Technology, Internet, & Policy

Online Panel: AI Regulation in Practice: Compliance and Governance in the EU and UK
2024-12-18 14:00 - 15:30 (Europe/London) | Online/Virtual
Free, signup required
Registration link: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/technologyinternetpolicygrouptip/1478844

The PSA Specialist Group on Technology, Internet, and Politics (PSA TIP) is delighted to invite you to an engaging online panel discussion on “AI Regulation in Practice: Compliance and Governance in the EU and UK.” As the EU and UK continue to shape their regulatory frameworks for artificial intelligence, understanding how these regulations work in practice is essential for policymakers, businesses, and civil society.
In this panel, we will explore the evolving landscape of AI regulation, focusing specifically on the implementation timeline and compliance requirements of the EU AI Act, which aims to establish a harmonized framework for the safe and trustworthy use of AI across Europe. We will discuss also the ongoing procedures for setting up the AI Act governance framework (AI Pact, GPAI Code of Practice, AI Office, national authorities). The discussion will also touch on the ongoing debates surrounding the UK’s AI Bill, which seeks to craft an AI regulatory approach distinct from the EU while balancing innovation and governance.
This event will bring together leading experts to explore the challenges and opportunities of implementing AI regulation, focusing on compliance procedures and effective governance practices across Europe and the UK. Key questions will include: What are the best strategies for ensuring compliance with the EU AI Act? How will the timeline for the Act’s implementation affect businesses across the EU? How are UK stakeholders adapting to the evolving discussions around the UK’s AI Bill? What role do ethics and transparency play in AI governance?
Our panelists will share their insights into the practical implications of AI governance, offering perspectives from think tanks, academia, and NGOs active in shaping AI policy. Attendees will gain an in-depth understanding of the current regulatory environment and how it impacts the development and deployment of AI technologies in various sectors.
Whether you are a policymaker, industry professional, academic, or simply interested in the future of AI governance, this panel will provide valuable insights into how regulations are being shaped and implemented on both sides of the Channel.
Date: 18 December 2024
Time: 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm BST / 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm CET
Online: Zoom (link will be provided upon free registration to the event on Ticket Tailor)

Panellists:

Connor Dunlop – European Public Policy Lead, Ada Lovelace Institute (UK)
Tekla Emborg – EU Fellow, Future of Life Institute
Francesca Fanucci – Senior Legal Advisor, ECNL | European Center for Not-For-Profit Law Stichting (NL)
Inga Ulnicane – Research Fellow, University of Birmingham

Chair and moderator: Giulia Sandri, Technology, Internet, and Politics Group & Research Fellow and Scientific Advisor & Research fellow, Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium

TIP Panels at the PSA Annual Conference - “What Next?" - Birmingham
2025-04-14 - 2025-04-16 | The International Convention Centre, Birmingham, 8 Centenary Square, Birmingham, B1 2EA, United Kingdom
This year we are once again making an appearance at the PSA Annual Conference with 5 panels!
More information is available here: https://www.psa.ac.uk/events/psa-annual-conference

AI in Public Services & Government

AI solutionism: opportunities and pitfalls for health policy. Dr. Inga Ulnicane, Dr. Marija Antanaviciute, Prof. Jessica Pykett
Uncovering AI in government and policy decisions. Dr. Anuradha Sajjanhar
Editor, Commissioner or Colleague: how generative AI mediated communication is reshaping the public encounter. Dr. Stephen Jeffares, Mr. Luke Bradbury
Encryption in the Online Safety Regime: Unpacking the Techno-Legislative Object of “Accredited Technology”. Ms. Cynthia Ng

AI policy & Governance across Countries

Shall We Tango in the Digital Sky?: Sino-Saudi Cloud Computing Cooperation and Entrepreneurial Developmental State. Dr. Steven Hai
AI, Politics, and Governance: Comparative Insights from Germany, Turkey, and the UK. Dr. Sebnem Yardimci Geyikci

Disinformation & Memes

The Participatory Memesphere: Third Place Dynamics in Meme Communities. Ms. Mimi Mihailescu
Digital Immunization: Gamifying Detection of AI-Generated Visual Misinformation. Dr. Ganit Richter
Does the Electoral Clock go TikTok? The use of short form video platforms by political parties in the 2024 UK General Election. Dr. Liam McLoughlin, Dr. Rosalynd Southern, Ms. Niamh Cashell
Visualguard of democracy: Multimodal framework for detecting AI-generated visual disinformation in political campaigns. Dr. Kun He, Dr. Jiapan Guo
“If This Is True, Then All Hell Is About to Break Loose”: Information Disorder and the UK 2024 Riots. Ms. Anna Gaudet

NLP Methods in Researching Technology & Society

Caught Between Predicting Sexism in Online Political Discourse: An Analysis of the Forms of Sexism Which Exist Online and How Well Language Models Predict Them. Ms. Aditi Dutta
Exploring China’s Cyber Sovereignty Concept and Artificial Intelligence Governance Model: A Machine Learning Approach. Mr. Ho Ting Hung
Sentiment Analysis and Topic Modeling of COVID-19 News Coverage in India: Integrating Facebook Reactions and Textual Content. Mr. Sawood Anwar

Platform Regulation & Cyber Governance in the Global South

Cyber Governance, Policy Challenges and Opportunities Post-conflict in Somalia. Ms. Ramsha Ashraf
Authoritarianism within Democracies: A Framework for the Dynamics among Political Actors in the Digital Age. Ms. Sahngmin Shin
Tactics of disconnection: How netizens navigate China’s censorship system. Dr. Kun He.

Philosophy of AI: making sense of its (potential) impacts

Mapping Actors in Digital Public Policy. Ms. Grace Piddington
Pivoting Around Capital in Silicon Valley: Alternative Approaches to Tech Policy. Mrs. Michelle Venetucci
Victor or Victim? Rethinking the Metaverse’s Political Economy. Ms. Katayoon Salehi
From Pulpit to Algorithm: The Ethical Intersection of AI and Catholic Values. Ms. Manoela Mayrink
What is Digital Politics? Defining a Poly-Field of Study: A Systematic Literature Review. Dr. Alejandro fdz-del-Río, Dr. Marco Guglielmo.

Online Roundtable: Digital Sovereignty in the EU and the UK
2025-06-25 14:00 - 15:15 | Online/Virtual
Free, signup required
Registration link: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/technologyinternetpolicygrouptip/1722649

Time: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm BST / 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm CEST
Location: Online – Zoom (link will be provided upon free registration to the event on Ticket Tailor)
Over the past decade, the intersection of technology policy and geopolitics has fundamentally shifted from peripheral discussions to central strategic debates. The Trump Administration’s aggressive tariff and industrial policies have significantly recast US technology companies as instruments of national power, intensifying global discussions about digital sovereignty. Within this context, digital sovereignty, defined as the control and autonomy over digital infrastructure, data flows, and platform governance, has emerged as a critical strategic imperative for countries and regions alike.
This online roundtable, hosted by the Technology, Internet, and Policy Group of the Political Studies Association, convenes a distinguished group of academic and policy experts to discuss the challenges of digital sovereignty as understood and pursued within the European Union and the United Kingdom. By examining the current legal frameworks, technological infrastructures, and strategic policy measures, participants will dissect how these entities are shaping their digital autonomy in a rapidly evolving geopolitical environment.
Central to our discussion is the comparative exploration of approaches by various global actors to digital infrastructure development and digital sovereignty, encapsulated by our guiding research question:
How are different global actors approaching digital sovereignty and digital infrastructure development?
Participants will provide insights into ongoing policy developments, emerging regulatory mechanisms, and practical strategies adopted in response to global technological competition. The session will highlight best practices, discuss limitations, and identify opportunities for enhanced international strategic cooperation across sectors. Through targeted expert presentations and moderated dialogue, this roundtable aims to foster informed debate, policy reflection, and potential collaboration opportunities to strengthen sovereign, democratic digital infrastructures in the EU, UK, and beyond.

Event Agenda
Digital Sovereignty in the EU and the UK
Date: 25 June 2025
Time: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm BST / 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm CEST
Moderator:
Dr. Giulia Sandri, Associate Researcher, Cevipol – Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and Research and Development Manager, the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS)
Agenda:

2:00 – 2:05 pm (BST) Opening Remarks and Introduction
Dr. Giulia Sandri, Université Libre de Bruxelles

2:05 – 2:15 pm Digital Sovereignty in Comparative Perspective
Dr. Jessica Morley, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Digital Ethics Center, Yale University

2:15 – 2:25 pm The European Way: A Blueprint for Reclaiming Our Digital Future
Kai Zenner, Head of Office & Digital Policy Adviser, European Parliament

2:25 – 2:35 pm Digital Sovereignty and European Security Integration
Prof. Dr. Rocco Bellanova, Research Professor, VUB – Law, Science, Technology & Society (LSTS)

2:35 – 2:45pm How Europe’s Approach Compares to Other Regions and What Lessons We Can Draw
Mark Scott, Senior Resident Fellow, Democracy + Tech Initiative, Atlantic Council

2:45 – 2:55 pm AI Governance and the Limitations of UK Digital Sovereignty
Huw Roberts, Doctoral Researcher, Oxford Internet Institute / Associate Fellow, RUSI
2:55 – 3:00 pm Moderated Roundtable Discussion and Q&A

Ofcom x TIP Workshop: Future Directions for Academic Research
2025-11-19 | Ofcom (London), 2a Bridge Road (Riverside House), Southwark, SE1 9HA, United Kingdom
Ofcom’s role is central to how the United Kingdom’s communications, media, and online sectors are regulated. In this capacity, it works with a range of stakeholders, including academics, as part of their knowledge exchange process to inform policy decisions. This event invites you to explore how you can take part in this process with your research to expand the impact of your work, potentially present your work on the day, and create links for future research impact.
Participation is free, and on the day, catering will be provided.
The event will be structured across three key areas:

Share research interests and ideas
Learn about Ofcom’s research priorities and approaches to academic engagement
Network with peers to foster future collaborations

[Applications for this event are now Closed]

Book Talk: The Politics of Platform Regulation with Robert Gorwa
2025-12-02 15:00 - 16:15 | Online/Virtual
Robert Gowra in Conversation with Daniel Weissmann, will discuss The Politics of Platform Regulation.

Join the Technology, Internet, and Policy Group (TIP) to discuss Robert Gowra’s book ‘The Politics of Platform Regulation: How Governments Shape Online Content Moderation’ and their associated work. His book is driven through stakeholder interviews and FOIs of policy documents across four states, provides a conceptual and empirical analysis of the important and emerging tech policy terrain of platform regulation: How, why, and where exactly is it happening? Why now? And how do we best understand the vast array of strategies being deployed across jurisdictions to tackle this issue?
You can find the book here.
Robert Gorwa is a postdoctoral researcher at the Berlin Social Science Center, and a fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation. He studies the politics of technology policy, with a special interest in platform governance and emerging socio-technical regulatory arrangements in the digital economy. He holds a DPhil from Oxford’s Department of Politics and International Relations, and is the author of The Politics of Platform Regulation: How Governments Shape Online Content Moderation, which was published in 2024 by Oxford University Press.

MPG x TIP Conference 'Navigating Digital Democracy' 8-9 January 2026 (online 7th Jan)
2026-01-07 08:00 - 2026-01-09 17:00 | Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH12 5BB, United Kingdom
MPG x TIP Conference ‘Navigating Digital Democracy’, 8-9 January 2026 (online 7th Jan)

You are warmly invited to submit papers for presentation at the joint annual conference of the Political Studies Association’s Media and Politics Group & Technology, Information and Policy Group
This year’s conference theme, “Navigating Digital Democracy” will explore the intersection of technology, media, and politics in shaping democratic practices and governance.
As the digital landscape continues to evolve, technology plays a central role in influencing political discourse, policy development, citizen engagement, and the broader democratic process. From the amplification of polarizing and anti-democratic voices to the facilitation of political campaigning and pro-democracy movements, the dynamics of digital technology are both challenging and enriching the foundations of democratic societies. This conference seeks to critically examine the opportunities and risks technology presents in these areas.
We welcome paper submissions that address any of the following topics*:

Do digital platforms impact citizen engagement and connection? How do digital platforms facilitate civic engagement, political participation, democratise political representation, and allow for access to the political process?
What is the role of digital platforms in political campaigning? How are digital technologies and platforms reshaping campaign strategies, political marketing, civic participants, and voter engagement?
The amplification of polarising and anti-democratic voices through digital platforms: how do social media platform rules and algorithms impact political discussion, polarisation, and harmful rhetoric?
What role do digital platforms play in informing or misinforming citizens? What are the ethical implications of misinformation, what are the consequences of misinformation on political trust and accountability?
What role do deepfake and AI-generated images play in shaping political narratives?
How are digital platforms impacting social movements and democratic engagement? Are digital platforms providing spaces for pro-democracy movements in otherwise hostile states, are they havens of free speech or do they offer limited offline impact?
The impact of generative technology on policy development; how does this simplify complex issues, perpetuate inequalities, or aid swift and dynamic changes to legislation?
What is the role of digital games in contemporary politics? How can digital games be used to promote civic engagement and political awareness? How have online multiplayer games become spaces for political discussion and activism?

We encourage submissions from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, including but not limited to political science, media studies, communication, sociology, law, and technology studies. Submissions are welcomed from scholars at all career stages, including PhD candidates and early-career researchers, as well as practitioners engaged in media, politics or related fields.
*While the main theme of this conference is navigating digital democracy, the MPG and TIP operate an open and inclusive policy, and papers dealing with any aspect of media, technology and politics are welcomed. Papers may focus on areas from political communication and journalism to data, artificial intelligence, social media and tech policy; but also include a broader view of the political sphere within such areas as television, cinema and media arts, both factual and fictional. In addition to academic research, the conference will also welcome practice-based work in art, film and performance related to the area of media and politics.

There are two ways to attend this conference. There is an in-person conference held in Bournemouth, UK, on 8-9 January 2026. For those who cannot make it in person but who wish to participate, we will host an online conference on 7th January 2026. Both will include a keynote presentation (TBA).
Please note this is not a hybrid conference and the in-person conference will not be streamed online.

TIP Panels at the PSA Annual Conference 2026: "Political Studies Futures" - Oxford
2026-03-30 08:00 - 2026-04-01 17:00 | University of Oxford, 75 - 81 High Street, Oxford, England, OX1 4BG, United Kingdom
This year we are once again making an appearance at the PSA Annual Conference with 5 panels!
More information is available here: https://www.psa.ac.uk/events/psa-annual-conference
