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Speech Police: The Global Struggle to Govern the Internet

6:30 PM - 8:00 PM Monday, May 20, 2019

Location:
Main Library
449 Broadway
Lecture Hall
Cambridge

Event image for Speech Police: The Global Struggle to Govern the Internet

Join the Cambridge Public Library for the next Horizons lecture, where UN Special Rapporteur on Free Expression, David Kaye, will be discussing the issues raised in his new book Speech Police: The Global Struggle to Govern the Internet. Please register below.

There will be a book sale/signing half an hour prior to the event, courtesy of Porter Square Books (book signing starts at 6pm).

The internet was designed to be a kind of free-speech paradise, but a lot of the material on it turned out to incite violence, spread untruth, and promote hate.What should be done about this enormous problem?

The social media platforms are a major part of most significant public debates from the Christ Church attack to the Brazilian elections. The platforms have made their own rules so far, but countries around the world are now taking action to regulate them. David Kaye, the United Nations’ special rapporteur on free expression, has been at the center of the discussions of these issues for years. He has been a part of closed door meetings with companies, governments, activists, journalists and others. In this event, he will discuss the social media platforms and how we can start to cope with the complicated problems that they present.

Ellery Biddle of Global Voices will engage Mr. Kaye in conversation about the substance of the book and moderate audience questions.

Cambridge Community Television (CCTV) will be recording/live streaming the event. The livesteam will be available on their facebook page, and the archived video footage on our Horizons series landing page when it becomes available.

Presented as part of Horizons: Exploring Breakthroughs in Science & Technology and Their Impact on Society, a lecture series of the STEAM Initiative at the Cambridge Public Library, co-sponsored by The Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University

Register for this event