Transatlantic rift on Freedom of Expression – MT 04 2025
13 May 2025 | 16:00 - 17:30 CEST | Hemicycle
Consolidated programme 2025
Proposals: (#11), #15, #26, #64, #66, #75, #77
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The recent tensions between tech giants from across the Atlantic and European regulators center around fundamental disagreements on the scope of freedom of expression. Politicized charges about censorship are leveled against attempts to rein in disinformation and interference in elections. The session will discuss appropriate European responses to these developments and look for reconciliation possibilities between the diverging approaches.
Session description
A growing transatlantic divide over freedom of expression calls for an exploration into the baseline of shared principles and the specific areas of division between the US and European regulators. This session will first establish this common ground before detailing the contrasting aspects, followed by an analysis of the evolving political landscape that has contributed to the current divide. Subsequently, the concept of intermediary liability will be examined alongside the shifts in content moderation practices, considering the benefits and drawbacks of these new approaches and their impact on users’ online experience. The session will also explore how civil society and multi-stakeholder collaboration can serve as part of the solution and can support more effective oversight of platforms, ensuring accountability and transparency. Finally, the session will outline the current and foreseen European responses to this evolving paradigm, outlining how European legislation will be employed and refined to address these challenges.
- Guiding questions:
- What is the common understanding of freedom of speech between the US and Europe? Where are the limitations/boundaries?
- Does the perspective of what platform liability entails have an effect on the diverse views of the US vs Europe definition of freedom of expression?
- How does the shift in content moderation affect the safety of users online, especially vulnerable users?
- What legal and rhetorical tools is the Trump administration wielding in its attacks on European “censorship?” How should European policymakers respond?
Format
We introduce a new format for all Main Sessions. They are NOT panel discussion and conducted as follows:
- 30 min input (2 x 15' or 3 x 10' VIP / expert presentation)
- 45 min moderated discussion with the entire audience along a set of guiding questions
- 15 min agreeing on the messages
Interpretation in English and French.
Further reading
Links to relevant websites, declarations, books, documents. Please note we cannot offer web space, so only links to external resources are possible. Example for an external link: Main page of EuroDIG
People
Please provide name and institution for all people you list here.
Programme Committee member(s)
- Desara Dushi, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
- Meri Baghdasaryan, Oversight Board
- Yrjö Länsipuro, Internet Society Finland Chapter
The Programme Committee supports the programme planning process and works closely with the Secretariat. Members of the committee give advice on the topics, cluster the proposals and assist session organisers in their work. They also ensure that session principles are followed and overlook the complete programme to avoid repetition among sessions.
Focal Point
- Cristina Herrera, Adapt
Focal Points take over the responsibility and lead of the session organisation. They work in close cooperation with the respective member of the Programme Committee and the EuroDIG Secretariat and are kindly requested to follow EuroDIG’s session principles.
Organising Team (Org Team) List Org Team members here as they sign up.
- Vittorio Bertola, Open Xchange
- Nitsan Yasur, Internet Society
- David Frautschy, Internet Society
- Alena Muravska, Ripe NCC
- Torsten Krause, stiftung digitale chancen
- Berin Szóka, Tech Freedom
- Rui Esteves
- Roberto Gaetano
The Org Team is shaping the session. Org Teams are open, and every interested individual can become a member by subscribing to the mailing list.
Key Participants
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Moderator
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Remote Moderator
Trained remote moderators will be assigned by the EuroDIG secretariat to each session.
Reporter
The members of the Programme Committee report on the session and formulate messages that are agreed with the audience by consensus.
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Current discussion, conference calls, schedules and minutes
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Messages
- are summarised on a slide and presented to the audience at the end of each session
- relate to the session and to European Internet governance policy
- are forward looking and propose goals and activities that can be initiated after EuroDIG (recommendations)
- are in (rough) consensus with the audience
Video record
Will be provided here after the event.
Transcript
Will be provided here after the event.