06-01, 13:00–13:55 (Europe/Prague), Root Stage
In an era where digital landscapes shape our daily lives and power structures, the discourse surrounding mass surveillance, digital freedom, and cyber security has never been more critical.
This panel brings together leading scholars and practitioners to explore the intricate balance between security measures and the preservation of individual freedoms in the digital age.
Professor Martin Warnke from the Institute for Culture and Aesthetics of Digital Media (ICAM) will discuss the cultural implications of mass surveillance and its impact on aesthetics and the perception of privacy.
Pierre Sel from EastisRed will delve into the socio-political ramifications of surveillance practices within China and the EU. His analysis will focus on the evolving regulatory landscape, social credit, and the resistance movements that advocate for digital freedoms against the backdrop of increasing state surveillance.
Giulio Corsi from the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence (LCFI) will examine the intersection of artificial intelligence and surveillance, offering insights into how AI technologies can both enhance and threaten cyber security. Corsi's work emphasizes the ethical considerations and potential biases inherent in AI-driven surveillance systems.
Dr. Hyun-Joo Lim will contribute a critical analysis of cyber security frameworks, emphasizing the need for robust protection mechanisms that do not infringe on civil liberties. Dr. Lim's expertise in international cyber policy will shed light on the global challenges and cooperative efforts required to safeguard digital freedoms while maintaining security.
Together, these experts will provide a comprehensive overview of the contemporary issues at the nexus of mass surveillance, digital freedom, and cyber security. The panel will engage with the audience in a dynamic discussion, aiming to forge a path forward that respects individual rights while addressing the imperatives of national and global security.
Martin Warnke studied in Berlin and Hamburg, received his doctorate in theoretical physics in Hamburg in 1984, began working at the University of Lüneburg, was head of the computer and media centre for many years, habilitated in computer science/digital media at the Leuphana University of Lüneburg in 2008 and has been a professor at the Institute for Culture and Aesthetics of Digital Media, of which he was the founding director, at the Faculty of Cultural Studies since 2010 and has held visiting professorships at the Universities of Basel, Klagenfurt and Vienna.
He works in the field of the history and theory of digital media and the digital documentation of complex artefacts of the visual arts. He is director of the DFG Institute for Advanced Study "Media Cultures of Computer Simulation" (mecs). He founded the "HyperKult" workshop series, was spokesman for the "Computer Science and Society" section of the Gesellschaft für Informatik e. V. and is chairman of the Springhornhof art association.
Martin currently is Senior Fellow at ifk in Vienna: https://www.ifk.ac.at/fellows-detail/martin-warnke-2.html
Dr Hyun-Joo Lim is Principal Academic in Sociology and Inclusivity Lead at the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences at Bournemouth University (BU). Originally from South Korea, her research interests have been developed around gender, identity, the experiences of East Asian migrants, and socially marginalised and ethnically diverse individuals and groups in the UK. Her first book, 'East Asian Mothers in Britain: An Intersectional Exploration of Motherhood and Employment', was published in 2018 by Palgrave Macmillan. Her 2nd book, 'North Korean Women and Defection: Human Rights Violations and Activism', was published in 2023 by Bristol University Press. Her recent publications also include a working paper, Lim, H-J. (2022) ‘Cycle of Oppression: Violations of Human Rights against Women Inside and Outside North Korea’, published by Heidelberg Centre for East Asian Studies Working Paper Series. Other articles relating to North Korean defectors’ experiences and human rights include: Lim, H-J. (2021) ‘Human Rights Activism among North Korean Refugees in the UK: Hope for A Democratic Future?’, in the Journal of Human Rights and Social Work; Lim, H-J. (2021) ‘Traversing’: Familial Challenges for Escaped North Koreans’ in the Journal of Refugee Studies. Currently, she is conducting a collaborative and co-creative research project, ‘Allyship in Action’, with colleagues and students at BU. Additionally, Dr Lim has recently been awarded the British Academy and Leverhulme Grant for her 2-year project, ‘How Effective are Menopause Policies at Universities in England?’, to examine the effectiveness of menopause policies in practice in English Higher Educational institutions.
Giulio is a researcher at the Institute for Technology and Humanity within the University of Cambridge. His research primarily investigates how applications of artificial intelligence, such as frontier generative AI and recommender systems, may amplify risks to the integrity of information ecosystems. Giulio has collaborated extensively with governments and international organizations to address these risks. He holds an MPhil and a PhD from the University of Cambridge.
I'm a PhD student at the University of Vienna, specialist of China's digital transformation. I work on the Social Credit System and more generally the development and use of the information technology for government purpose. I previously worked at the French Embassy in China as a technology researcher. I am the co-founder of EastIsRed, a China focused advisory company.