Digital Debates Archive

4th February 2021

In all countries, CSOs are committed to the idea and principles of social and gender justice. Every person should have equal opportunities and the freedom to lead the life they want, regardless of their biological gender and social background.

We know from history that even in an analogue world reality doesn’t match these aspirations.

Three eminent speakers discussed the digital gender gap from three different perspectives: Women in tech and CSOs,

15th March 2021

The extraction of personal data is highly controversial. However, the discussion tends to centre on the OECD countries where the leading tech companies are situated, which pursue business models based on data extraction (GAFAM). In the OECD countries, civil society organisations are at the forefront to denounce and hedge such business practices, advocating for high data protection standards.

The situation in Africa merits equal attention.

9th April 2021

It is a well-known that the internet has become a theatre of conflict. Thus, social media are used to stir up resentment and, in some cases, even hate. As the situation around the Rohingya minority has shown, violent internet presence can easily go hand-in-hand with military atrocities against civilians, violent oppression, and genocidal politics.

What is less known is the fact that the internet has also become a theatre of mediation between conflicting parties and programmes of inter-communal reconciliation and peace building.

6th May 2021

A number of CSO have created online spaces in order to provide an environment that encourages people to share experiences, opinions, and views without fear or threat of political, economic or personal harm. Such platforms and apps allow the organizations to reach out and break down barriers, access individuals that might otherwise be out of reach. Hence, safe digital spaces are used to promote rights,

3rd June 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the travel industry to a standstill. Family and business travel has been severely impacted. Long-distance and cross-border tourism has rescinded. But there is good news coming: everybody wants to travel and digital vaccination certificates will, at least in North America and Western Europe, restart the travel season soon.

Hosted by Barb Iverson, the 5th Digital Debate discussed the pros and cons of digital vaccination certificates,

28th July 2021

The digital transformation encompasses consumer electronics, online shopping and education, eGovernment and Gig work. And as our societies undergo this transformation, so do civil society organisations (CSOs). What started with digitalised back offices, eMail and accounting, has evolved in CSOs maintaining data and databases, using biometrics and bots, experimenting with artificial intelligence. Some CSOs have entered into alliances with tech companies while others keep their distance,

2nd September 2021

The digital transformation encompasses consumer electronics, online shopping and education, eGovernment and Gig work. And as our societies undergo this transformation, so do civil society organisations (CSOs). What started with digitalised back offices, eMail and accounting, has evolved in CSOs maintaining data and databases, using biometrics and bots, and experimenting with artificial intelligence. Some CSOs have entered into alliances with tech companies while others keep their distance,

11th November 2021

The digital transformation is all encompassing: consumer electronics, online shopping and education, eGovernment and Gig work. Lately, machine learning systems are deployed in human resources management, the insurance industry, in police work and elsewhere. And as our societies undergo this transformation so do civil society organisations (CSOs). What started with digitalized back offices, eMail and accounting, has evolved further: Today, even CSOs are collecting and processing data,

Scientists have proposed to call the current geological epoch to be the Anthropocene signifying the extent of human impact on Earth’s geology and ecosystems, including, but not limited to, climate change. While there is debate on when exactly that epoch might have started there is consensus that the ongoing digital transformation of our economies and societies is part of it.