Centre for Digital Trust and Society Forum 2024

Digital Trust and Society Forum 2024

Date & Time: Wednesday 3rd July 2024 (in-person)

Venue: Circle Square, Oxford Rd, Manchester M1 7FS

The Centre for Digital Trust and Society focuses interdisciplinary research expertise at the University of Manchester on the barriers and enablers of trust in digital technologies. Following on from the success of our first and second CDTS Forum, we are delighted to once again bring together key international partners and experts across our 6 research clusters to explore current challenges and opportunities in the UK and beyond, and together co-creating an inclusive vision for the future. We also welcome researchers, public sector, industry and community partners with an interest in digital trust and security issues in society to join us for an engaging day of building connections and sharing insights.

Lunch will be provided and the event will be followed by a n optional drink reception.

Registration from 09:30 - 10:00. Close at 16:30.

Agenda:

• Registration
• Welcome | Professor Nick Lord
• Keynote presentation | Professor Genevieve Liveley
• Break
• Panel 1 | Online Harms: Rebuilding Trust in Online Platforms
• Lightning Talks
• Lunch
• Lightning Talks
• Panel 2 | Power dynamics in digital platforms
• Break
• Panel 3 | Generative AI & Security
• Event Close
• Optional Drinks Reception

Panel details:

Panel 1 | Online Harms: Rebuilding Trust in Online Platforms

Social media has proven a two-edged sword with respect to our free democratic exchange. On the one hand, it has enabled debate between citizens on a scale previously unimaginable. On the other hand, this power has been easily subverted by anti-democratic forces, particularly those seeking to oppress groups based on their race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, etc. Speech is now a primary source of social dysfunction—online and offline. Trust in authoritative sources is breaking down. We no longer trust our government, public agencies, news sources, or those holding different political views. We are split into tribes that dislike one another intensely, and this reinforces group division and polarization. We live in a time of deepening inequality and oppression. Speech online is used to maintain and expand this. Broader online harms beyond speech (e.g. child exploitation, abuse, harms in extended reality) are equally challenging. In virtual and augmented reality, other forms of textual representations (e.g. virtual graffiti), gestures, and contextual/environmental features may be offensive and harmful. We are unprepared for these – from technical, legal and social perspectives! What solutions might help rebuild trust in online platforms: Moderation? Regulation? Legislation? Changing social norms and mores? Protest and activism?

Panel 2 | Power dynamics in digital platforms

Digital platforms exercise significant influence over data, economies, and discourse, demanding a thorough examination of their societal implications and transformations. This panel explores the intrinsic power dynamics in digital platforms, disentangling the complexities of trust placed in them. Featuring a panel with varied perspectives, including discussions on platform business models, surveillance methods, cultural practices, and the growing significance of AI, it illuminates the multifaceted dimensions at play. This inquiry challenges existing notions of trust in digital platforms, offering a nuanced and comprehensive understanding shaped by a range of viewpoints

Panel 3 | Generative AI & Security

In this thought-provoking panel discussion, we delve into the dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape of Generative AI and its implications for security. As artificial intelligence continues to advance, it blurs the lines between creativity and computation, presenting both unprecedented opportunities and formidable challenges. This panel will explore critical questions at the intersection of innovation, security, and ethics in the realm of Generative AI.

Attendees are warmly invited to stay for a drinks reception at the venue for further informal discussion following the formal programme.

is a focal point for research across the University of Manchester that explores aspects of trust and security in our digital world. The Centre is part of Digital Futures, a highly interdisciplinary network which operates across the whole range of the University’s digital research.

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