Professor Siva Vaidhyanathan, Senator Mark Warner, former Representative Barbara Comstock, and Professor Danielle Citron will be in conversation at the Rotunda.
Ten years ago, the world watched as young people with mobile phones overthrew dictatorships in Egypt and Tunisia. Those heady days launched a period of idealization of American digital technology—specifically social media—and its potential to empower democratic movements around the world. Fast forward five years, and the world learned a different story: Social and digital media was used to amplify nativism, authoritarianism, racism, and religious intolerance. Now, in 2022, leaders in policy, academia, and industry are reexamining their assumptions about these platforms and their effects. Join a discussion considering today’s most important questions:
• What is the best way to regulate big tech?
• What is the relationship between social media and election security?
• Can we reform social media and impose platform moderation without infringing upon speech rights?
• What are the implications for data privacy and consumer protection?
This event is part of the Democracy Dialogues series produced by the UVA Karsh Institute of Democracy with the goal of strengthening democracy through civil debate. It is co-sponsored by the Miller Center and made possible thanks to the generous support of the George and Judy Marcus Democracy Praxis Fund, Ingrid and David Hang, and James B. Murray, Jr.
For the protection of our staff, faculty, and guests, the Miller Center strongly encourages visitors to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and recommends that unvaccinated patrons watch the event online. We also encourage you to wear a mask during our events. Paper masks are available for in-person attendees. By registering to attend this event, you agree that you will observe all COVID-19 safety requirements in effect at the time under UVA Policy SEC-045.