With the theme 'The invisible hand of big tech', the Advanced Studies Center (NEA) from the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/Fiocruz) discussed the power of large technology companies in Brazil and the world, and the paths to regulating digital platforms.
The event's title refers to the international investigative journalism project, led by Agência Pública and the Centro Latinoamericano de Investigación Periodística (Clip), which demonstrated how large technology companies act to influence laws and block regulations in various countries.
The session held on March 4th featured journalist Natalia Viana, co-founder of Agência Pública and coordinator of the project, as the speaker. 'The invisible hand of big tech'.
The event also featured the participation of five researchers – specializing in computing, artificial intelligence, global health, biomedical science, and communication – who acted as panelists.
The session was part of the celebrations for the 125th anniversary of IOCThe Center for Advanced Studies at the Institute is part of the Brazilian Forum for Advanced Studies (Fobreav).
At the opening of the session, the coordinator of the Center and emeritus researcher of the FiocRuz, Renato Cordeiro, highlighted the enormous economic, social, and political power of big tech companies, as large technology companies are called, such as those that own messaging apps, search engines, and social networks.
“We have companies that have given us incredible tools, shortening distances and democratizing access to knowledge. On the other hand, we have a concentrated, unelected power that operates without checks and balances and now threatens the very structure of our democracies. The question remains: how to find the balance, that is, how to regulate without censoring and how to punish without hindering innovation?” said Renato.
Results from an investigation conducted by 17 media outlets from 13 countries were presented by Natalia in her lecture. The group managed to map nearly three thousand lobbying actions by big tech companies to influence laws and government actions around the world.
To characterize the performance of technology companies, the journalist said that she resorted to... Observatory of Tobacco Industry Strategies, from the Sergio Arouca National School of Public Health (Ensp/Fiocruz).
According to her, the way big tech companies operate is similar to what the tobacco industry has been doing for decades to avoid or delay regulations.
Among the main practices, Natalia cited: lobbying legislators and public officials to influence decisions; manipulation of public opinion, including the dissemination of false news; creation of front groups that pose as neutral entities but act in defense of the companies' interests; and co-opting or attacking journalists (in a manner similar to what the tobacco industry does with scientists).
“Regulating big tech is the only way to mitigate harm, maintain safeguards for the rule of law, and even protect mental health. The fact that these companies are very large does not mean inaction. There is much that can be done, from the perspective of journalism and, certainly, academia,” Natalia stated.
The panelists at the session discussed the influence of big tech companies on democracy and public policy, pointing out avenues and obstacles to regulation from different perspectives.
Professor Virgilio Almeida, from the Computer Science Department at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), discussed governance models that have been adopted around the world, noting that provisional rules, which are established progressively, such as the regulations of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), can be a way forward.
The head of the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at Unicamp, Anderson Rocha, reflected on the theories of philosophers Hannah Arendt and Michel Foucault. Observing that big tech influences cognition, attention, and behavior, he pointed to the erosion of the public space for debate and defended the need for critical thinking.
The researcher at the Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS/FiocClaudia Chamas, from the newspaper Ruz, highlighted the central role of technology companies in issues such as digital health, data use, disinformation, and public policy. She is also a researcher at the Global Health Observatory and Health Diplomacy at the Federal University of Fortaleza.iocRuz noted that World Health Organization (WHO) documents still do not address the need for regulation of big tech companies to achieve health equity.
Professor Marcus Oliveira, from the Leopoldo de Meis Institute of Medical Biochemistry at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), drew attention to risks to sovereignty and the environment in Brazil due to the lack of national artificial intelligence technologies and the installation of data centers by foreign companies in the country, which consume large volumes of water and energy.
Roseli Figaro, a professor at the School of Communication and Arts at the University of São Paulo (USP), noted that digital platforms influence the way journalists work and the construction of news stories, as they offer tools for the production, dissemination, and monetization of news. She also pointed out challenges to guaranteeing privacy online and the need to educate the public on this topic.
With the theme 'The invisible hand of big tech', the Advanced Studies Center (NEA) from the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/Fiocruz) discussed the power of large technology companies in Brazil and the world, and the paths to regulating digital platforms.
The event's title refers to the international investigative journalism project, led by Agência Pública and the Centro Latinoamericano de Investigación Periodística (Clip), which demonstrated how large technology companies act to influence laws and block regulations in various countries.
The session held on March 4th featured journalist Natalia Viana, co-founder of Agência Pública and coordinator of the project, as the speaker. 'The invisible hand of big tech'.
The event also featured the participation of five researchers – specializing in computing, artificial intelligence, global health, biomedical science, and communication – who acted as panelists.
The session was part of the celebrations for the 125th anniversary of IOCThe Center for Advanced Studies at the Institute is part of the Brazilian Forum for Advanced Studies (Fobreav).
At the opening of the session, the coordinator of the Center and emeritus researcher of the FiocRuz, Renato Cordeiro, highlighted the enormous economic, social, and political power of big tech companies, as large technology companies are called, such as those that own messaging apps, search engines, and social networks.
“We have companies that have given us incredible tools, shortening distances and democratizing access to knowledge. On the other hand, we have a concentrated, unelected power that operates without checks and balances and now threatens the very structure of our democracies. The question remains: how to find the balance, that is, how to regulate without censoring and how to punish without hindering innovation?” said Renato.
Results from an investigation conducted by 17 media outlets from 13 countries were presented by Natalia in her lecture. The group managed to map nearly three thousand lobbying actions by big tech companies to influence laws and government actions around the world.
To characterize the performance of technology companies, the journalist said that she resorted to... Observatory of Tobacco Industry Strategies, from the Sergio Arouca National School of Public Health (Ensp/Fiocruz).
According to her, the way big tech companies operate is similar to what the tobacco industry has been doing for decades to avoid or delay regulations.
Among the main practices, Natalia cited: lobbying legislators and public officials to influence decisions; manipulation of public opinion, including the dissemination of false news; creation of front groups that pose as neutral entities but act in defense of the companies' interests; and co-opting or attacking journalists (in a manner similar to what the tobacco industry does with scientists).
“Regulating big tech is the only way to mitigate harm, maintain safeguards for the rule of law, and even protect mental health. The fact that these companies are very large does not mean inaction. There is much that can be done, from the perspective of journalism and, certainly, academia,” Natalia stated.
The panelists at the session discussed the influence of big tech companies on democracy and public policy, pointing out avenues and obstacles to regulation from different perspectives.
Professor Virgilio Almeida, from the Computer Science Department at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), discussed governance models that have been adopted around the world, noting that provisional rules, which are established progressively, such as the regulations of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), can be a way forward.
The head of the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at Unicamp, Anderson Rocha, reflected on the theories of philosophers Hannah Arendt and Michel Foucault. Observing that big tech influences cognition, attention, and behavior, he pointed to the erosion of the public space for debate and defended the need for critical thinking.
The researcher at the Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS/FiocClaudia Chamas, from the newspaper Ruz, highlighted the central role of technology companies in issues such as digital health, data use, disinformation, and public policy. She is also a researcher at the Global Health Observatory and Health Diplomacy at the Federal University of Fortaleza.iocRuz noted that World Health Organization (WHO) documents still do not address the need for regulation of big tech companies to achieve health equity.
Professor Marcus Oliveira, from the Leopoldo de Meis Institute of Medical Biochemistry at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), drew attention to risks to sovereignty and the environment in Brazil due to the lack of national artificial intelligence technologies and the installation of data centers by foreign companies in the country, which consume large volumes of water and energy.
Roseli Figaro, a professor at the School of Communication and Arts at the University of São Paulo (USP), noted that digital platforms influence the way journalists work and the construction of news stories, as they offer tools for the production, dissemination, and monetization of news. She also pointed out challenges to guaranteeing privacy online and the need to educate the public on this topic.
The non-profit reproduction of the text is allowed as long as the source is cited (Comunicação / Instituto Oswaldo Cruz)
 |
 |
