Bringing the ubiquitous industry issues of data and transparency to the fore, Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has today announced that Alexander Nix, former CEO and founder of Cambridge Analytica, Wunderman Seattle’s Chief Creative Officer Anthony Reeves, Unilever’s Senior Director of Digital Transformation Susan Ren and Steven Pinker, Professor at Harvard University will speak at this year’s Festival.

With data and insights creating new opportunities for brands and companies to influence their messages and storytelling there has never been a more important time to reflect on how and where we get this information. As communications channels, platforms and content continue to proliferate, speakers at this year’s Cannes Lions will interrogate how we can respectfully engage consumers and drive a meaningful value exchange.

In his first speaking appearance since the company went into administration, former Cambridge Analytica CEO Alexander Nix will join Gillian Tett, US Managing Editor of the Financial Times on stage to discuss personal data and political agendas. Following claims of the company illicitly mining Facebook data, British regulators launched an investigation into Cambridge Analytica. As the story unfolded its impacts were felt around the world and the duo will review the surrounding reporting and its implications for the industry as a whole going forward.

Harvard University Professor Steven Pinker together with Taboola Founder and CEO, Adam Singolda, will question the art of asking questions. With so much data available, and ever faster and smarter ways to access it, technology still depends on us to interrogate the information presented. To help us gain real insights to inform and influence brand storytelling, the trio will examine the semantics of well-worded questions and debate whether advancements in AI will enable machines to ask more sophisticated questions.