[Air-L] Mini-conference: combating and regulating online disinformation - 22 June 2022 Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

[Eskens, S.J. (Sarah)]

The Amsterdam Law and Technology Institute (ALTI) at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is organising a mini-conference on combating and regulating disinformation.

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Details:
22 June 2022.
14:00 - 17:00 CET.
Attendance is free.
On-campus and online.

Speakers:
- Kitty Smeekes, Owner of B44S!, a research agency specialising in disinformation, radicalisation, and extremism.
- Dianeth Perez Arreola, Journalist in Mexico and Doctoral Student at VU Amsterdam.
- Michael Klos, Doctoral Student in Law, Leiden University.
- Andrew Murray, Professor in Law, London School of Economics and Political Science.

Online disinformation is a multi-headed monster. Several human rights and fundamental values conflict when combating disinformation. On the one hand, democracy and the rule of law require the protection of freedom of expression to allow citizens to freely receive and discuss all ideas, even those that 'shock, offend and disturb', and thus form a critical and well-founded opinion. On the other hand, democracy, the rule of law, public health and public order must be protected against the harmful effects of conspiracy theories and other disinformation. The liberal model of the free marketplace of ideas fails to guarantee that the 'truth' floats to the surface, suggesting that freedom of expression must be restricted under certain circumstances. In other words, a healthy democratic debate requires freedom of expression but may also require limitations of freedom of expression, to reduce the spread of disinformation.

Online platforms, such as social media, play a crucial role in spreading disinformation. These online platforms decide what content stays up and what is taken down or blocked. Can we leave the balancing of fundamental rights and values in the hands of big tech, or does that lead to the privatisation of human rights adjudication? Can technology help in combating disinformation? Does freedom of expression restrict all legal regulation of disinformation? These are some of the questions that we will discuss during the mini-conference.

For more information and to sign up (for free) for the conference, please visit https://alti.amsterdam/miniconference-regulating-disinformation-legal-struggles-and-risks-of-privatization/


Sarah Eskens
Assistant Professor in Law and Technology
Coordinator International Technology Law program
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam