Contesting content moderation on social media: who should govern our public debates?

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> Registration open: https://forms.gle/U4XkBSkxYXYJZW4EA.

Fact-checking or community notes? Government intervention, external advisory boards, or internal platform moderation? Approaches to content moderation on social media platforms are at the very center of public and political debate amid the recent USA elections and the announcements of big social media platforms to change their approaches to govern content.

The stakes are high because content moderation is culturally sensitive, constrained by technological capabilities, and leveraged for social, political, and business necessities. Content moderation strategies also deeply affect freedom of expression, the protection of vulnerable segments of society, and the general enjoyability of a service. Against this background, in 2023, the EU issued the Digital Services Act, intervening on online platforms and regulating content moderation and intermediary liability. Yet, the EU approach, as well as that of the UK and other countries, contrasts with the US one, which leaves it in the hands of the big platforms to decide their moderation policies and content regulation. As a result, we have recently seen a radical turn in how Meta, one of the big social media platforms and public content intermediaries, will replace the role of fact-checkers in moderating content for community notes in the US. This will largely leave it in the hands of the users to decide about the veracity and the quality of the content circulating on social media. Rolling back fact-checking and permitting more harmful speech on social media platforms will also test the the DSA and the EU enforcement role..

Amid this new scenario and its severe implications for democracies, the Network Institute invites you to discuss the consequences of diverse content moderation strategies and the role of the DSA.

Details about the event:

  • When: March 27th at 15.00 
  • Where: NU building — Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

The program includes:

  • 15.00-16.30 – Theatre 8: an incredible line-up of experts to help us to understand the implications of these recent changes and diverse approaches to social media content moderation, who will present their thoughts.
  • 16.30-18.00 – Lobby Campus Square: Drinks & Networking 

Among our guests, the four following people will present their work:

  • Stephan Mündges, coordinator of the European Fact-Checking Standards Network,
  • McKenzie Common, former Meta Oversight Board legal advisor, digital rights expert,
  • Sarah Eskens, Assistant Professor of Law and Technology, VU Amsterdam,
  • Otávio Vinhas, Researcher and PhD fellow at IC Studies, University College Dublin.
  • Sander van der Waal, Research Director at Waag
> Registration open: https://forms.gle/U4XkBSkxYXYJZW4EA.

 

A heartfelt thank you from the organization committee:

  • Silvia de Conca, Assistant Professor VU Amsterdam,
  • Sarah Eskens, Assistant Professor VU Amsterdam,
  • Ivano Malavolta, Director of the Network Institute,
  • Silvia Majó-Vázquez, Assistant Professor VU Amsterdam.