On the occasion of the launch of the Centre for Sociology of Media and Digital Society (CEMEDIG) at the Department of Culture and Communications, Institute for Development and International Relations, Professor Linnet Taylor from Tilburg University in the Netherlands held a guest lecture in the IRMO library titled “Beyond digital exceptionalism: integrating technology governance with democratic process”.
In her presentation, Professor Taylor spoke about artificial intelligence and technologies that are increasingly used in the public sector, and the data protection problems that arise in this process. Organizing responses to the technologies that impact the public, and representing the interests of people and groups in relation to datafied interventions, are part of the democratic project. Yet these public duties have been reframed as technical issues of expert-led governance and compliance. Professor Taylor’s talk explored the challenges that public and private algorithmic systems pose to the expert-led model of technology governance, and what alternatives might be possible that are better aligned with democratic processes.
Professor Taylor’s research brought together scientists from different fields, as well as the Dutch ambassador Charlotte van Baak, and aroused great interest, so after the presentation, a dynamic discussion developed on the issues of data protection and technology management, as well as the protection of human rights in the process. As one of the biggest problems, the disparity between the speed of technology development and the speed of passing regulations on these technologies was detected, as well as insufficient education of representative bodies on these topics.
The photo gallery from the lecture is available below.
