{"id":28753,"date":"2021-03-15T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-14T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aspeninstitutece.softmedia.cz\/news-article\/to-ban-or-not-to-ban-the-eu-digital-future-and-freedom-of-speech-as-we-know-it\/"},"modified":"2021-03-15T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-03-14T23:00:00","slug":"to-ban-or-not-to-ban-the-eu-digital-future-and-freedom-of-speech-as-we-know-it","status":"publish","type":"news-article","link":"https:\/\/www.aspeninstitutece.org\/cs\/news-article\/to-ban-or-not-to-ban-the-eu-digital-future-and-freedom-of-speech-as-we-know-it\/","title":{"rendered":"To Ban or Not To Ban? The EU Digital Future and Freedom of Speech as We Know It"},"content":{"rendered":"

The online debate entitled \u201cTo Ban or Not To Ban? The EU Digital Future and Freedom of Speech as We Know It\u201d was held on March 11. Challenging the audience with contrasting perspectives, it focused on the issue of protection of free speech on social media platforms, its importance for the future of democracy and the possible extent of content moderation in order to reduce user-generated disinformation. The debate was co-organized by Aspen Institute Central Europe and Casimir Pulaski Foundation<\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=bZceD7xOntk
\nFollowing the welcoming remarks of the moderator Ms. <\/span>Katarzyna Pisarska<\/b><\/a>, Co-Chair of Warsaw Security Forum\/Pulaski Foundation, Ms. <\/span>V\u011bra Jourov\u00e1<\/b><\/a>, <\/b>European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency, opened the debate with her keynote. She pointed out that the main reason for these regulations is protection of key democratic values, which can be destabilized by spreading fake news or leading society toward disintegration. It is, however, unfair to place all the blame on the social media providers, but instead we should focus on transparency, resiliency and better predictability for the platform.<\/span><\/p>\n

Concerning the question of a complete ban on anonymity, she responded that it might not bring good in all cases, because sometimes people\u2019s online behavior has to be protected for their safety. The Vice-President also debated that the issue created by Facebook algorithms narrows our reality into a so-called \u2018bubble\u2019. She acknowledged the fact that this is the way they do their business, but stated that a negative result lies in potential influencing of political voting. The Vice-President emphasized the need to digitalize democracy, alongside considering e-voting. These methods might also engage more young people in politics and improve communication between nations and the public.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Happy to debate the Shakespearian question \u201cTo Ban or Not To Ban?\u201d in relation to the EU digital future and freedom of speech. Thank you @AspenInstCE<\/a> for giving the opportunity. #PulaskiGlobalOutlook<\/a> #AspenInstCE<\/a>#EUDemocracy<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/v64PBfK8wD<\/a><\/p>\n

— V\u011bra Jourov\u00e1 (@VeraJourova) March 11, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n