Colombia’s Supreme Court to debate artificial intelligence, disinformation and free speech at Barranquilla forum

Colombia’s Supreme Court will bring together legal experts and institutions in Barranquilla to examine how artificial intelligence and social media are reshaping public debate and fundamental rights.

The Conversatorio de Justicia y Ciudadanía, titled “Freedom of expression, technology, disinformation and digital responsibility,” is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 8, at the Marvel Moreno Auditorium of the Universidad del Norte. The forum will focus on digital governance, the prevention of online risks and ways to repair harm without restricting debate or creating censorship.

Three main themes will guide the panels. They include new criminal conduct and digital responsibility, covering the actors involved, the damage caused and compensation for victims. Another panel will examine shared responsibility among the state, private platforms and citizens. A third will address algorithms, the public sphere, the social state governed by law and the cross-border reach of digital governance.

The event comes as courts face legal gaps involving the extraterritorial operations of technology companies. The organizers also highlight the need to determine how responsibility should be divided among users, platforms and state institutions when people face disinformation campaigns, impersonation, attacks or damage to their reputation online.

The discussion seeks legal responses that protect society while preserving freedom of the press and access to information. People interested in following the event will be able to connect to its broadcast.