From Rejection to Regulation: Mapping the Landscape of AI Resistance

The Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society invites you to a workshop on the topic of resistance to artificial intelligence (AI) and AI regulation. The event is public, but registration via the below form is mandatory. The event will take place in-person and in English only.

From Rejection to Regulation: Mapping the Landscape of AI Resistance

Workshop
21 July 2025, 2.00 – 4.00 pm (CET)
Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society | Französische Str. 9, 10117 Berlin

In this workshop, Can Şimşek and Dr. Ayşe Gizem Yaşar will present their recent report on resistance to AI, followed by comments from Dr. Theresa Züger and a discussion with participants. Participants are encouraged to share brief reflections on the report or on their own related work.

This report is the outcome of a research project that seeks to uncover the reasons for—and manifestations of—resistance to AI. ‘Resistance’ in this context encompasses a broad spectrum of attitudes and actions, including public protests, legal challenges, critical scholarship, grassroots advocacy, and other forms of opposition that contest the development, deployment, and various consequences of technologies commonly categorised as AI. Throughout the report, key actors in resistance to AI are identified, with particular emphasis on the role of civil society in organising citizen-led opposition. The report also highlights examples of how states have institutionalised certain forms of resistance through regulation—for instance, the EU’s AI Act, which prohibits certain use cases of AI systems.

You can download the report here.

Speakers

Can Şimşek LL.M. is a lawyer and policy researcher specialising in the governance of emerging technologies, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence. He is currently a Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society research fellow.

Dr. Ayşe Gizem Yaşar is an assistant professor (education) at LSE Law School and a CREATe Fellow at the University of Glasgow. Her work focuses on innovation, history of technological change, and the regulation of new technologies.

Commentator

Dr. Theresa Züger heads the AI & Society Lab at the Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society. She is also Vice-Chair of the UNESCO Commission on Communication and Information.

Agenda

The event will start at 2.00 pm (CET). A presentation of 30 minutes will be followed by comments from Dr. Theresa Züger (15 minutes). We will then open the floor to discussion with the participants. Participants are encouraged to share short reflections on the report or their own related work.

Partner

This report was commissioned by Sciences Po’s Digital, Governance and Sovereignty Chair.

Participation

To participate in this event, please register using the form below.

If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to can.simsek@sciencespo.fr or ayse.yasar@sciencespo.fr.

Bookings