Content

In the News

Jul 15, 2020

Dr. David Bray: Can people, data, and technology help build a shock-resistant planet?

By Atlantic Council

The WebIT Virtual Thought Summit recently brought together a number of GeoTech experts, including GeoTech Commissioner Dr. Vint Cerf, and GeoTech fellows Daniella Taveau and Dr. Divya Chander, for a panel discussion co-moderated by Dr. David Bray, Director of the GeoTech Center. These leading experts provided their own perspectives on how the world, in responding to COVID-19, might consider certain technologically enabled solutions to predict and protect against future crises. Importantly, the panel pointed out how these technologies must be intentionally designed with people’s needs at the center, lest open societies see well-intentioned innovation evolve into tools for a surveillance state.

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

In the News

Jul 14, 2020

Allen and Rodriquez in Foreign Policy: The US government needs to regulate social media

By Stephen Rodriguez

Army intelligence officer T.S. Allen and Scowcroft Center Senior Advisor Stephen Rodriguez argue that Washington has a unique responsibility to protect social media and prevent election interference.

Cybersecurity Disinformation

New Atlanticist

Jul 13, 2020

Duda wins, but must now govern a divided Poland

By Daniel Fried

Duda won his election. He’s the president of a closely divided country. Trzaskowski almost beat him with a message that was inclusive and appealed to many Poles who, demographically and socially, probably represent Poland’s future. It’s now Duda’s move, hopefully to demonstrate that he is a unifying force in Poland.

Elections Poland

BelarusAlert

Jul 3, 2020

Minsk Maidan? Belarus facing summer of discontent

By Victor Tregubov

Belarus has been an international backwater for much of the past 25 years, but it may soon find itself thrust into the geopolitical spotlight as tensions mount ahead of the country's August 9 presidential election.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Jun 15, 2020

Belarus presidential vote: Democratic breakthrough?

By Viktoriya Zakrevskaya

A combination of domestic and geopolitical factors makes the upcoming Belarusian presidential election the most important for a generation, but can Lukashenko be defeated democratically?

Belarus Democratic Transitions

In the News

May 27, 2020

Herbst quoted by the Washington Post on the risk of Ukraine being drawn into the US election

By Atlantic Council

Corruption Elections

UkraineAlert

May 26, 2020

Ukrainian local elections: Will Zelenskyy win again?

By Mykola Vorobiov

Ukraine will hold local elections in October 2020. This will be the first big test for President Zelenskyy and his Servant of the People party since landslide victories in 2019's presidential and parliamentary votes.

Democratic Transitions Elections

New Atlanticist

May 18, 2020

Afghan power sharing deal breaks Kabul’s political impasse and raises hope for unity

By South Asia Center

With the tentative peace deal under fire, continuing havoc wreaked by the COVID-19 pandemic, and a looming US troop withdrawal, the breakthrough in the Afghan government’s political deadlock which emerged on May 15 will undoubtedly be welcomed by many in Afghanistan and the international community.

Afghanistan Conflict

New Atlanticist

May 13, 2020

Poland divided over elections and COVID restrictions

By Tomasz Zalewski

Poland has begun to ease its COVID lockdown, but Poles remain unsure if the benefits of reopening outwweigh the potential costs.

Coronavirus Elections

In the News

May 12, 2020

Dr. David Bray on leadership in crisis situations

By Atlantic Council

In a recent conversation with the team of OpenExo, Dr. David Bray, Director of the GeoTech Center, spoke on his expertise on government and popular response to crises, to offer guidance on how we as a society might leverage technology to emerge stronger from COVID-19. Citing his years of experience at the heart of teams in charge of anticipating and preventing crises, Dr. Bray explored the way that open societies in particular can take advantage of their strengths and identify threats before they come to fruition, without threatening individual liberties in the process. In order for this effort to succeed, though, Dr. Bray emphasized how intentional steps must be taken now to shape the future of data and society.

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

Experts