The Regulation of Tech Companies: A Key Test for Combatting Hate Speech, Violent Extremism, and "Fake News"

Social media platforms have been in the spotlight for their role in influencing elections, allowing the spread of false information, and hosting illegal content – including violent extremist propaganda. While the tech industry is learning to adapt to these challenges, recent legislative solutions offered by European countries gives us a glimpse into how politicians and governments view this problem, and what solutions they are offering to solve it. In light of the current regulatory pressure, tech companies have been changing aspects of their platforms to cope with the problems they facilitate.

Germany’s Network Enforcement Act, or NetzDG, is one of such legislative attempts and represents a key test in the fight against hate speech, violent extremism, and other forms of illegal content on the internet. Under the law, which went into effect on January 1, 2018, online platforms with more than two million users in Germany face fines of up to €50 million in cases of systemic failure to uphold the legal stipulations. Supporters see the legislation as a necessary measure for social media providers to take their responsibilities regarding illegal content more seriously, while critics view it as an immense threat to the freedom of expression.

The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) and the Brandenburg Institute for Society and Security (BIGS) have teamed up to offer some preliminary answers almost one year after the NetzDG went into effect.

When: Thursday, 29 November 2018, 18.00 - 20.00, followed by a reception

Where: Haus der Bundespressekonferenz, Schiffbauerdamm 40, 10117 Berlin

Speakers:

Dr. Hany FARID, Professor, School of Information, University of California, Berkley, and Senior Advisor to the Counter Extremism Project (CEP)

Christina DINAR, Project Director, Amadeu Antonio Stiftung

Dr. Daniel HOLZNAGEL, Legal Officer, German Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection

Jason PIELEMEIER, Policy Director, Global Network Initiative

Alexander RITZMANN, Senior Research Fellow, Brandenburg Institute for Society and Security (BIGS), Member of the Steering Committee und Co-Chair of the "Working Group on Communication and Narratives" of the Radicalization Awareness Network (RAN)

Dr. Tim STUCHTEY, Executive Director, Brandenburg Institute for Society and Security (BIGS)