RightsCon Toronto 2018

Over the last few years, technological developments and innovations have created new forms by which people can express themselves online. At the same time that the various forms of online expression have diversified, a number of governments are actively considering introducing greater liability for online platforms which fail to remove illegal or harmful content.

As content removal companies, restrictive legislation, and opponents of controversial speech increasingly target hosts of user-generated content, keeping up with the incoming demand and associated legal obligations is a challenge for any publishing platform or social network.

In order to engage meaningfully on questions of liability and how to respond to the challenges of harmful content online, it’s critical to be clear on exactly what it is we’re talking about. Despite the frequent use of the terms ‘online and content’ and ‘content regulation’, there is no universally accepted definition of ‘content’. And even with this lack of clarity, many hosts feel compelled to remove content which attracts negative PR even when no existing laws or policies are being violated. These actions come at the cost of free speech and other online liberties.

Join Global Partners Digital and Automattic, Inc in a joint discussion around defining these critical terms and moderating content in this turbulent landscape.