register to attend here.  URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/automating-content-policy/ LOCATION:Hybrid CATEGORIES:Talk END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251023T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251023T170000 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20251021T164034Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251021T164034Z UID:514147-1761235200-1761238800@mediawell.ssrc.org SUMMARY:Friend\, Flatterer\, or Foe? The Psychology and Liability of Chatbots DESCRIPTION:As AI systems become more conversational\, the lines between tool\, companion\, and manipulator are blurring. What happens when machines start telling us what we want to hear—and when users start depending on them for emotional connection? \nIn this conversation\, journalist and author Kashmir Hill joins the Berkman Klein Center’s Meg Marco (Senior Director\, Applied Social Media Lab) and Jordi Weinstock (Senior Advisor and expert in tort law) to explore the psychological ripple effects of AI on users\, platforms\, and the legal landscape that’s still struggling to keep pace. \nThe panel will examine emerging research on AI “sycophancy\,” models that flatter\, mirror\, and reinforce users’ beliefs\, as well as the mounting evidence that frequent interaction with text-based chatbots can influence mood and behavior. As more stories of these psychologically damaging relationships emerge (especially impacting young people)\, the conversation turns to liability: when emotional harm or manipulation occurs\, who bears responsibility? Are AI systems becoming a dangerous consumer product akin to gambling or social media\, and what ethical or legal frameworks should protect users from their unintended consequences? \nRead more and register to attend here.  URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/friend-flatterer-or-foe-the-psychology-and-liability-of-chatbots/ CATEGORIES:Talk END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251027T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251027T235959 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20250917T202252Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250917T202504Z UID:513668-1761523200-1761609599@mediawell.ssrc.org SUMMARY:All Tech is Human | Responsible Tech Summit: Centering Humanity in our Tech Future DESCRIPTION:“We’re excited to announce the theme of this year’s Responsible Tech Summit: Centering Humanity in our Tech Future. Our event will take place on October 27\, 2025 at the SVA Theater in NYC and will bring together key stakeholders from across civil society\, government\, industry\, and academia to discuss ways to strengthen and broaden the Responsible Tech movement. This is a highly curated gathering for 265 individuals. Key themes for this year’s summit include: \n\nReasserting human agency to align a tech future with joy\, creativity\, and human connection\nUnderstanding the implications of AI Companion Chatbots\nProsocial Design (Intersection of T&S and AI)\nAI Governance.”\n\n\n\n\nRead more about the 2025 Responsible Tech Summit and apply to attend here.  URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/all-tech-is-human-responsible-tech-summit-centering-humanity-in-our-tech-future/ LOCATION:SVA Theater\, 333 W 23 St\, New York\, NY\, 10011\, United States CATEGORIES:Conference END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251028T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251029T235959 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20251022T185808Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251022T185838Z UID:514170-1761609600-1761782399@mediawell.ssrc.org SUMMARY:The Future of Free Speech Online | The Age of Constitutional Evasion: Jawboning and Other Forms of Government Pressure to Control Private Speech DESCRIPTION:Hosted by the Center for Democracy & Technology and Stand Together Trust\, the Future of Speech Online conference is an annual event that brings together policymakers\, media\, academics\, corporations\, advocates\, and thought leaders to discuss today’s most pressing issues around free speech online. \n\n\nGovernments have always worked to shape the speech of private parties and these efforts have always threatened overcensorship of dissent and governmentally disfavored viewpoints. The current Administration in the United States is taking this common phenomenon to new and dangerous heights\, and the impacts are reverberating globally. Join us as we examine government pressure on speech intermediaries (also known as “jawboning”)\, particularly the Trump Administration’s efforts to shape online speech environments at universities\, news outlets\, online\, and in other contexts. \nThis year’s Future of Speech Online event will explore recent court decisions that increase protections against jawboning and how we can use them and other tools to reduce inappropriate government pressure on speech platforms while maintaining essential communications. Additionally\, speakers will examine the ways in which Section 230 might work to protect against censorship of vulnerable groups including immigrants\, trans youth\, and public health practitioners. We will also take a look at efforts to regulate speech produced by generative AI. \nSessions will also look at agency efforts to dictate editorial choices\, examining First Amendment limits on FCC and FTC authority to control or encourage particular editorial policies and the ways in which the agencies are trying to evade those limits. Finally\, we will talk about the unprecedented attacks against the speech of non-citizens and the various ways the government is using social media monitoring tools to silence dissent. And we will spotlight experts who have directly experienced (or work on behalf of those who have experienced) government pressure aimed at undermining free expression. \n\nThroughout the event\, we’ll hear from legal experts\, technologists\, and policymakers about what’s at stake in this important year for democracy and free speech.\n\nRead more and register to attend here. If you have questions\, concerns\, or access needs\, please contact events@cdt.org before the event. URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/the-future-of-free-speech-online-the-age-of-constitutional-evasion-jawboning-and-other-forms-of-government-pressure-to-control-private-speech/ LOCATION:Virtual CATEGORIES:Talk ORGANIZER;CN="Center for Democracy & Technology":MAILTO:civictech@cdt.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251029T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251029T193000 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20250909T212613Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250909T212613Z UID:513603-1761762600-1761766200@mediawell.ssrc.org SUMMARY:Understanding AI with Data & Society | Reorienting AI for the Public Interest DESCRIPTION:​The New York Public Library and Data & Society present “Understanding AI\,” a four-part live event series exploring the social implications of artificial intelligence and its impacts on democracy\, the environment\, and human labor. Featuring key figures in the AI ethics field\, these events will take place in person at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL) in New York City as part of the library’s 7 Stories Up program\, and will also be available to watch via livestream. This series of conversations will demystify the AI discourse and equip library patrons and the public with practical ways of understanding the current landscape. \nFor the October 29 event\, Data & Society Executive Director Janet Haven hosts a critical discussion about AI accountability and the public interest\, featuring professor Charlton McIlwain\, journalist Julia Angwin\, and civic technologist Catherine Bracy. \nThe concentration of power and lack of regulation in the technology industry directly shapes how AI is designed and deployed\, and whose interests it serves. That means decisions about these tools often reflect corporate priorities over public benefits. While AI is often held up as a tool to increase “efficiency\,” it is essential to ask: efficiency for whom\, and at what cost? What would it mean to create and oversee AI in the public’s best interest? How could these technologies be made more accountable to the people and communities they affect? And what is needed to create a future where AI works for everyone? \nTo join the event in person | Doors will open 30 minutes before the program begins. For free events\, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance\, but registration does not guarantee admission. All registered seats are released shortly before start time\, and seats may become available at that time. A standby line will form 30 minutes before the program. \nTo join the event online | Whether you’re attending in person or online\, you must register with your email address.The Zoom link will be sent to you by email approximately one day before the event. You will need a device with audio and/or video and an internet/cellular connection to join. \n\n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS\nJanet Haven is the executive director of Data & Society. She has worked at the intersection of technology policy\, governance\, and accountability for more than twenty years\, both domestically and internationally. From 2022 to 2025\, Janet served on the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee (NAIAC)\, which advises the National AI Initiative Office and the executive branch on a range of issues related to artificial intelligence\, and chaired the Rights\, Trust\, and Safety working group. \nJulia Angwin is an award-winning investigative journalist\, a bestselling author\, a New York Times contributing Opinion writer and a Walter Shorenstein Media and Democracy Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center on Media\, Politics\, and Public Policy. She is the founder of Proof News\, a nonprofit journalism studio that launched in 2024. \nCatherine Bracy is a civic technologist and community organizer whose work focuses on the intersection of technology and political and economic inequality. She is the founder and CEO of TechEquity and the author of World Eaters: How Venture Capital is Cannibalizing the Economy. She was previously Code for America’s Senior Director of Partnerships and Ecosystem and Director of Obama for America’s Technology Field Office in San Francisco. She is on the board of directors at the Data & Society Research Institute and the Terner Housing Lab. \nDr. Charlton McIlwain is Vice Provost for Faculty Development\, Pathways & Public Interest Technology at New York University\, where he is also Professor of Media\, Culture\, and Communication. He is the author of Black Software: The Internet & Racial Justice\, From the Afronet to Black Lives Matter and the recent PolicyLink report Algorithmic Discrimination: A Framework and Approach to Auditing & Measuring the Impact of Race-Targeted Digital Advertising. McIlwain is the founder of the Center for Critical Race & Digital Studies\, and is Board President at Data & Society Research Institute. URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/understanding-ai-with-data-society-reorienting-ai-for-the-public-interest/ LOCATION:Hybrid CATEGORIES:Talk END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251106T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251106T173000 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20251021T165213Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251021T173431Z UID:514151-1762444800-1762450200@mediawell.ssrc.org SUMMARY:Panel Discussion | Diaspora Wars and Going 50/50: Sowing Disunity in Black Communities Through Digital Propaganda DESCRIPTION:This panel brings together Black feminist scholars\, writers\, and public intellectuals to examine how and why debates about gender\, sexuality\, and nationality consistently emerge as top topics on social media platforms within Black discursive communities. How do algorithms and influencer culture contribute to sowing discontent and misinformation among Black social media users? We consider the social and political implications\, who ultimately benefits from these conversations\, and how we can make different choices around our own engagement and participation. \nThis event is a joint collaboration by the DISCO Network\, the Black Communication and Technology Lab (BCAT) at the University of Maryland\, and the Digital Studies Institute at the University of Michigan. \nRead more about this event and register to attend here. URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/panel-discussion-diaspora-wars-and-going-50-50-sowing-disunity-in-black-communities-through-digital-propaganda/ LOCATION:Hybrid END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251112T123000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251112T123000 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20251021T164337Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251021T164337Z UID:514149-1762950600-1762950600@mediawell.ssrc.org SUMMARY:The Double Black Box: National Security\, AI\, and the Struggle for Democratic Accountability\, with Ashley Deeks\, November 12 The Double Black Box: National Security\, Artificial Intelligence\, and the Struggle for Democratic Accountability DESCRIPTION:Rapid advances in artificial intelligence are increasingly vital to national security operations.  The United States\, China\, and other states seek to harness these tools to bolster their own military and intelligence superiority. Yet their advent exacerbates an existing paradox within our democracy: some of the most consequential decisions made in the name of national security are often the least transparent and accountable – and the use of AI makes this problem worse. \nIn her new book\, The Double Black Box\, Ashley Deeks unpacks this pressing challenge. She examines how we can ensure democratic accountability\, legality\, and effectiveness in the use of artificial intelligence tools within national security processes\, and which traditional and nontraditional checks on the executive branch might be brought to bear on the use of national security AI. \nHarvard Law School Professor Kristen Eichensehr will hold a conversation with Deeks about the book\, unpacking its arguments and inviting the audience into the discussion. \nRead more about this event and register to attend here.  URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/the-double-black-box-national-security-ai-and-the-struggle-for-democratic-accountability-with-ashley-deeks-november-12-the-double-black-box-national-security-artificial-intelligence-and-the-st/ LOCATION:Hybrid CATEGORIES:Talk END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251204T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251204T235959 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20251021T162436Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251021T162436Z UID:514141-1764806400-1764892799@mediawell.ssrc.org SUMMARY:Beyond the Algorithm: From Research to Action for Democratic Renewal DESCRIPTION:Beyond the Algorithm: From Research to Action for Democratic Renewal is a hybrid event jointly organised by the Horizon Europe KT4D\, ORBIS\, ITHACA and AI4GOV projects. The event puts under the spotlight the rapid deployment of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data technologies and how these these technologies hold the promise of fostering civic participation\, transparency\, and efficiency in democratic governance. Yet\, they also introduce new risks related to algorithmic bias\, privacy infringements\, disinformation\, cultural polarisation\, and the erosion of democratic values. \nRecognising the urgency and complexity of these issues\, four Horizon Europe-funded projects\, AI4GOV\, KT4D\, ITHACA\, and ORBIS\, joined forces to establish the AI\, Big Data & Democracy Task Force. Since March 2025 INNOVADE is part of the Task Force. Together\, these projects represent a broad\, interdisciplinary effort to understand the benefits and risks of AI and Big Data for democracy and civic participation\, and to develop solutions for their responsible and democratic use. This event represents the climax of this collaborative journey\, bringing together the research results\, methodologies\, and exhibiting tools produced by the Task Force\, with the ambition to foster dialogue\, impact policy\, and contribute to the future of digital democracy. \nRead more about the event and register to attend here.  URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/beyond-the-algorithm-from-research-to-action-for-democratic-renewal/ LOCATION:Hybrid CATEGORIES:Talk END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260115T000000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260217T235959 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20251021T163427Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251021T163427Z UID:514143-1768435200-1771372799@mediawell.ssrc.org SUMMARY:PAIRS: Participatory AI Research & Practice Symposium 2026 DESCRIPTION:The 2nd edition of the International Participatory AI Research and Practice Symposium (PAIRS) will take place concurrent with the India AI Impact Summit. Like the first edition\, which was an independent side-event of the Paris AI Action Summit in February 2025\, and PAIRSx Africa\, held online concurrent to the Global AI Summit on Africa in Kigali\, this symposium will create a space to present research and case studies on the state of the art in participatory development and governance of AI and to build stronger connections across the field. \nClick here to learn more and sign up for updates.  URL:https://mediawell.ssrc.org/event/pairs-participatory-ai-research-practice-symposium-2026/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260414T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260414T190000 DTSTAMP:20260928T091851 CREATED:20260413T185032Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260413T185032Z 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:20260928T091851 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:20260928T091851 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:20260928T091851 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:20260928T091851 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:20260928T091851 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 END:VCALENDAR