News, events & blog

Throwback to the Internet Day 2025

Estonia, Europe, and the world are in a new situation. The former leader of the “free world” now seems to be agreeing with the other extreme - China. Globalization is fading, and every country is trying to become more self-reliant: industrially, economically, and socially. But where will we find replacements for Chinese-made devices or American software, especially when Europe often struggles with innovation and gets stuck in its own rules and decision-making systems?

What Is Humanity? What Is Truth?

Can we still tell what content is real and what’s created by a machine? Artificial intelligence isn’t just a helper anymore. It's now deciding what content we see. On social media, we often don’t even see posts from people we follow - AI chooses what shows up. And that choice isn’t random. It shows us content that we “like” or… that manipulates us.

Chatbots are also replacing search engines, giving us quick answers with sources. But even if something looks well-sourced, it doesn't always mean it's trustworthy. I’ve seen AI give sources that don’t match the content or are clearly biased. Sadly, propaganda and extreme views aren’t rare.

LinkedIn is one example. It seems to be one of the platforms most affected by AI. There, not only is the content flow curated by AI, much of the content is also generated by it.

AI works like a personal assistant, deciding what information is important and what isn't. It writes summaries, shortens emails, and even creates responses. When an AI is also on the other side of a conversation, the entire exchange can become just keywords or code, which another AI “translates” back for a human. It’s efficient, but can we trust the results of this digital game of telephone?

Do We Still Value Human Creativity?

Maybe human-made content will become more valuable, like handmade bread or craft beer. People might want what’s real and personal. But will this last? Most people want fast and cheap content. Machines are good at giving that: quick, average, and just what most people expect.

But what about creativity? New ideas? Are we just fooling ourselves into thinking that humans always make something deeper, with soul?

Linnar Viik shared a quote often linked to Picasso: “A good artist copies, a great artist steals.” So, is a machine a worse thief? The media has long tried to create content that appeals to the widest audience. That’s what machines do too. Just faster and more efficiently.

Should there be a clear label showing who made the content: a person, a machine, or both? Maybe the real question is: Who is willing to take responsibility for it?

Still, AI can be very helpful. It can point out small things we might not notice. Henrik Roonemaa even joked that watching robots “fight” in the street might become a kind of entertainment.

In the end, face-to-face meetings are more meaningful than ever. They are the only way to be 100% sure you're talking to a real person. Maybe real humanity lies in presence, responsibility, and the courage to choose.

Smart Devices in Classrooms: Ban Them or Use Them?

There was also a big talk about education, how we teach kids and teens in this new AI driven world. It was an emotional topic, especially for parents and students. People discussed using smart tech and AI in schools, but the conversation didn’t go too far.

Can AI be a true helper in learning, or are we just pretending? Watching someone paint doesn’t make me an artist. Listening to a story about building doesn’t make me a builder. Watching AI process data doesn’t make me smarter. People learn by doing. Listening alone isn’t enough. You have to understand, think, and adapt the information yourself.

Some schools have started banning smart devices during the day. But what’s the goal? Studies show this doesn’t reduce screen time, it just pushes it outside of school.

The EU even voted to ban smart devices in all general education schools. Most countries agreed, until someone asked what the ban was really trying to achieve.

At Peetri Kindergarten-Basic School, students aren’t allowed to use devices during breaks. They’re not taken away unless a teacher sees students staring at screens instead of talking or moving around.

School’s job is to help raise a person. So, do the things we teach and the tools we use help or hurt that growth? Teachers need to know how the mind works and how to reach each student.

Sadly, there's a lot of fake learning going on. Some teachers don’t explain well. Students (and parents) don’t always know what a task is really about. Just racing through topics only works for the few who memorize fast. Writing down an answer or watching a video doesn’t automatically mean you’ve learned something.

School often focuses on facts, which makes device use tricky. What’s more important is learning how to think, how to analyze, and how to create new ideas based on facts.

AI could help by explaining why a task matters and guiding students instead of just giving answers. Teachers need to be ready because students are already using AI tools. Interestingly, many students say they use AI mostly as a helper, not to do the work for them.

Is the Internet Being Re-Freed?

Donald Trump’s re-election changed the way some in the U.S. view the truth. Facebook stopped fact-checking. That sounded shocking. But after a while, people noticed… nothing really changed. Or maybe it’s too soon to tell.

The question isn’t only if we need fact-checking - but who should do it?

In the U.S., free speech is a big deal. Even hate speech often falls under “free speech.” Europe is different. For example, Germany has stricter limits because of its history. In Estonia, the issue is also complex, our journalists have faced fake accusations too.

If a story turns out to be true later, should it be taken down just because it was fact-checked earlier? Who decides?

There’s more content online than any person could ever handle. But the bigger problem is: who checks the truth-checkers? How do we trust them? Could Estonia do this fairly on its own, without making it political?

A harder problem is protecting children from harmful content: violence, hate, dangerous challenges. Can we rely only on education to teach kids how to tell what’s real or fake? What about those who don’t get that chance?

No culture should allow harmful, hurtful content. But again, who decides what’s harmful? What about jokes, satire, or political speech? Everyone has different opinions and pain points.

Social media platforms use algorithms to decide what you see. When fact-checking is handled by outside groups, we don’t really know how it works. But fact-checking should add to the conversation, not hide it. Should Europe control these algorithms? If content is shown here, why do U.S. and Chinese companies get to decide?

Morals can be seen in many ways. Some actions are clearly dangerous and must be stopped, online or offline. Estonia can’t do this alone. We need strong European teamwork, based on shared values and technology.

When AI Says No

Some AI tools now refuse to follow commands, saying something is morally unclear. Is that okay? Shouldn’t tech platforms have the same right to say no, like a café choosing what to serve?

If a company says you can’t create certain content with their tool, isn’t that their freedom of speech, too?