What next after the Facebook and Cambridge Analytica revelations? Accountability, Remedies and Regulation
Speakers:
Silkie Carlo, Director, Big Brother Watch
David Kaye, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
Professor Lorna McGregor, Principal Investigator and Co-Director of the ESRC, Human Rights, Big Data and Technology Project
Chair:
Ruma Mandal, Head, International Law Programme, Chatham House
Location:
Chatham House | 10 St James's Square | London | SW1Y 4LE
Technology companies, social media platforms and other internet intermediaries dominate the digital age. Harnessing data in algorithmic and artificial intelligence systems is widespread, from political campaigns to judicial sentencing. The recent Facebook and Cambridge Analytica revelations provide a sharp illustration of the risks to human rights and democracy posed by data-mining and ‘platform capital’.
The Facebook/Cambridge Analytica revelations have focused public and policy debate on two key issues. First, they raise questions of how accountability and remedies can be effectively achieved, particularly where companies close in the wake of such revelations. Second, key questions arise on what regulation should look like.
Facebook has pledged to respect privacy of its users better, but how effective is self-regulation? There has been heavy emphasis on the role that the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) can play to improve the protection of privacy and data protection, but will it be enough? What are the implications for international law; how can the established standards in human rights and data protection respond to these challenges?
This event is co-hosted with the ESRC Human Rights, Big Data and Technology Project and will be followed by a drinks reception.