Does the GDPR Go Too Far? Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates "Europe Has Declared War on American Tech Companies," in NYC and Online October 22

European regulators are taking on American technology companies like Apple, Facebook, and Google in a big way. Regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), regulators say, will give power back to tech consumers by protecting their data and will restore faith in tech companies. But not everyone agrees. Critics argue that regulations like the GDPR are bad for business, and Silicon Valley was built on the idea that innovators need the room and freedom to create without constraint. Is Brussels right to wield a regulatory sword against Silicon Valley? On Tuesday, October 22, Intelligence Squared U.S. continues their series of tech debates with a live debate on the motion "Europe Has Declared War on American Tech Companies."

Arguing in favor of the motion are TechFreedom founder Berin Szóka and tech policy researcher Roslyn Layton. Arguing against the motion are Marietje Schaake, a former member of the European parliament, and UC Digital Cultures Lab founder Ramesh Srinivasan.

The "Europe Has Declared War on American Tech Companies" debate will be held at NYC's Kaye Playhouse and stream live online, then air soon after as part of the syndicated public radio show and podcast "Intelligence Squared U.S." On October 22, online viewers can tune in at IQ2US's website: https://www.intelligencesquaredus.org/debates/europe-has-declared-war-american-tech-companies

WHAT: Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates "Europe Has Declared War on American Tech Companies"
WHEN: Tuesday, October 22 / 7:00-8:45 PM EDT
WHERE: The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, 115 E. 68th Street, New York, NY
TICKETS: $40 ($12 for students w/ ID). To purchase, visit http://www.intelligencesquaredus.org/

Arguing For the Motion

* Roslyn Layton: Visiting Scholar, American Enterprise Institute 
Roslyn Layton is a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, where she focuses on evidence-based policy for information, communications, and digital technology industries. Using empirical methods, she assesses regulations and policies for digitally connected domains such as mobile wireless, telecom, cable, internet, online advertising, e-government, media, software, financial technology, and telehealth, among others. Layton is also a visiting researcher at Aalborg University Center for Communication, Media, and Information Technologies and vice president at Strand Consult, both in Denmark.

* Berin Szóka: Founder and President, TechFreedom 
Berin Szóka is the founder and president of TechFreedom, a Washington D.C.-based think tank dedicated to analyzing the policy and legal questions raised by technological change. He is a former senior fellow and director of the Center for Internet Freedom at The Progress & Freedom Foundation, and prior to that, he was an associate in the Communications Practice Group at Latham & Watkins LLP.

Arguing Against the Motion

* Marietje Schaake: International Policy Director, Stanford's Cyber Policy Center & Fmr. Member, European Parliament 
Marietje Schaake is international policy director and international policy fellow at Stanford's Cyber Policy Center and Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, respectively. She is a former member of the European Parliament from the Netherlands, and was a member of D66, part of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe political group. She is also the founder of the European Parliament Intergroup on the Digital Agenda for Europe, a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations, and an adviser to the Center for Humane Technology. Schaake was featured by Politico as one of the 28 most influential Europeans in the class of 2017.

* Ramesh Srinivasan: Director, UC Digital Cultures Lab & Professor, UCLA 
Ramesh Srinivasan studies the relationship between technology, politics, and society and is a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he is also the founder and director of the UC Digital Cultures Lab. Srinivasan is the author of "Whose Global Village?: Rethinking How Technology Impacts Our World" and "After the Internet." He earned his doctorate in design studies at Harvard and is a regular speaker for TEDx Talks. Srinivasan's writings have been widely published by CNN, Wired, and Forbes, among others.

ABOUT INTELLIGENCE SQUARED U.S. DEBATES (IQ2US)
A non-partisan, non-profit organization, Intelligence Squared U.S. was founded in 2006 to address a fundamental problem in America: the extreme polarization of our nation and our politics. Their mission is to restore critical thinking, facts, reason, and civility to American public discourse. The award-winning debate series reaches millions of viewers and listeners through through multi-platform distribution, including radio, live streaming, podcasts, interactive digital content, and on-demand apps on Roku and Apple TV. With over 170 debates and counting, Intelligence Squared U.S. has encouraged the public to "think twice" on a wide range of provocative topics. Author and ABC News correspondent John Donvan has moderated IQ2US since 2008. Go here for photos, links and more info: http://shorefire.com/client/intelligence-squared-us