“Governing the Digital Wild West: Social Media, Data, and Accountability” panel discussion brought together leaders from government, finance, civil society, and tech to examine the complexities of regulating the digital economy and building more transparent and accountable online spaces. Panelists included Tatjana Macura (Minister in Charge of Gender Equality, Prevention of Home-Based Violence, and Political and Economic Empowerment of Women, Serbia), Ararat Ghukasyan (First Deputy Chairman of the Management Board, Unibank, Armenia), Baratang Miya (Founder, Women In Internet Governance, South Africa), and Scott Cunningham (Entrepreneur, Investor, and Global Change Leader, USA). The session was moderated by Viktoria Poghosyan (Director of External Affairs, Philip Morris, Armenia).
Tatjana Macura emphasized the social dimensions of digital governance: “Online spaces are not separate from society—they shape political opinion, economic access, and even public safety. We need regulation that protects users without suppressing rights.” Ararat Ghukasyan spoke about the intersection of digital finance and data governance: “Banks are adapting to a world where data is currency—but that data must be protected. Regulation must be smart, harmonized, and forward-looking.”
Baratang Miya highlighted the importance of inclusive digital policy: “Marginalized voices must be part of the digital conversation. Governance that excludes them is incomplete and ineffective.” Scott Cunningham addressed the role of innovation in regulation: “AI-powered tools can help moderate harmful content, but without transparency, they risk becoming black boxes of control.” Panelists called for stronger cross-border cooperation, ethical use of technology, and robust frameworks that balance innovation with accountability.
