During the first two weeks of August, the Oxford Media Policy Summer Institute welcomed over 50 participants from 32 different countries with the majority of the participants coming from the global south. The 2023 programme centred on the pressing theme, Technology and Policy in Turbulent Times: Whose Rights and Whose Responsibilities? The diverse group of participants spanned academics, policymakers, civil society representatives, and tech sector professionals.
For two intensive weeks, attendees had the unique opportunity to engage with leaders in the field of digital rights and global media policy. The group included Paolo Mancini, renowned for his book Comparing Media Systems, and Bill Dutton founding director of the OII. Frances Haugen, the Facebook whistleblower, shared insights on her work with governments to demystify the operations of tech giants and we heard about contemporary regulatory challenges in the tech sector from Renato Monteiro, Global Head of Privacy at X (formerly Twitter). Our discussions were further enriched with inputs from leaders from government including Gabriele Mazzini, the principal architect of the EU’s AI Act and Patricia Poku, the Executive Director of Ghana’s Data Protection Commission.
The Institute delved into current issues such as internet shutdowns in Africa and the intricacies of media and tech regulation amidst the war in Ukraine. Forward-looking sessions debated forthcoming elections around the world, examining the shifting landscape of technology-driven misinformation during polls. And perhaps most importantly, time was dedicated to small group discussions and the opportunity to hear about ongoing work from our talented group of participants. Amidst these intense sessions, attendees networked over lovely walks through Port Meadow and evenings at Jesus College.
To learn more about how participants experienced the Institute, please find some of the feedback here.
