Social Media Content Moderatn

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

This course will examine contemporary issues in content moderation on social media platforms through the lens of different theories of free expression. The course starts with an overview and critique of the traditional justifications for a regime of free expression (the search for truth, effective and legitimate political governance, and individual autonomy and dignity). In the second part of the course, we’ll examine how the balance between online free expression and other values is addressed in legal systems in the U.S., Europe, China, and international human rights law. The last part of the course concerns special issues in contemporary online speech regulation including principles of transparency and accountability for platform content moderation, reform of online immunity laws, political pluralism in social media, proposed online safety bills imposing a duty of care for online platforms and what to do about online disinformation in politics and healthcare. Throughout we’ll focus on the role of a sector-specific regulator with a mission to foster effective content moderation while preserving robust discussion of controversial issues of public importance.