Alumni Week: What if we regain control over big tech?
Saturday 3 October | 16:00-17:00 | Science Park C1.110
- Date
- 3 October 2026
- Time
- 16:00 -17:00
- Location
- Science Park 904
- Room
- C1.110
Please note: this event is in Dutch.
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AI, social media and large technology companies are increasingly influencing how we communicate, vote and live together. In this lecture, Marietje Schaake shows how power is shifting from governments to tech companies, and what this means for democracy, freedom and public values. In her latest book De Machtscode, she examines how technology companies are gaining ever more influence over our society and democracy, and which choices we need to make now in order to protect democratic values. Afterwards, she will enter into a conversation with journalist and NOS correspondent Fleur Launspach, with time for questions from the audience.
Speakers
Marietje Schaake is a technology expert, author, and former Member of the European Parliament for D66. She studied Sociology, American Studies, and New Media at the University of Amsterdam and now works at Stanford University at the intersection of technology, democracy, and human rights. In her latest book, De Machtscode, she examines how AI and technology companies are gaining increasing influence over our democracy.
Fleur Launspach is a journalist specialising in international news. She is the NOS correspondent for the United Kingdom and Ireland, and heads the NOS bureau in London. Before moving to the UK, Launspach worked as a producer and reporter for Al Jazeera English. Earlier in her career, her work took her to some of the world’s most remote and challenging locations. Launspach holds both a Master’s degree in Journalism and a Master’s degree in Media and Culture from the University of Amsterdam.
