Understanding and Addressing 6G Controversies: Learning from the Past, Building for the Future – 6G4Society Workshop

Date & Time
26 March 2025, 11:00-12:15 CET

About the webinar

This webinar is part of the 6G4Society project, an SNS JU initiative dedicated to embedding societal and sustainable values into the development of 6G technology. 6G4Society brings a sociological perspective to technological development, ensuring that future networks align with ethical, inclusive, and sustainable principles. By fostering a deeper understanding of public acceptance, stakeholder concerns, and the broader societal impacts of 6G, the project aims to generate transformative discussions and informed decision-making.

Understanding controversies is a critical step in promoting social acceptance. When a new technological system like 6G is introduced, it does not emerge in a vacuum. Instead, it reshapes existing structures, creating both opportunities and challenges for different stakeholders. Identifying and analyzing controversies—examining stakeholder perspectives, competing claims, and underlying tensions—is fundamental to fostering trust, mitigating conflict, and ensuring a more inclusive and sustainable adoption of 6G.

Controversies are not simply obstacles; they are part of society’s negotiation process over technological change. They reflect broader discussions about governance, power, values, and risk distribution. Engaging with these disputes allows us to anticipate concerns, address misinformation, and develop frameworks for a more responsible and widely accepted 6G deployment.

This webinar will explore:

• What we can learn from past controversies, particularly surrounding 5G, and how they might evolve with 6G;
• How technological disputes arise and what role values, economic interests, and governance structures play;
• How stakeholders can engage more effectively with the public to foster trust and transparency;
• How controversy analysis can contribute to the development of an EU consensus framework for a sustainable and ethical 6G.

Bringing together expertise from Science and Technology Studies (STS) and the sociohistory of ICTs, our panelists will provide insights into the patterns, dynamics, and governance of technology controversies and offer strategies for navigating them in 6G development.

Key Speaker

• Dr. Ana Delicado – Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Social Sciences (ICS), University of Lisbon. Dr. Delicado specializes in the social dimensions of science and technology, with a strong focus on public perception, communication, and participation in technological decision-making. Her work explores how controversies arise in emerging technologies and how public engagement can contribute to more inclusive and responsible innovation. In this webinar, she will examine the role of scientific and technological controversies in shaping public trust, policy and acceptance, highlighting key lessons for 6G.

Agenda

• Opening and introduction
• Introduction to 6G4Society
• The role of scientific and technological controversies in shaping public trust and policy: key lessons for 6G
• History and impact of telecommunications infrastructure: historical patterns and a perspective on the future.
• Debate and exchange on presentations
• Q&A and engagement of participants

Target Audience

• Researchers and professionals in ICT and telecommunications
• SNS-JU projects interested in social acceptance and regulatory challenges
• Policymakers and regulatory bodies working on future connectivity standards
• Social scientists and scholars in Science, Technology & Society (STS)

Sign up for the webinar here!