On Friday, 6 May, President of Latvia Egils Levits will continue the series of debates ‘#Satversme100: future values’, which mark the centenary year of Latvia’s constitution, Satversme, with the third discussion with young people from Valmiera. Debate will focus on benefits and dark sides of technological advancement.
The third discussion in the Satversme debate series ‘Who controls life? Artificial intelligence, privacy, freedom’ will take place at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences. It will be livestreamed on LSM.lv portal, Presidential Chancery webpage www.president.lv and President Levits’ YouTube, Facebook and Twitter accounts from 13:00. Discussion will be moderated by Mārtiņš Meiers, actor of Valmiera Drama Theatre, with musical performances by Arturs Gruzdiņš.
Satversme also protects our rights in the digital realm. Its Article 96 says that everyone’s right to respect for private life, home and correspondence must be respected. We want safe technologies that help people. We want technological benefits but we do not want to compromise our right to private life and free will in the digital world. Social media have become a global platform for democratic discourse. We use internet constantly to reach out to others, buy things, learn, relax and work. But we continue to question ourselves. Do technologies make us more free or more dependent? How to create a safe and fair digital space that respects these values?
President of Latvia will be joined by eight youngsters: Dita Putniņa from Valmiera State Gymnasium, Aiva Enija Erneste from Valmiera Design and Art College, Jānis Logins from Cēsis Bērzaine Primary School/Development Centre, Alens Loss-Freimanis from Jūrmala Majori Secondary School; Ralfs Reinis Kvecko from Colonel Oskars Kalpaks Vocational School, Lauris Ģirts Lācis from Valmiera State Gymnasium, Justīne Aldersone from Valmiera State Gymnasium and Oskars Garselis from Valmiera State Gymnasium.
Debate series ‘#Satversme100: future values’ is an important step towards empowering young people to take more active stake in shaping Latvia’s future. The aim of the debate is to help young people formulate their views, engage in conversations and listen to other views about issues important for all. Series of conversations about legal dilemmas of Satversme will continue throughout the year and take place in all regions: Vidzeme, Latgale, Zemgale, Kurzeme and Sēlija. The kick-off debate (file) took place on 15 February 2022 at the Riga Castle. The closing event will take place in February of 2023, in Riga.
Debate will be recorder to create a summary of findings and outcomes that will then be integrated into all types of learning and information sources.
Series of discussions are organised by Presidential Chancery and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, NGO Quo Tu domā? and European Movement Latvia.