How "coders" determine your life (sold out!)

In his latest book Coders - The Making of a New Tribe and the Remaking of the World, Clive Thompson shows how programmers determine what news you get to see, what recommendations Bol.com gives you, or how you get from A to B. Should we place so much responsibility on one group of people? And who are those people who shape our daily lives?

Debate about a responsible digital society

We will discuss this on 7 November. Based on Thompson's reflections on "coders," we talk about the role and social value of digital technology in our lives. Looking for the best way to shape a future society in which technology offers a solution to today's challenges.

15:00 – Opening by moderator Jurriën Hamer & word of welcome by Gerdi Verbeet

15:10 – Introduction by Linda Kool

15:35 - Keynote by Clive Thompson

16:20 - Discussion with panel and audience

16:50 - Closing remarks by Melanie Peters

17:00 - Final wrap-up by moderator

About the speakers

-Journalist Clive Thompson is an editor at The New York Times Magazine and Wired. He also writes for Fast Company and is a regular guest at programmes from CNN, Fox News and NY1. Thompson broke through with his book 'Smarter Than You Think: How Technology Is Changing Our Minds for the Better'.

-Linda Kool MSc MA, is theme coordinator Digital society at the Rathenau Instituut. In her research she focuses on social, ethical and political implications of emerging digital technologies.

-Dr. Jurrien Hamer (moderator), trained in both Law and Philosophy, is involved in the research group Smart society and researches the relationship between human rights and digitalization.

-Dr. ir. Melanie Peters, director of the Rathenau Instituut, has a broad background in science, industry and the public sector, combined with ample experience of national and international politics and social relations.

-Gerdi Verbeet is chair of the Rathenau board. From 2006 - 2012 she was president of the Dutch House of Representatives.