The impact of digital platforms and social media on freedom of expression and pluralism – in specific terms

2021-11-19

November 23 @ 10:00 – 16:00

The Central European Professors’ Network, consisting of four research groups, launched its activities on 1 January 2021 to conduct research on a great variety of issues with regard to seven Central European countries (Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia). The Professors’ Network organises events with the primary aim to draw attention of the European citizens to the topics which are important and significant in connection with the future of Europe, in particular of Central Europe.

One of the research groups has dealt with the impact of social media on the freedom of expression and its constitutional relevance in Central Europe. Furthermore, the group has focused on the comparative legal analysis of censorship, as well as of social networks and forms of expression which may threaten European values, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, such as disinformation campaigns aimed at spreading fake news on social media and other networks.

The conference on the above issue will also function as a book launch of the book „The Impact of Digital Platforms and Social Media on the Freedom of Expression and Pluralism – Analysis on Certain Central European Countries” written by the members of the research group. Therefore, besides the conference presentations, the comparative legal book will also be presented as the main achievement of the research team. This book is a gap-filling contribution in the field of comparative constitutional law and a publication which sheds light on the most important Central European aspects of the issue.

The main organisers of the event are the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law, the Hungarian Association for Comparative Law and the Central-European Association for Comparative Law.