“Digital Empires”: A discussion with Professor Anu Bradford

Webinar organised by the Chair Digital, Governance and Sovereignty, hosted by the School of Public Affairs 

Following her provocative theorization of a “Brussels Effect”, in this new publication Professor Bradford examines three competing regulatory approaches: the American market-driven model, the Chinese state-driven model, and the European rights-driven regulatory model. All three regimes are racing to regulate tech companies, with each advancing a competing vision for the digital economy while attempting to expand its sphere of influence in the digital world. Prof. Bradford discusses how governments and tech companies navigate the inevitable conflicts that arise when these regulatory approaches collide in the international domain. Which digital empire will prevail in the contest for global influence remains an open question, yet their contrasting strategies are increasingly clear.

Digital societies are at an inflection point. In the midst of these unfolding regulatory battles, governments, tech companies, and digital citizens are making important choices that will shape the future ethos of the digital society. “Digital Empires” lays bare the choices we face as societies and individuals, explains the forces that shape those choices, and illuminates the immense stakes involved for everyone who uses digital technologies.

Speakers: 

• Professor Anu Bradford - Henry L. Moses Professor of Law and International Organization at Columbia Law School. author of “The Brussels Effect: How the European Union Rules the World” (Oxford University Press 2020) and “Digital Empires: The Global Battle to Regulate Technology” (Oxford University Press 2023).
• Professor Kate Klonick [Moderator] - Associate Professor at St. John’s Law School. Fellow at Brookings Institution and Yale Law School Information Society Project. Visiting Professor at Sciences Po Law School. Member of the Scientific Committee at Sciences Po Chair Digital, Governance and Sovereignty. 
• Giulia Geneletti [Discussant] - Master student in European Affairs, Digital, New Technology and Public Policy stream. Research Assistant at Sciences Po Chair Digital, Governance and Sovereignty. 
• Gustavo Fonseca Ribeiro [Discussant] - Master student in Public Policy, Digital, New Technology and Public Policy stream. UNESCO Intern Consultant with the Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence Team, within the Sector for Communication and Information. 
• Laura Zurdo [Discussant] - Master student in Public Policy, Digital, New Technology and Public Policy stream.