President of Latvia Egils Levits, who is currently paying an official visit to Sweden, arrived at Uppsala for discussion about democracy in the era of digitalisation at the local university. President also met with Governor of Uppsala County Göran Enander and paid a visit to University Hospital Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology and Uppsala University Library where 16th century Riga Jesuit Library digital collection project was presented and included in the permanent exhibition.
In his conversation with Governor of Uppsala County Göran Enander, President of Latvia highlighted two distinct features that Uppsala combines: it has played an enormous role in Sweden’s history, and continues to be the national intellectual centre to this day. President Levits also acknowledged the economic development potential of Uppsala. Egils Levits offered Uppsala to enhance its cooperation with Latvia on the level of city administrations, education, research bodies and companies.
In his address to the participants of academic discussion ‘Democracy in the era of digitalisation’ at the Uppsala University, Egils Levits underlined that we should not take democracy for granted. Only third of world’s countries are democratic. Considering the increasing global tensions between democracies and other types of government, it is important to bring the democracy into era of digitalisation. ‘Digital platforms are becoming a part of democracy. There are numerous new challenges that we need to discuss and regulate. For example, to what extent should artificial intelligence programmes be allowed to manage the social media content, can we let AI decide how to apply human rights,’ said President Levits.
Egils Levits is confident that a special framework should apply to major digital platforms, but it needs to be balanced with human rights.
President also visited Uppsala University Hospital Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology to witness the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Uppsala University and University of Latvia (UL), signed on behalf of Latvia by its rector Professor Indriķis Muižnieks. Memorandum will facilitate mutual cooperation on research and education, especially cancer, cancer research and biobank samples. Latvian scientific delegation for talks with Swedish researchers also included Professor Mārcis Leja, Director of UL Institute for Clinical and Preventive Medicine and Professor Jānis Kloviņš, Head of the Scientific Council at the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre.