The Indo Daily: What now for the Web Summit? The continued fallout from Paddy Cosgrave’s comments

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What now for the Web Summit as the fallout from Paddy Cosgrave’s comments continues?

Last week Web Summit CEO, Paddy Cosgrave, posted on social media company X about Israel’s part in the Israel-Hamas conflict saying, “war crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies and should be called out for what they are’’.

This immediately drew condemnation from some technology companies and investors in the tech world, with the event founder Cosgrave taking to X to apologise two days later saying “I understand that what I said, the timing of what I said, and the way it has been presented has caused upset to many. To anyone who was hurt by my words I apologise deeply.”

Following Cosgrave’s apology, actress Gillian Anderson, as well as Google, Intel, Stripe and Siemens have all dropped from the tech conference’s billing next month in Lisbon which augers poorly for future installations of the technology convention.

Adrian stressed the importance of the Irish company now focusing on mending relationships for it to remedy the reputational damage caused by the comments.

How will Paddy Cosgrave’s comments impact Web Summit’s future? Is his apology enough to staunch the exodus of guest speakers quitting the event next month in Portugal?

Adrian Weckler sat down with Irish Independent reporter, Tabitha Monahan, to discuss the Irish man, his comments and Web Summit’s future in the face of such a backlash.

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