Fulbright Lecture with David Kaye

David Kaye at the speaker podium wearing a blue blazer and a white shirt. On February 28th, 2024, David Kaye gave a Fulbright lecture on the topic of ‘Constitutionalism, Democracy, and the Challenges of a Digital Age.’ Kaye holds the position of Distinguished Fulbright Chair in Public International Law at RWI and the Law Faculty at Lund University.

In the lecture, Kaye explored how democracy has changed with the rise of digital technologies. He discussed the shift in optimism about the internet’s potential to make information more accessible since the 1990s. Additionally, he mentioned the increase in fake news, propaganda, surveillance, and the utilisation of powerful algorithms and artificial intelligence. These changes have raised important questions about online safety and have sparked debates about government intervention, regulation, and rules.

Kaye also explained how courts struggle to apply laws to the fast-changing digital world. He addressed issues like internet news site accountability for user comments, website regulation for internet safety, and enforcement of laws. He also highlighted EU efforts to regulate the internet and address threats and opportunities.

Kaye concluded that he is concerned by governmental regulation, lack of creativity, and ‘the need to protect ourselves against the internet.’ However, there is potential for positive initiatives to be developed and implemented if we focus on what is necessary to cultivate a democratic internet

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