In recent years, the European Union has adopted a set of ground-breaking laws that will change how the digital sector operates. If 2022 brought us the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act, 2024 will be the year of the Artificial Intelligence Act. These laws, along with others like the General Data Protection Regulation, represent a multi-pronged approach addressing online and AI safety, market power, and privacy.
A symposium, organized by The Future of Free Speech and the Center for Democracy and Technology, Europe Office, brought together leading voices from civil society, EU institutions, and the private sector. The participants discussed the implications of the new wave of EU digital regulation for human rights and freedom of expression. It took place in Brussels on March 19, 2024.
Opening Remarks & Panel 1: The AI Act: Implications for Human Rights
- Lidiya Simova, Political Advisor to MEP Petar Vitanov
- Connor Dunlop, European Public Policy Lead at the Ada Lovelace Institute
- Richard Wingfield, Director, Technology Sectors, at BSR
- Moderator: Laura Lazaro Cabrera, Counsel and Director of the Equity and Data Programme at the Center for Democracy and Technology, Europe Office
Panel 2: What Does the DSA Mean for Freedom of Expression?
- Asha Allen, Advocacy Director for Europe, Online Expression & Civic Space at the Center for Democracy and Technology, Europe Office
- Mathilde Adjutor, Senior Policy Manager at CCIA Europe
- Joan Barata, Senior Legal Fellow at The Future of Free Speech
- Moderator: Jordi Calvet-Bademunt, Research Fellow at The Future of Free Speech
Panel 3: Governing Big Tech & Closing Remarks
- Marco Giorello, Head of Unit at DG Connect, European Commission
- Jan Penfrat, Senior Policy Advisor at EDRi
- Teodora Groza, Ph.D. student at Sciences Po Law School & Editor-in-Chief at Stanford Computational Antitrust
- Moderator: Jordi Calvet-Bademunt, Research Fellow at The Future of Free Speech
About us
The Future of Free Speech is a non-partisan think tank conducting cutting-edge research and advocacy on freedom of expression. It is hosted at Vanderbilt University (Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.).
CDT Europe is a leading not-for-profit advocating for the promotion and protection of democracy and human rights in European tech law and policy.