Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
What if democracy no longer happens in town squares—but in virtual worlds?
In this video, Sangh Rakshitha (PhD researcher at Tilburg Law School) speaks with Sunimal Mendis, Assistant Professor in Intellectual Property Law at Tilburg University, on the challenges of protecting freedom of expression, protest, and democratic participation in immersive virtual environments.
Drawing on the work of philosopher Jürgen Habermas, the conversation explores how democratic discourse has moved from physical spaces like parks and cafés to social media, virtual worlds, and immersive environments. In doing so, virtual worlds offer new possibilities for participation, but also raise serious concerns about private corporate control, freedom of expression, and content moderation.
The conversation highlights the importance of ensuring fair and effective governance of these virtual worlds for sustaining democracy. Are existing laws — such as the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and copyright rules — fit for purpose or do we need new strategies to protect digital democracy?
👉 Want to be a part of many such exciting conversations? Join the #DIGI-APPS LinkedIn page to stay in the loop: linkedin.com/groups/13123638
For remarks or questions, please contact Sunimal Mendis via L.G.S.Mendis@tilburguniversity.edu.
#Metaverse #digitaldemocracy #PublicSphere #LawAndTechnology #FreeSpeech #VirtualWorlds
What if democracy no longer happens in town squares—but in virtual worlds?
In this video, Sangh Rakshitha (PhD researcher at Tilburg Law School) speaks with Sunimal Mendis, Assistant Professor in Intellectual Property Law at Tilburg University, on the challenges of protecting freedom of expression, protest, and democratic participation in immersive virtual environments.
Drawing on the work of philosopher Jürgen Habermas, the conversation explores how democratic discourse has moved from physical spaces like parks and cafés to social media, virtual worlds, and immersive environments. In doing so, virtual worlds offer new possibilities for participation, but also raise serious concerns about private corporate control, freedom of expression, and content moderation.
The conversation highlights the importance of ensuring fair and effective governance of these virtual worlds for sustaining democracy. Are existing laws — such as the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and copyright rules — fit for purpose or do we need new strategies to protect digital democracy?
👉 Want to be a part of many such exciting conversations? Join the #DIGI-APPS LinkedIn page to stay in the loop: linkedin.com/groups/13123638
For remarks or questions, please contact Sunimal Mendis via L.G.S.Mendis@tilburguniversity.edu.
#Metaverse #digitaldemocracy #PublicSphere #LawAndTechnology #FreeSpeech #VirtualWorlds
