Photo Sasha Havlicek

Sasha Havlicek

CEO

Institute for Strategic Dialogue

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Artificial Intelligence
Cybersecurity
Education

About Me

Sasha Havlicek, Founder and CEO, ISD Global Sasha Havlicek is a social and policy entrepreneur who, for the last two decades, has incubated and scaled global initiatives to counter the rise of weaponised hate, disinformation and extremism, on- and offline. As founder of the leading global ‘think and do tank’, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), she has led the build-out of ISD’s advanced digital analytics capability designed to detect and mitigate information threats to democracy, public safety and national security. Spearheading ISD’s extensive partnerships with governments, cities, businesses and communities, Sasha oversees ISD’s teams delivering research, policy advisory, training, digital literacy and communications programming around the world. Sasha has advised a range of governments at the highest levels, has testified before US Congress and the UK Parliament, and is a regular commentator in the media (CNN, BBC, Channel 4 News and other networks). She is a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations and serves on the Advisory Boards of the Global Internet Forum on Counter-Terrorism, the Christchurch Call and the Global Partnership for Action against Tech Facilitated Gender Based Violence. She is a founding board member of the Forum on Information and Democracy and a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Coalition on Internet Safety.

Hear My Insights

Polarization or Conversation: Can We Still Fix Social Networks?

From facilitating the Arab Spring uprisings to fostering global movements for social change, social media’s potential to empower individuals and bridge divides has become undeniable. However, this very power carries a dark side. The same algorithms designed to personalize our experiences can create echo chambers, amplify existing biases, and fuel societal polarization. What are the mechanisms behind social media bubbles and the spread of misinformation? Can we build strategies for promoting diverse perspectives and fostering constructive dialogue? And how can financial incentives and regulations play a role in shaping a more responsible social media landscape?