Public Evening (in German): Are Computers Diluting Authority?



Wednesday, 15. October 2003 | 19:30 Uhr

Speaker

Participants

Are Computers Diluting Authority?

At the Public Evening of Academia Engelberg on 15 October 2003 in the Hotel Europe in Engelberg, scientists, hackers, data protection specialists and others engaged in deep discussions on whether the rapid technological development of microprocessors which, for example, trigger the release of the airbag in cars or allow the location of mobile phones to be identified is a blessing, a curse or science fiction. Over 200 participants followed the arena-like discussion, which was led with consummate skill by Ellinor von Kauffungen. The sceptics, in the form of Professor Hilty from EMPA, Andy Müller-Maguhn, Chaos Computer Club, and Dr. Beat Rudin, Foundation for Data Protection and Information Security (Stiftung Datenschutz und Informations­sicherheit), were impressive in the presentation of their fears: “We are already in a position today where we have to adapt to technology in many areas”. As an example, they cited those computer programs which autonomously decide what the user may do and what he may not do or the refrigerator which autocratically places orders.

Download Resume: Leben in einer informierten Umwelt – Chancen und Risiken von Christoph Hubig, Prof. Dr., Institut für Philosophie, Prorektor Universität Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Deutschland

Download Speech: Hayeks Katallaxie: Ein zukunftsweisendes Konzept für die unsichtbare und schlaue Welt? von Günter Müller, Prof. Dr., Institut für Informatik und Gesellschaft – Telematik, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Deutschland

Media release: Public Evening

Participants

Greeting:
Frau Talammann Martha Bächler

Adress:
Dr. Reinhold Eberhardt, DaimlerChrysler AG

Facilitator:
Ellinor von Kauffungen

Discussion with:
Prof. Elgar Fleisch, University of St. Gallen
Prof. Günter Müller, University of Freiburg
Prof. Gerhard Tröster, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich
Beat Rudin, Foundation for Privacy and Information Security
Andy Müller-Maguhn, Chaos Computer Club
Prof. Lorenz Hilty, EMPA
Prof. Christoph Hubig, University of Stuttgart

Donators and Partners

The ETH Board is responsible for the strategic leadership of the ETH domain and assumes the supervision of its institutions. Its close relationship with the ETH Council has contributed to the successful continuation of Academia Engelberg Foundation since 2000.

The Foundation promotes research into the connecting human fundamentals of science. Academia Engelberg Foundation and the Foundation for Basic Research in Human Sciences have entered into a cooperation agreement for the period 2011 to 2015.

Helvetia is a quality-oriented comprehensive insurance company with over 150 years of experience. Academia Engelberg Foundation is convinced it will be able to use important synergies from the partnership starting in 2015.

A partnership with the University of Lucerne has existed since summer 2013. Since 2016 we have also a parthership with the Faculty of Economics and Management of the University of Lucerne. Through these partnerships, synergies are used and joint projects are tested and realized. The University of Lucerne currently consists of three faculties: the faculties for Theology, Culture and Social Sciences, and Law.