Disinformation and Digital Media as a Challenge for Democracy

The call for papers for the upcoming 6th volume in European Integration and Democracy series, devoted to challenges for democracy, the rule of law and the respect for fundamental rights, posed by contemporary disinformation practices and digital media, has now been published [PDF 247 KB]. The planned book is a joint endeavour of the Centre for …

LSTS: 15 years of science and fun

The Law, Science, Technology and Society (LSTS) Research Group of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) celebrates in 2018 its 15 years of existence. To mark the occasion, we invite all our friends to join us at a special LSTS-café on Tuesday 27th February 2018 at La Tricoterie, from 8:30 pm to 2:00 am, with music …

LSTS books of 2017

The Research Group on Law, Science, Technology and Society (LSTS) of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) has assembled its list of most influential readings of 2017. For the second time already, members and affiliated researchers have reflected and share their views on their reading experiences and sources of inspiration, in what is already starting to …

Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Relations as a Challenge for Democracy: book launch & evening debate

On Wednesday, 28 June 2017 from 17h00 till 19h00 the Muntpunt in Brussels will host a book launch and an evening debate on Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Relations as a Challenge for Democracy. This book, co-edited by Dan Svantesson and Dariusz Kloza, is a fruit of collaboration of 30 authors from all over the world, who have provided …

Speaking Law to Power: secrets, spies and cowboys in a data-driven world

On 28th June 2016 Mireille Hildebrandt will speak at contemporary art centre Wiels on her recent book 'Smart Technologies and the End(s) of Law. Novel Entanglements of Law and Technology' (the paperback just came out with Edward Elgar). The lecture will discuss the implications of the 'new digital unconscious' that forms the playground for both …

PechaKucha CPDP 2016

This year's Computer's, Privacy and Data Protection (CPDP) Conference brings to Brussels a series of notable side events. On Tuesday 26 January 2016 at 20:20 (yes!) will take place a PechaKucha, co-organised by Architempo and CPDP: 10 speakers, each speaker has 6 minutes 40 seconds for a presentation in 20 images. Each image is on …

MUSIC & SURVEILLANCE #12 Paul Baran

Jeremy Bentham’s Panopticon, the ultimate surveillance image, is the main theme of this new episode of our MUSIC & SURVEILLANCE series. Panopticism is here explored through the aural lens of Paul Baran's 'Panoptic', which combines elegant improvisation with a touch of electronics.  Paul Baran is a Glasgowian artist operating sometimes alone and sometimes as a …

MUSIC & SURVEILLANCE #11 The Transparent Society

Industrial music has always been attracted to dystopian worlds and apocalyptical aesthetics. The new episode of our MUSIC & SURVEILLANCE series explores the work of Skull:Axis, an artist self-described as 'paranoid, delusional industrial' that has devoted a whole record to 'The Transparent Society'. Skull:Axis is actually Jason B. Bernard, from Brighton, who is also responsible …

Are You Being Served

This year the Computers, Privacy and Data Protection International Conference is working together with Constant Association for Art and Media to organise at Brussel's Les Halles de Schaerbeek and la Maison des Arts the exhibition 'Are You Being Served'. Artists coming from all over Europe have asked themselves the question: ‘Who does that server really …

MUSIC & SURVEILLANCE #10 A Compilation

The MUSIC & SURVEILLANCE series takes a walk through Bandcamp music platform in search of surveillance-related tracks, and uncovers a few interesting underground artists. Here they come, carefully collected and happily reported to the wider public. 'Days Of Surveillance' by Quiet Loner A gentle protest song with a touching old-school flavour. It is not easy …