{
    "title": "Who runs the city? Algorithms vs democracy",
    "modified_at": "2026-02-23 11:42:12",
    "published_at": "2026-02-23 11:48:00",
    "url": "https://press.vub.ac.be/who-runs-the-city-algorithms-vs-democracy",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/gl7d",
    "culture": "en",
    "language": "EN",
    "subtitle": "VUB professors launch book on invisible power of digital platforms",
    "slug": "who-runs-the-city-algorithms-vs-democracy",
    "body": "<p>On 2 March 2026, Prof Annelien Smets and Prof Pieter Ballon (VUB) are launching the international <em>Handbook of Platform Urbanism</em>. Discover how digital platforms are taking control of our cities and what this means for the Brussels context.</p><p>From Airbnb and Uber to meal delivery companies, digital platforms have become the invisible mediators of our urban life. They determine not only how we move around, but also who gets access to the city and who is excluded.</p><p>During the online launch, editors Smets and Ballon will engage with international experts on the &#039;urban filter bubble&#039;, data governance and the need for new urban policies.</p><h4 id=\"programme-speakers\" >Programme &amp; Speakers</h4><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span><strong>Introduction:</strong> Explanation of the <em>Handbook of Platform Urbanism</em> by the editors.</span></li><li><span><strong>Panel discussion:</strong> Including <strong>Sarah Barns</strong> (expert platform models), <strong>Anna Berti Suman</strong> (civil monitoring in Milan) and <strong>Petter T&ouml;rnberg</strong> (political economy in S&atilde;o Paulo).</span></li><li><span><strong>Q&amp;A:</strong> Opportunity for press and participants to interact with the authors.</span></li></ul><h4 id=\"practical-information\" >Practical information</h4><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span><strong>Date:</strong> Monday 2 March 2026</span></li><li><span><strong>Time:</strong> 10:30 - 12:00 (CET)</span></li><li><span><strong>Location:</strong> Online (Teams)</span></li><li><span><strong>Registration:</strong> Mandatory via <a href=\"https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/89552978-0823-419c-8959-f97c80869080@695b7ca8-2da8-4545-a2da-42d03784e585\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>this registration link</strong></a></span></li></ul><h4 id=\"why-this-is-relevant-to-your-editorial\" >Why this is relevant to your editorial</h4><p>The book contains specific analyses of the <strong>Brussels context</strong> (by researchers at Solvay Business School). It shows how global platform logic translates to local challenges such as housing, mobility and social justice. &quot;Technology should enhance the city&#039;s diversity instead of unifying it in an algorithmic filter bubble,&quot; says Prof Annelien Smets.</p><hr /><p><strong>Contact:</strong></p><p>annelien.smets@vub.be. More details about the research on the <a href=\"https://sites.google.com/view/platformurbanism/book-launch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">project website</a>.</p><div class=\"release-content-contact\" id=\"contact-0bd2cb95-55ed-47d9-98ac-5320a0dfbb1f\">\n    <div class=\"release-content-contact__avatar\"><img src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/96e3692f-39a4-433b-b0ee-9008befa578f/-/crop/1117x1118/419,0/-/preview/-/scale_crop/128x128/center/-/format/auto/\" alt=\"Koen Stein\" class=\"release-content-contact__avatar-image\" /></div>\n    <div class=\"release-content-contact__details\">\n        <strong class=\"release-content-contact__name\">Koen Stein</strong>\n        <em class=\"release-content-contact__description\">Perscontact wetenschap &amp; onderzoek</em>\n        <ul class=\"release-content-contact__details-list\"><li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"mailto:koen.stein@vub.be\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"koen.stein@vub.be\"><svg class=\"icon icon-paper-plane release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-paper-plane\"></use>\n            </svg>koen.stein@vub.be</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"tel:+32 (0)471517909\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"+32 (0)471517909\"><svg class=\"icon icon-mobile release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-mobile\"></use>\n            </svg>+32 (0)471517909</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"https://vub.be\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"vub.be\"><svg class=\"icon icon-browser release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-browser\"></use>\n            </svg>vub.be</a></li></ul>\n    </div>\n</div><p>&nbsp;</p>",
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            "name": "Koen Stein",
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