THINK Series Debate: Regulating Big Tech

This year, several of our debates will focus on future political landscapes and the challenges faced by contemporary democracies. One such challenge is the power, both financial, social and political, possessed by big tech companies like Google, Facebook and Apple. We ask panellists to share their thoughts on the threats and opportunities these companies represent, as well as on how they should be regulated (or broken up).

Speakers

Christoph Schmon from Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)

Christoph is International Policy Director for Electronic Frontier Foundation, a leading non-profit organization defending civil liberties in the digital world.

Christoph's expertise is in EU policy-making with a special focus on international copyright law and online intermediary liability.

Prior to working for EFF, he led the Consumer Rights Team at the EU Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and was member of several expert groups to the EU Commission in Brussels.   

Christoph has litigation experience and holds a Ph.D in law. He was a researcher at several universities and teaches and writes about consumer law, digital rights, and private international law. 

Jessica Dheere from Ranking Digital Rights

Jessica is the Director of Ranking Digital Rights which works to promote freedom of expression and privacy on the internet. 

She is founder of SMEX, the Middle East’s leading digital rights research and advocacy organization, and has presented at events including the Internet Governance Forum and the International Journalism Festival. 

Jessica graduated from Princeton University. She earned her master’s in Media Studies from the New School in New York City. 

In 2014, she was awarded a scholarship to study intensive Arabic as a Middlebury College Kathryn Davis Fellow for Peace. 

Publications include: 

"Getting to the Source of Infodemics: It's the Business Model," “Misguiding Multistakeholderism: A Nongovernmental Perspective on the Arab IGF,” and a legal research methodology for locating digital rights-related law.