[ecrea] Cfp: Freedom & Control of Digital Political Expression, Toulouse, France, October 2016‏

Freedom and Control of Expression in the Digital Aftermath of the 2015
Paris Attacks

After the Charlie Hebdo newspaper offices were attacked in January
2015, debate and discussion flourished about freedom of expression, in
France and abroad. This debate intensified after the Paris attacks of
November 13th. At the epicenter is the role of the Internet and free
speech. An enormous wave of worldwide indignation expressed itself
after both events, including a deluge of hashtag solidarity. But this
social media storm eventually revealed cultural, political and social
divides inside France, as well as globally. Much like after the 9/11
attacks, France passed laws allowing state surveillance of online
communication. At the same time, social media censored posts about the
attacks that were considered to be provocative or shocking.

The variety of reactions, including indifference or, on the contrary,
the expression of very different points of view – sometimes even
surveilled or censored – showed that one hashtag is neither unifying
nor a universal view shared by everyone. This event magnified the
notion that the digital public sphere is a conflicting arena of not
just what is being said (or kept quiet) online but also what the
limits are. Undoubtedly, the Internet is the main means of massive
public expression for millions. Yet it is still the result of a
complex set of power relations established between professional media,
amateur content producing communities, which sometimes defend
particular interests, as well as corporate intermediaries. The
resulting online content embodies rival editorial, political and
industrial strategies. Recently, scholars have begun to question the
idea of digital participatory democracy in terms of a level playing
field.

This workshop aims to progress this debate by addressing the following
central question:
Who controls freedom of expression and online content in the digital
era, and how?
Embedded in this question are the challenges and constraints of
expression, such as the tension between a bottom-up or top-down
digital public sphere or who is left out as a digital player. Also
central to this question are the role of three broad actors: the
state, market and civil society. Possible topics for submissions
include the following:

State – What is the government’s role - from subsidizing digital
participation to censorship and surveillance? What is the role of
political ideology, broadly defined, in freedom of expression? What is
the relationship between media institutions and the state when it
comes to online free speech?
Market - What is the interplay of market dominance, algorithms,
censorship and Big Data? How are transformations in news production
and consumption, especially in terms of platforms like Facebook,
shaping freedom of expression? How do different types of capitalist
economic systems shape freedom of expression? How do market
constraints upon corporate media, and mainstream journalism shape
freedom of expression?
Civil society – Who is creating content, and if so, who is listening,
watching and clicking? How does race, class, ethnicity and gender
factor in? Who is marginalized? How effective is Internet use as an
extension or part of activist and social movement practices vis-à-vis
political expression. What is the role of alternative, independent and
citizen media in this digital era of online expression?

Target Audience and Scholars: This is an interdisciplinary workshop
but geared toward sociologists, anthropologists, political scientists,
economists and communication scholars. Scholars at all levels are
encouraged to participate. A small number of travel grants may be
available to permit outstanding junior scholars (under 35 years at the
date of the conference) to attend. Please state in your paper
submission whether you wish to apply for such a travel grant.

Dates: October 13 & 14, 2016

Format: The workshop will feature speakers, panels and paper presentations.
Submissions: Full paper submissions based on empirical research of
conference topics (maximum 25 pages including references and
tables/figures) due by Friday, April 1. Theoretical papers will also
be considered.

Please submit papers to
https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=fceda15pa. We will notify you
of acceptance by May 6.
You will have to create an account in Easychair in order to submit.

Registration: Register for the conference by September 15. Space is
limited. Registration information coming soon.

Cost: Free

Location: Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse, Toulouse School of
Economics, Toulouse, France.

Website:
http://www.iast.fr/conference/freedom-and-control-expression-digital-aftermath-2015-paris-attacks

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