04: Digital Diplomacy vs Digital Colonialism
Curated with Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, HARVARD Kennedy School
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Klaus-Peter-Heiss-Saal
Breakout
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in englischer SpracheFacebook, WhatsApp and other similar platforms are the only source of information for millions across the globe. Moreover, they have had a disproportionate effect on political and policy outcomes in countries like Brazil, Kenya and Myanmar. Can the economic interests of certain companies and states be brought into line with responsible foreign policy? How can western/northern economies prevent the rise of digital colonialism in a globalised world?
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Semjon RENS
Privacy & Public Policy Manager Facebook Germany GmbH, Berlin
| 2006-2010 | Bachelor of Arts Public Administration and Public Law, University of Potsdam |
| 2008-2009 | Exchange Semester, University of Barcelona |
| 2009 | Consultant, Federal Academy for Security Policy, Berlin |
| 2010-2011 | Master of Arts, European Studies, Free University Berlin, Humboldt University Berlin, Stanford University |
| 2011 | Trainee, German Federal Foreign Office, Berlin |
| 2012 | Junior Manager Media Policy, StudiVZ, Berlin |
| 2012-2013 | Law Studies, Humboldt University Berlin |
| 2013-2016 | Senior Consultant, Miller & Meier Consulting, Berlin |
| since 2016 | Public Policy Manager, Facebook Germany GmbH, Berlin |
Gbenga SESAN
Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative, Lagos
| Gbenga Sesan is the Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, a pan-African social enterprise working on digital inclusion and digital rights through its offices in Cameroon, Nigeria, Tanzania, Togo and Zambia. Prior to starting Paradigm Initiative, 'Gbenga led the Lagos Digital Village, a joint project of Junior Achievement of Nigeria, Microsoft and Lagos State Government. Originally trained as an Electronic & Electrical Engineer at Obafemi Awolowo University, he completed Executive Education programs at Lagos Business School, New York Group for Technology Transfer, Oxford University, Harvard University, Stanford University, Santa Clara University and University of the Pacific. 'Gbenga's consulting experience includes assignments completed for numerous institutions, including Microsoft, Harvard University and United Nations agencies, among others, in over 30 countries. A Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year and former member of the United Nations Committee of eLeaders on Youth and ICT, he is a CyberStewards Fellow, Crans Montana Forum Fellow, Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow, Ashoka Fellow, Our Common Future Fellow and Cordes Fellow. ‘Gbenga served as a member of the Presidential committees on Harmonization of Information Technology, Telecommunications and Broadcasting Sectors (2006) and Roadmap for the Achievement of Accelerated Universal Broadband Infrastructure and Services Provision (2013), and was listed by CNN as one of the Top 10 African Tech Voices on Twitter and by Ventures Africa as one of 40 African Legends Under 40. |
MPA MA Cathryn CLÜVER ASHBROOK
Executive Director, The Future of Diplomacy Project, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University, Cambridge
| Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook is a German and American national and the founding Executive Director of the Future of Diplomacy Project at the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS), which examines the challenges to negotiation and statecraft in the 21st century. In January 2018, she was named Executive Director of the Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship. From 2011-2017, she served as the Executive Director of the India and South Asia Program at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at HKS, a program which ended formal activities in 2018. Her areas of expertise include EU-US relations - including trade and security policy - and digital public policy in urban and national contexts. She served on the management team of the European Policy Centre in Brussels, where she was the Deputy Editor of its public policy journal, Challenge Europe and the think tank’s Communications Director, before joining Roland Berger Strategy Consultants as Senior Journalist and consultant in 2005. There, she worked on public policy issues (demographic change, urban competitiveness, green energy) and advised both the consultancy’s Chinese and French offices on branding and communication strategies. In 2009 she served in the second Bloomberg mayoral administration, where she implemented an online program for New York City's 1.8 million limited-English-proficiency migrants to access essential public services. She began her public service career as a legislative adviser at the European Parliament and later the UK House of Commons. |
