Doing Good in the Age of Big Tech and Declining Democracy: Public Event

As the power of Big Tech continues to shape our economies, democracies, and everyday lives, urgent questions arise: who benefits, who decides, and what kind of future are we building? 

On 17 April, the Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies (ESDiT) programme invites you to an afternoon of critical reflection and open dialogue on the societal impact of large technology companies and the possibilities for change.

Speakers

Bringing together leading thinkers from philosophy, policy, and civil society, this public event offers a space to step back from day-to-day debates and engage more deeply with the values and structures shaping our technological world.

The programme features keynote lectures by two prominent philosophers:

• Prof. Alice Crary (The New School of Social Research, NY), who examines how certain ways of thinking can unintentionally legitimise Big AI, and
• Prof.  Ingrid Robeyns (Utrecht University), who reflects on what responsible philanthropy should look like in an unequal world.

Discussion and cro-creation

Their contributions set the stage for a panel discussion on “Democratic pathways beyond Big Tech: Redirecting the role of technology for public good”, bringing together experts from academia, advisory bodies, and civil society to explore concrete ways forward.

The afternoon concludes with an interactive co-creation session and informal networking, offering participants the opportunity not only to reflect, but also to contribute ideas and connect with others working on these challenges.

We invite you to take part in a timely conversation about how technology can better serve democratic societies and the public good.