ARTICLE 19 & Reporters Without Borders
When: 7pm, Wed 28 November
Where: Hotel Catalonia
Berlin-Mitte, Köpenicker
Str. 80-82,10179 Berlin
Governments around the world are restricing and moderating content online. Just one year ago, Germany introduced its NetzDG law, forcing social media platforms to remove content it considers illegal. This raises serious concerns for its citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and information.
The German law is also being used by Russia to justify its own restrictive practices. Internet freedom has come under increasing attack in Russia, where a raft of new laws has allowed for blocking of websites, harassment of online media outlets and arrests and imprisonment of users because of content they post. Furthermore, Russian authorities are attempting to force Internet companies to support these censorship initiatives and provide information about their users.
What are the harms of laws like NetzDG at home or abroad? What is the impact for fundamental freedoms when countries turn to companies like Google or Facebook to police the web? And what are the alternatives?
To discuss these issues, we will be joined by:
- Maryant Fernandez Perez, Senior Policy Advisor, European Digital Rights
- Damir Gainutdinov – Lawyer, Agora International Human Rights Group
- Yulia Berezovskaya – Director of Grani.ru, Independent Russian online media
- Sabine Frank – Head of Regulation, Google Germany
- Christian Mihr – Director, RSF Germany
- Susan Coughtrie – Senior Programme Officer, Article 19.
The discussion will be in English. We have only a limited capacity. Please RSVP to [email protected]