[ecrea] CfP Workshop on the Role of Soc Media Companies in Responding to Violent Online Extremism

CfP WORKSHOP ON THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND INTERNET COMPANIES IN 
RESPONDING TO VIOLENT ONLINE EXTREMISM

WHEN: March 5, 2015 – March 6, 2015
WHERE: Central European University, Budapest

On March 5-6, 2015, the VOX-Pol network will convene a workshop at 
Central European University in Budapest on the role of social media and 
internet companies in responding to violent online political extremism 
and the impacts on freedom of expression.

This CfP is especially timely given the Joint Statement of EU Ministers 
for Interior and Justice issued in the wake of the attacks in Paris 
which expressed ’ concern at the “increasingly frequent use of the 
Internet to fuel hatred and violence.” It further stated that “the 
partnership of the major Internet providers is essential to create the 
conditions of a swift reporting of material that aims to incite hatred 
and terror and the condition of its removing, where appropriate/possible.”

In response, concerns over freedom of expression and privacy have been 
expressed, especially over the potential for increased surveillance. In 
order to respond to the complexities of violent online extremism in ways 
that respect freedom of expression, privacy and security, there needs to 
be a better understanding of the ways in which the internet is governed, 
the role of technology companies as political intermediaries as well as 
the meaning and scope of relevant human rights, particularly freedom of 
expression.

The workshop itself will be a participatory gathering with short 
introductory remarks from invited experts followed by discussion and 
debate. If you wish to participate, please submit an extended abstract 
of 300 – 500 words. The workshop will feature invited participants from 
civil society, industry, policy making, and academia in addition to this 
open call.

The workshop will feature, amongst others, Rebecca MacKinnon, former CNN 
Bureau Chief, blogger, and co-founder of Global Voices Online. She is on 
the Board of Directors of the Global Network Initiative and the 
Committee to Protect Journalists and is currently director of the 
Ranking Digital Rights project at the New America Foundation’s Open 
Technology Institute. McKinnon is the author of Consent of the 
Networked: The Worldwide Struggle For Internet Freedom (2012)

VOX-Pol welcomes submissions (policy analyses, case studies, thematic 
overviews, etc.) on the following topics:

- Online extremism and intermediary liability;
- Balancing security, privacy and freedom of expression online in 
addressing violent extremism;
- Policy and practice of take-down requests, blocking, surveillance, and 
filtering of extremist content;
- Violent online extremism and the politics and sociology of algorithms;
- Ethics of policing online content;
- Methods for assessing social media and online extremism policy and 
practice;
Terms of service agreements of social media and internet companies;
- Human rights and freedom of expression online;
- Corporate responsibility, social media, and online content;
- State security and online privacy.

Extended abstracts should be submitted to (workshop /at/ voxpol.eu) by January 
27, 2015, with ‘Budapest Workshop’ in the subject line. Those selected 
for participation will be notified by February 1, 2015.

A report will be published following the event by Central European 
University’s Center for Media, Data and Society, and will include 
updated extended abstracts.

TRAVEL FUNDING

Travel grants are available for a limited number of selected 
participants. This funding will aim to reimburse the costs of two 
nights’ accommodation (including breakfast) at the workshop hotel and 
transportation (economy class flight booked at least three weeks in 
advance of travel, second class train, public transportation to/from 
airports). Accepted participants are eligible to apply for this funding 
and should detail their estimated travel costs in their submission. 
Those awarded funding will need to submit original receipts, along with 
boarding cards, etc., for subsequent reimbursement.

Tea/coffee and meals will be provided for all participants, during the 
event, including a workshop dinner on the evening of Thursday March 6.

For workshop-related queries, please e-mail (workshop /at/ voxpol.eu) with 
‘Budapest Workshop’ in the subject line.


Dr. Maura Conway
Senior Lecturer in International Security
School of Law and Government
Dublin City University
Glasnevin
Dublin 9
Ir



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