Open Tech Calendar

A free press, freedom of thought and well informed citizens free to make up our own minds without fear or covert manipulation, are some of the crucial cornerstones to a healthy flourishing of democracy. However, these cornerstones have become increasingly vulnerable to attack. From advances in AI, surveillance and psychological manipulation through data mining of social media and other data by government, corporate and global ‘actors’ shrouded in secrecy, we face ever greater incursions into our freedom to think for ourselves, and access accurate quality information not swamped by a tsunami of fake news.

Talks and discussions will explore 2 areas that challenge democracy in the current climate.

INVESTIGATING THE OFFSHORE FAR RIGHT AND THEIR WAR ON DEMOCRACY

Adam Ramsay, co-editor of OpenDemocracy UK, discusses his investigations into the dark world of the offshore far right and their war on democracy. His investigative journalism has covered areas such as Dark Money, Cambridge Analytica Scandal, European Super PACs, Oligarchs, Surveillance Capitalism, Fake News and Corrosion of British Democracy.

How far do the tentacles of corrupt offshore money reach? What implications do they have in our accurate and balanced understanding of the world around us? How does that impact on our democracy and freedom?

CORONAVIRUS: FAKE NEWS + EMERGENCY LAWS

Brendan Quinn is a technology specialist and senior consultant with clients such as the BBC, Equens, Verisure, and the Department for Education. He was one of the principal architects of the Yahoo! Publishing Platform and served as chair of the Software Architecture Review Board.

What impact is the coronavirus having on democracy in the UK and across the globe? What lasting legacy will both the dissemination and control of fake news, surveillance and emergency laws brought in to tackle this pandemic have on our digital and physical rights?

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If you are interested in data rights, democracy, human rights, politics and journalism, then please join ORG Glasgow for thought provoking talks and scintillating conversations.