Political Communication and Liberty in the XXI Century

As Digital Social Media now crosses nearly all human interactions and communication, by all means dominating the public sphere, this panel seeks to explore how various aspects of digital political communication intersect with the principles of freedom, examining the implications they present to democratic values. This panel will focus, but is not limited to discussing the challenges posed by the concentration of power within few major platforms, the impact of algorithmic design on public discourse and the ways in which emerging forms of communication reshape political narratives and identities, as well as other matters of relevance presented by researchers. Additionally, we seek to address the ever growing threat of disinformation and its impact on political communication, while not overlooking the difficult balance between combating false or dangerous information and preserving free speech, seeking to highlight ethical dilemmas and regulatory challenges that arise in this context. Finally, the panel also seeks to explore the implications of surveillance and data collection on citizens' liberty to engage in political discourse without fear of reprisal, highlighting the tension between security measures and the preservation of democratic freedoms.