- April 07, 2022
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- June 20, 2025
Russia’s brutal war on Ukraine has laid bare the existential threat posed by authoritarian states to the global democratic order. To suppress independent voices and free expression at home, the Russian government is clamping down on Western tech companies, which now find themselves in the center of the conflict. Social media and other tech companies face difficult decisions regarding compliance or closing operations and thus closing the remaining online spaces for free expression. The Russian case will set a precedent for others to follow.
On April 7, 2022, Aspen Institute Germany and the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) brought together a small group of key stakeholders to develop strategies on a renewed transatlantic effort to counter this trend. 30 selected experts from governments, industry, and civil society spoke about actionable solutions, focused on collaboration between the United States and Germany.
As speakers Aspen Germany and CEPA welcomed Dr. Jens Zimmermann, Spokesperson for Digital Policy of the SPD faction and Member of the German Bundestag, Peter Harrell, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for International Economics and Competitiveness at the US National Security Council, and Jamie Fly, President and CEO at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Stormy-Annika Mildner, Executive Director at Aspen Germany and Dr. Alina Polyakova, President and CEO at the Center for European Policy Analysis. This exclusive event was held virtually and under Chatham House Rule.
