Purdue vs. IU debate teams: What IF you could disappear from the internet?

Two members of Purdue’s speech and debate team and two members of Indiana University’s debate team will engage in a debate on Nov. 7 over whether the U.S. federal government should make “the right to be forgotten” from Internet searches a civil right. The debate is a part of Purdue’s celebration of its 150th year and specifically of the anniversary’s Ideas Festival, the centerpiece of Purdue’s Giant Leaps Sesquicentennial Campaign. The teams previously met at Purdue in 2016 during the Dawn or Doom conference. (Purdue University file photo) Download image

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — What IF you could disappear from the Internet? As technology’s role in modern society rapidly grows, so does the severity of its implications. Having vulnerable information about yourself available to anyone on the Internet is a problem in today’s Information Age, and technology moves faster than we can address such concerns. The answers to these questions may be revealed during a back-and-forth exchange as Purdue University challenges Indiana University in a student debate on Nov. 7.

Two members of Purdue’s speech and debate team, the C. Richard Petticrew Forum, and two members of Indiana University’s debate team will engage in a debate over whether the U.S. federal government should make “the right to be forgotten” from Internet searches a civil right.

The public event will take place at 5 p.m. in Stewart Center’s Fowler Hall. The debate will be livestreamed, and viewers can vote for the winner of the debate by texting 765-560-4177. Text MC100972 to vote for the Indiana University Team or Text MC100973 to vote for the Purdue University Team. Voting will be open until 7:30 p.m. Results will be shared via @LifeAtPurdue and @PurdueUnivNews and the Giant Leaps website.

Purdue students will argue the affirmative, while IU students will argue the negative. The Purdue University and Indiana University debate students are led by James Mollison and Brian DeLong, respectively.

The debate is a part of Purdue’s celebration of its 150th year and specifically of the anniversary’s Ideas Festival, the centerpiece of Purdue’s Giant Leaps Sesquicentennial Campaign. The Ideas Festival will feature a series of events that connect world-renowned speakers and Purdue expertise in a conversation on the most critical problems facing the world. Al, Algorithms and Automation: Balancing Humanity and Technology is one of the Ideas Festival themes. 

Writer: Jaclyn Lawmaster, 574-301-9049, jlawmast@purdue.edu 

Media contact: Amy Patterson Neubert, 765-494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

Source: James Mollison, debate program director, jmolliso@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: The start time for this event has changed to 5 p.m. and the voting time has been extended to 7:30 p.m.