Realizing rights online – from human rights discourses to enforceable stakeholder responsibilities – WS 01 2017

6 June 2017 | 14:30 - 16:00 | Ballroom I, Swissotel, Tallinn, Estonia | |
Programme overview wiki | Programme overview EuroDIG web site

Session teaser

Human rights matter in IG. Talking about them isn't enough. This workshop will explore what needs to be done in order to effectively realize human rights on the Internet: Human rights discourse must lead to an enforceable framework of rules. Special focus will be put on the role of intermediaries.

The questions everyone can participate in finding answers for are:

• What can/should states do?
• Can they rely on self-regulation?
• How can they guarantee their primary duty to protect?
• What obligations do intermediaries have (regarding hate speech/fake news)?
• How to enforce the obligation to respect human rights?
• And what about individuals?
• Do we need new rights and new discourses?
• How can we enforce existing ones?
• Shall we rely on self-regulation or do we need more state involvement?

The workshop serves as a introduction into some of themes to be tackled in Plenary 2 on a post-truth Internet (especially regarding the 'public' or semi-public role of intermediaries regarding information.

Keywords

Human rights discourses, intermediaries, positive obligation, self-regulation, enforcement, new democracies, rule of law

Session description

Session would try to shed light on following key questions with the help of participants and speakers alike.

• "HR as basis for standard-setting" will be outlined by Charlotte Altenhoener-Dion
• "HR in IG/Internet politics: the reality" will be analyzed by Wolfgang Kleinwächter
  • Discussing HR online and new normative approaches
  • An enhanced version of the "Charter on Digital Rights" which has been discussed in the German media and was presented during the re:publica conference in Berlin will be presented. One of the key elements of this draft is to propose mechanisms to institutionalize (human) rights and duties for non-state actors. The contribution will introduce also a new innovative mechanism for "implementation" (a European Internet Governance Ombudsman, alternative procedures for dispute resolution by neutral third parties/inspired by ICANNs UDRP).
• "HR in IG/Internet politics: the ideal situation" will be imagined by Norbert Bollow
  • Asking the questions such as how to establish constructive human rights based discourse that leads to effective and enforceable governance decisions
• "HR in IG/internet politics: Realizing Human Rights Across Stakeholders: The Example of Intermediaries " will be outlined by Matthias C. Kettemann
  • Intermediaries are key to our experience of the Internet. They have an essential structural role in enabling the exercise of human rights on the Internet. But they can also interfere with human rights. Recent judgements have not provided definitive answers as to their liability (or lack thereof) for user content. Efforts to combat hate speech have been neither effective nor fully legitimate. At the Council of Europe, a Recommendation on Internet Intermediaries is being drafted - and we will discuss it in Tallinn.

Format

Workshop with key participants

People

Focal Point:

• Karmen Turk, Attorney-at-Law

Subject Matter Expert (SME):

• Farzaneh Badeii (Internet Governance Project - Georgia Tech)

Key Participants

• Charlotte Altenhoener-Dion
• Wolfgang Kleinwächter
• Norbert Bollow
• Matthias C. Kettemann

Moderator

Remote Moderator

Organising Team (Org Team)

• Matthias C. Kettemann
• Charlotte Altenhoener
• Ucha Seturi
• Norbert Bollow
• Markus Kummer
• Wolfgang Kleinwächter

Reporter

Current discussion, conference calls, schedules and minutes

See the discussion tab on the upper left side of this page.

Contact

Get in contact with the Org Team by sending an email.

Video record

Will be provided here after the event.

Transcript

Will be provided here after the event.

Messages

Please provide a short summary from the outcome of your session. Bullet points are fine.