Decentralizing the Digital Public Sphere

The NYU Center for Bioethics presents a colloquium with Chris Howard, Associate Professor of Philosophy at McGill University and Director of the Philosophy, Technology, and Policy Lab. This talk examines how major social media platforms like X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube shape the digital public sphere through centralized control over data, content, and communication. Howard argues that this concentration of power lacks democratic legitimacy and explores how decentralized networks may offer a more just and accountable alternative. Attendees will gain insight into the ethical and political implications of digital infrastructure and how network design influences governance and public discourse.