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Barbora Bukovská

Senior director for law and policy at ARTICLE 19

Article 19

Barbora Bukovská is the senior director for law and policy at ARTICLE 19.

February 26, 2024

On 26 February, the US Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in two crucial cases, deciding whether Florida and Texas can adopt laws preventing social media companies from moderating content posted by users. 

In the leadup to the 2020 U.S. elections, conspiracy theories and various disinformation have been widely shared on social media, including by then-President Donald Trump and many conservative sources. YouTube, X and Meta responded by restricting, flagging, or altogether removing content in accordance with their terms of service. As a result, the Republican Party accused platforms of censoring conservative voices. 

February 20, 2023

Between 21 and 22 February, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in two cases that have the potential to fundamentally change the internet as we know it. The Court will decide whether one of the foundations of free speech on the internet – the protection of platforms from the liability for what others post online, provided by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act – can continue to exist. If removed, the platforms will have to screen and censor content generated by billions of users not just in the USA but around the world.

The two cases in question, Gonzalez v Google and Twitter v. Taamnehwere initiated by families whose loved ones were killed in ISIS attacks in Paris and Istanbul. They argue that Google and Twitter were not acting aggressively enough when removing ISIS content. Though different in scope, both cases effectively deal with similar questions: as platforms host and show users terrorist content, should they be held accountable under the Anti-Terrorism Act and can their immunity from liability under Section 230 be restricted. 

January 27, 2023

Over the last two weeks in Vienna, negotiations took place over a new United Nations treaty on cybercrime.

Having a new international treaty on how to tackle criminal activities enabled by digital technology might seem like a worthy cause. There is a real need for more effective cooperation between law enforcement authorities to address cyber-enabled crimes, online scams and cyberattacks.