MozFest's signature speaker series will explore collective power as it shapes technological systems, policy, and social and political movements – both on and offline.
Dialogues & Debates is MozFest's speakers series — a place for fiery conversations and compelling panels.
Between March 20 and March 24, we'll broadcast deep discussions about people behind movements; building the Fediverse; collective power from civil rights to labor unions; the race to regulate AI; and much more. You can watch the Dialogues and Debates panels on the Mozilla Festival Plaza, YouTube, LinkedIn or Twitter and join the conversation by asking questions using #DialoguesAndDebates.
Below, learn more about our Dialogues & Debates speakers and the schedule:
People Make Movements | Monday, March 20 @ 12pm ET / 5pm CET
In the work towards harnessing collective power for advancing positive human and digital rights progress, how do we center the people whose lives are at the crux of the issues we are fighting for? What is activism in the context of dissent? When activist art reflects the pain of people, what happens if it is commodified? What is the role of intimacy in the work of building movements? And what is the potential impact of social platforms on the success of movements, and the lives of those who are prominent online? A panel featuring:
Valeriia Voshchevska, Ukrainian human rights activist and digital strategist
Tara Aghdashloo, Iranian writer, filmmaker, advocate for women, diversity and MENA representation in film, and a human rights activist
And moderator Alia Malek, Journalist, former civil rights lawyer, and author of several books including “The Home That Was Our Country: A Memoir of Syria”.
Mozilla 25: Funding Ethical Tech & The Next Mozilla Chapter | Tuesday, March 21 @ 11am ET / 4pm CET
Mozilla is turning 25 this March. In the past year, it has also grown to include Mozilla Ventures and Mozilla.ai. These new entities strengthen the Mozilla manifesto by responding to the current moment and the evolution in technology. What is the future of Mozilla, ethical tech, and open-source AI tools and practices? A panel featuring:
Mitchell Baker, CEO of Mozilla Corporation
J. Bob Alotta, VP of Global Programs, Mozilla
Pelonomi Moiloa, CEO, Lelapa.AI
Imo Udom, Senior Vice President, Innovation Ecosystems, Mozilla Corporation
Mohamed Nanabhay, Managing Partner, Mozilla Ventures
And moderator Carys Afoko, Senior Director, Communications and External Affairs, Mozilla Foundation
Making the Fediverse | Wednesday, March 22 @ 11am ET / 5pm CET
Mozilla is joining the Fediverse in 2023 to co-create its future. What are its greatest opportunities and limitations? How can we scale methodology and not solutions? What is the public discourse square of the future? Who is building it? A panel featuring:
Steve Teixeira, Chief Product Officer at Mozilla Corporation
Anouk Ruhaak, Digital Governance Researcher and Designer
Tarunima Prabhakar, Researcher and Co-founder of Tattle
Darius Kazemi, Senior Software Engineer at Meedan and works on federated, decentralized social media
And moderator An Xiao Mina, Senior Civic Media Fellow at the USC Annenberg School for Journalism and Communication
A Conversation with Angela Davis and Christian Smalls | Thursday, March 23 @ 12pm ET / 5pm CET
A panel discussion featuring two of today's leading voices in activism and social justice. Angela Davis, a renowned scholar, author, and advocate for human rights, and Christian Smalls, a labor rights activist and founder of the Stock-Shop Alliance, will share their insights and experiences on building and mobilizing grassroots movements for change. A conversation featuring:
Angela Davis, Human rights activist, professor, author
Christian Smalls, founder and president of the Amazon Labor Union, an independent, democratic, worker-led labor union at Amazon in Staten Island
And moderator J. Bob Alotta, VP of Global Programs, Mozilla Foundation
The Race To Regulate: How Will This Impact the World? | Friday, March 24 @ 11am ET / 5pm CET
Who will set the standard in this geopolitical race as Europe and the US race towards big tech regulation – and is this the new frontier of digital colonization? What is the interplay between governments and platforms? How will regulation standards be adopted by and exported to the global majority? Where is the consumer in these conversations? A panel featuring:
Aisha Kadiri, PhD Candidate at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris (PSL University) and the Chair of Geopolitics of Risk
Nikhil Pahwa, Entrepreneur, journalist, activist and founder & editor of MediaNama
Marietje Schaake, International policy director at Stanford University Cyber Policy Center and international policy fellow at Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence
And moderator Kush Amlani, Global Competition and Regulatory Counsel at Mozilla Corporation