AI Lund online lunch seminar: AI, social media and democracy - panel discussion from Almedalen 2022

When: 6 July at 12.30-13.15 CET

Where: Kunskapstriangeln, Hästgatan 13, Visby, Sweden

Spoken language: English

Speakers and panelists

• Johan Axhamn, Senior lecturer, Department of Business Law,  Lund University
• Anamaria Dutceac Segesten, Senior lecturer, Department of Strategic Communication, Lund University [followj]
• Michael Bossetta, Associate senior lecturer, Media and Communication Studies, Lund University [follow]

An open debate climate is central to a functioning democracy. In recent decades, the Internet and social media have enabled citizens to participate in new modes of political debate, while also playing central roles in both democratization as well as democratic backsliding. Effectively handling the scale of political discussions and online protests has proven difficult for AI-filters, with implications for users, platform companies, and democracy itself. 

We say that filter bubbles are a myth, that the effects of micro-targeting may be overstated, but social media still plays a role in peer-to-peer political influence. We consider social media’s impact on democratic processes in different parts of the world. Further, we look forward to ethical guidelines and models of self-regulation, as well as how one could, and perhaps should, regulate the role of platforms to ensure the stability of democratic systems. 

Related in Almedalen

Smart and fair care with research on health care data
5 July 2022 08:00 to 08:45 | Discussion in Swedish

The seminars are part of Lund University's program on the theme of democracy during the Almedalen Week 2022. Read more in Swedish.