Social Media and Democracy: What Can be Done?

Watch the sessions

Jonathan Albright

Social Media and Democracy: Panel Session

The role digital platforms play in our democracy has dominated the news, sparked public outcry and become a priority for governments around the world.

On April 4, the Public Policy Forum and the University of British Columbia School of Public Policy and Global Affairs in partnership with the National Arts Centre hosted a discussion with some of the world’s leading experts on social media.

Jonathan Albright, a leading researcher studying the complex world of misinformation on digital platforms, led off the evening with a presentation on his research and an overview of the issues surrounding social media and democracy.

A panel discussion on what can be done followed. Panelists included: 

• Julia Angwin, a leading journalist at ProPublica who is holding Silicon Valley accountable
• Ben Scott, a tech policy expert who has worked for Bernie Sanders, the Obama administration and Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign
• David Carroll, the American academic who broke open the Cambridge Analytica story through his lawsuit in the UK
• Sue Gardner, the former executive director of Wikimedia Foundation who now advises policy organizations on technology, media, gender and freedom

The panel was moderated by Peter Loewen, Director, School of Public Policy and Governance, University of Toronto