Fourth Law and Information Society Symposium: Hate Versus Democracy on the Internet

Date: Friday, 26 March, 2010
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Pope Auditorium, Fordham Law School, New York.
Sponsor: Center on Law & Information Policy

From political blogs to the exposure of rights abuses, the Internet advances communication and the free flow of information that is at the heart of democracy. Yet, from Holocaust deniers to terrorist organizers, the Internet also serves as an enabler for extremists promoting hate, violence and the corrosion of democratic values. This conference will explore the legal and policy dimensions of the Internet’s dual impact.

8:30 – 9:00 Registration and Breakfast

9:00 – 9:15 Welcome

9:15 – 10:45

Panel 1: The Internet as a Dual Use Technology: Democracy and Extremism

This panel will examine the Internet’s dual impact on democracy and extremism. Panel members will explore how social networks, blogs and websites have been used simultaneously to spread democracy and promote hate. They will discuss the tensions that arise on the Internet between these competing interests.

Moderator: Zephyr Teachout, Associate Professor of Law, Fordham Law School

Panelists:
• Bruce Etling, Director of the Internet & Democracy Project, Berkman Center for Internet and Society, Harvard University
• Holly Hawkins, Director of Consumer Advocacy and Privacy, AOL
• Alexander Tsesis, Assistant Professor of Law, Loyola University School of Law
• Mark Weitzman, Director of Task Force on Hate & Terrorism, Simon Wiesenthal Center

10:45 – 11:00 Break

11:00 – 12:30

Panel 2: Distinguishing Hate Speech from Legitimate Political Expression

This panel will explore how we distinguish hate speech from legitimate political expression and whether such a line can be drawn. Panel members will consider what characteristics make hate speech dangerous and different from democratic political debate. The panel will consider specific examples of online “hate sites” and other ways that the Internet has been used to spread extremist thought.

Moderator: Ann Bartow, Professor of Law, University of South Carolina School of Law

Panelists:
• David E. Bernstein, Professor of Law, George Mason University School of Law
• Steven J. Heyman, Professor of Law, Chicago-Kent College of Law
• Kenneth Lasson, Professor of Law, University of Baltimore School of Law
• Nicole Wong, Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, Google, Inc.

12:30 – 2:00 Lunch and Keynote Address
Jing Zhao (aka Michael Anti)
Political Columnist and Blogger
Harvard Nieman Fellow

2:00 – 3:30

Panel 3: Online Hate Speech and Diverse International Concerns

This panel will explore the competing cultural concerns about hate speech that make international regulation challenging. Panel members will consider how the definition of hate speech and norms about regulation differ internationally.

Moderator: Julie Suk, Associate Professor of Law, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

Panelists:
• Raphael Cohen-Almagor, Professor, Chair in Politics, University of Hull
• Sandra Coliver, Senior Legal Officer, Open Society Justice Initiative
• Peter Molnar, Senior Research Fellow, Center for Media and Communications Studies, Central European University
• Philippe A. Schmidt, Managing Partner, SBKG & Associates and Chairman of the International Network Against Cyber Hate

3:30 – 3:45 Break

3:45 – 5:15

Panel 4: How to Combat Hate Speech While Promoting Democracy

This panel will explore various ways that we can combat or prevent hate speech online while still allowing robust democratic expression. Panel members will consider regulatory and non-regulatory options and will discuss which methods best serve the dual goals of promoting democracy and tolerance.

Moderator: Joel R. Reidenberg, Professor of Law and Academic Director of the Center on Law & Information Policy, Fordham Law School

Panelists:
• Yaman Akdeniz, Associate Professor, Human Rights Law Research Center, Istanbul Bilgi University & Director, Cyber-Rights.Org
• Susan Benesch, Senior Fellow, World Policy Institute
• Danielle Citron, Professor of Law, University of Maryland School of Law
• Philippe Dufresne, Director & Senior Counsel, Canadian Human Rights Commission

The conference is free and open to the public. 6 Non-Transitional, Professional Practice NYS CLE Credits are available for $90 ($50 for Fordham Law alumni & public interest attorneys). If you desire CLE credit please register online and complete and submit a copy of the PDF registration form provided below as instructed.

Fordham Law School has a financial hardship policy for the conference. For additional information please visit: http://law.fordham.edu/cle.