NYU Law Forum—Could the Internet Break Democracy?
NYU Law Forum, April 15, 1:00–2:30 p.m.
Could the Internet Break Democracy?
Could free speech, long considered a defining element of liberal democracy, also bring about its undoing? In recent years, a deluge of falsehoods, conspiracy theories, foreign-government sponsored disinformation, and hate speech in the media—particularly social media—has put this proposition to the test. People on the right have accused major platforms of selectively censoring conservative views; liberals have decried the failure of the same outlets to rein in hate speech and lies, including about the outcome of the 2020 election. Lawmakers on both sides have called for reforming, or even abolishing, Section 230 liability protections for social media. What would be the consequences of such changes, and are there alternative solutions? Should Twitter and Facebook be able to “deplatform” national leaders, as they and others did with Donald Trump? Are there steps that can and should be taken to address content algorithms that steer users towards extremism? At this Forum, Dean Trevor Morrison and a panel of experts will address the issues that lie at the intersection of media, democracy, and speech.
This program is co-sponsored by NYU Law’s Engelberg Center on Innovation Law & Policy.
Panelists
Randy Milch ’85, Co-Chair, NYU Center for Cybersecurity, Distinguished Fellow, Reiss Center on Law and Security, and Professor of Practice, NYU School of Law
Trevor Morrison (moderator), Dean and Eric M. and Laurie B. Roth Professor of Law, NYU School of Law
Faiza Patel ’91, Director, Liberty & National Security Program, Brennan Center for Justice, NYU School of Law
Christopher Jon Sprigman, Murray and Kathleen Bring Professor of Law, NYU School of Law
Kara Swisher, Contributing Opinion Writer and Host of the podcast Sway, New York Times
Jeremy Waldron, University Professor, NYU School of Law
To join this Forum as an audience member and receive a Zoom link, please register. If you would like to submit a question for the panelists, you may do so on the registration page. Note on accessibility: This virtual event requires an internet connection and a computer or smartphone. The event will have live captioning. If you need any accommodations, or for any questions, please contact Ian Anderson at ian.anderson@nyu.edu.