February Topic: Defending Democracy in the Digital Age

Presented in partnership with the League of Women Voters of Alaska

This year we'll see the largest worldwide electoral cycle until 2048, with over 80 national elections taking place, directly impacting an estimated 4.2 billion people. These elections will take place against a backdrop of heightened threats: technology companies are decreasing their investments in trust and safety; foreign influence operations are becoming increasingly prolific and effective; powerful generative AI tools are rapidly evolving; and the emergence of several partisan investigations in the United States have distracted policymakers and companies. Please join us for a discussion of how technology will impact elections worldwide, and how you can help defend the year of democracy.

Our guest is Kat Duffy, a senior fellow for digital and cyberspace policy at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Duffy has more than two decades of experience operating at the nexus of emerging technology, democratic principles, corporate responsibility, and human rights. Most recently, she directed the Task Force for a Trustworthy Future Web at the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab, where she served as a resident senior fellow and published the Task Force’s comprehensive report, Scaling Trust on the Web.

Suggested reading:  Scaling Trust on the Web.

About the series:

Disinformation. Conspiracy theories. Extremism. Surveillance. Our democracy is threatened as never before by toxic online content. The social media giants seem unable, or in some cases unwilling, to control the flood of lies and manipulative practices. The staggering — often hidden — reach of Big Tech into our lives endangers civil society, our civil rights, and our privacy. In a "post-truth" world we risk losing the shared understanding that underpins our democracy. 

Each month, we explore a different facet of this crisis with guest experts. Join us to learn, discuss, and work on possible solutions.