Evgeny Morozov

The Belarussian author stands out among the countless internet prophets with his sharp critique of current developments in the digital worlds: Nothing less than democracy itself is at stake (and we are voluntarily going along with it).

Belarussian writer and Harvard academic Evgeny Morozov is one of the most distinguished observers and critics of the digital world. His most important thesis argues that the internet and modern technology don’t just only promote freedom and democracy but are also tools for repression and mass surveillance. He criticizes people’s naïve euphoria about the new technological achievements of Silicon Valley’s big internet companies and warns citizens to be more mature in handling of their own data. Despite his pessimistic view, his essays and arguments, which regularly appear in The New York Times, Die Zeit and Süddeutsche Zeitung, are full of witty wordplay and razor-sharp analysis. His most recent book in German is »To Save Everything Click Here: The Folly of Technological Solutionism«. Four days after our conference DISRUPTING DEMOCRACY, he will speak on invitation of the Bucerius Summer School on Global Governance about data politics as a challenge to the continued existence of democracy and encourage attendees to get involved.