The internet brought hopes of a broader and better democratic culture, where everyone could participate directly in public debate. Reality turned out to be more complicated. Hate speech, nameless trolls and a fractured public sphere are just some of the challenges brought on by digitalization. Still, digital technologies continue to carry great promise and spearhead innovation. Challenges like climate change and the Covid-19 crisis may well be unsolvable without the internet’s infrastructure. But how was that infrastructure built, and who profits from it?

MatchPoints 2021 explores the hopes and fears of an age where digitization is both ubiquitous and more ambiguous than ever. With democracy, the economy, a worldwide pandemic, the fabric of culture and even the fate of the planet at stake, there has never been a better time to consider the relation between digitalization and society. The conference features international keynote speakers and panels organized by Aarhus University researchers. MatchPoints 2021 will have a hybrid format, meaning that you can either participate in person, choosing between four main tracks onsite, or participate as a virtual attendee in a hybrid live track.

For more information, please visit https://matchpoints.au.dk/