Politics

Deep fakes, are probably the most chilling example to me of it, as if you take a politician's face and you use deep fake technology to slightly change it in ways that are imperceptible to the politician and to you, the observer, but that make the face just change enough to make your brain trust and like that image of that person.

Neuroethicist & Duke Law professor specializing in neurorights and genetics policy

What has happened is that by relinquishing our influence, we have encouraged China and Russia to become even more active in the region. The competition with China and Russia is unfolding right within the Middle East.

U.S. National Security Advisor under President Donald Trump

Why don't we start with a fundamental step – ceasing to fund our own downfall? For years, we held onto the belief that welcoming China into the international order would prompt them to abide by established rules, liberalize their economy, and make their governance more democratic.

U.S. National Security Advisor under President Donald Trump

In a democracy, an informed citizenry can act as a driving force for more robust and effective foreign policies and strategies related to national security, thereby fostering peace and encouraging prosperity. However, the lack of such comprehensive education has been a stumbling block. Education is the linchpin in this process.

U.S. National Security Advisor under President Donald Trump

What makes him dangerous is an unwavering determination; those who suggest potential exit strategies are overlooking a key aspect of his character. Any off-ramp simply provides an opportunity for him to seek the next on-ramp.

U.S. National Security Advisor under President Donald Trump

This access has significantly altered what individuals and communities can accomplish, challenging traditional power dynamics. It's essentially a democratic revolution, wresting control from the conventional gatekeepers like intelligence agencies and the media.

Founder of Bellingcat, open-source investigation journalism network

When global markets open up, if you're selling t-shirts in the US or Denmark, you're disadvantaged because countries like Bangladesh produce them more efficiently and cheaply. This has fuelled arguments advocating caution when it comes to free trade. We've conducted what is, to my knowledge, the first study attempting to quantify both the benefits and costs of trade, rather than focusing solely on the benefits.

Environmental Economist & Author Known for Challenging Climate Alarmism

World leaders have promised everything to everyone. But they are failing…. The UN's Sustainable Development Goals are supposed to be delivered by 2030. The goals literally promise everything, like eradicating poverty, hunger and disease; stopping war and climate change, ending corruption, fixing education along with countless other promises. This year, the world is at halftime for its promises, but nowhere near halfway.

Environmental Economist & Author Known for Challenging Climate Alarmism

With this change, women can now approach early pregnancy units instead of rushing to A&E or can seek progesterone from their GPs to potentially save their baby. This could result in up to 8,500 babies being saved annually. Now, there's a clearer path for both the affected individuals and their healthcare providers.

British TV presenter, singer, and classical musician from Pop Idol

Though I'm not a politician or involved in politics, I found myself deeply entrenched in the political world because decisions about our bodies aren't made in clinics or doctor's offices. They're made in Westminster. When you step into those corridors of power, it's astonishing to witness the detachment many decision-makers have from real-life issues.

British TV presenter, singer, and classical musician from Pop Idol

Fear can be useful for political leaders and governments as a screen to introduce unpopular legislation. There are those who argue that 9/11 enabled George W. Bush to pass far reaching surveillance laws under the Patriot Act, which would have been unthinkable without the fear produced by the terrorist attacks.

There's a fascinating duality in technology, acting both as a spreader and a regulator of fear. For instance, the telegraph, first visualised in the 19th century as a governmental tool, was later recognised to be vulnerable to sabotage and exploitation by opposing forces.

Today, a fear-based politics has largely replaced the promotion of ideals. Obama's call for 'the audacity of hope' in 2006 now feels quaint. To me, this concession to fear poses a big challenge: how do we recover an aspirational politics?

Today, policies are sold to us largely on the basis of fear, or fear mitigation: from immigration to climate change, from health services to defence. It's less about promoting a progressive vision of the future and more about playing to our fears of what might happen if we don't toe a particular line.

There's a pervasive sentiment that silence or a lack of immediate response equates to complicity, and this is seen as an endorsement of a particular viewpoint. These demands for instant opinions are concerning as they overlook the individuals who are earnestly seeking to grasp the full picture, delving into the nuances of age-old issues before formulating a stance.

It's about catching that surge of emotion, be it offense or anger, usually incited by someone attempting to ignite your social identity or signal an outgroup threat, with a likely aim to shape your thoughts or actions. The antidote lies in introspection, a slowing down of reaction, coupled with a continuous questioning of the messenger's motivations and potential gains.