AI, social media and democracy - panel discussion

When: 6 July at 12.30-13.15 CET

Where: Kunskapstriangeln, Hästgatan 13, Visby, Sweden

Spoken langage: Swedish

Speakers and panelists

• Johan Axhamn, universitetslektor vid Institutionen för handelsrätt, Ekonomihögskolan vid Lunds universitet
• Anamaria Dutceac Segesten, universitetslektor, Institutionen för strategisk kommunikation vid Lunds universitet [följ]
• 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.