Featured Speakers
Peter Fatelnig, Minister-Counsellor for Digital Economy Policy, Delegation of the European Union to the United States
A senior manager at the European Commission since 1998, he arrived in DC in 2018. Since his arrival, digital economy policy became a top-priority in the EU-US relations.Peter holds a Master’sin Communication Engineering from the University of Technology in Graz, Austria, and is a senior member of the IEEE.
Dr. Mariana Valente, Director of Internet Lab, Brazil
The author of several books and papers on issues such as freedom of expression, data practices and policies and access to knowledge. Mariana is a lawyer by training and holds a Ph.D. in Sociology of Law from the University of São Paulo Law School. She is also a member of TikTok Safety and Advisory Council since earlier this year.
Bruce McConnell, Stimson Center
Has served on the Stimson Board of Directors since 2021. He has been a leading player on global cyberspace peace and security issues at the intersection of governments, business and civil society for over thirty years. He is the President and CEO of the EastWest Institute. He is currently leading the migration of the institute’s programs, which focus on reducing and mitigating security conflict among nations, to new homes in other nonprofit organizations including the Stimson Center.
Moderated by
Michael Teodori, Washington Foreign Law Society
Michael is US Policy and Advocacy Specialist at Eni, Italy’s largest energy company. Prior to joining Eni, Michael was a Congressional Liaison Officer at the US politics and Congressional affairs office of the Italian Embassy in Washington DC, where he focused on US-Italy relations. Michael was also a Schuman trainee at the European Parliament. In that capacity he worked at the European Parliament Liaison Office in Washington, DC, as well as at the European Parliament Legal Service in Brussels.
Below is a list of references that speakers will mention during the session:
On European Union law:
- The EU Code of Practice on disinformation is the first time worldwide that industry has agreed, on a voluntary basis, to self-regulatory standards to fight disinformation. It sets a wide range of commitments, from transparency in political advertising to the closure of fake accounts and demonetization of purveyors of disinformation. More: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/code-practice-disinformation
- The proposed Digital Services Act is proportionate, fosters innovation, growth and competitiveness, and facilitate the scaling up of smaller platforms, SMEs and start-ups. The responsibilities of users, platforms, and public authorities are rebalanced according to European values, placing citizens at the centre.
The rules better protect consumers and their fundamental rights online, establish a powerful transparency and a clear accountability framework for online platforms and foster innovation, growth and competitiveness within the single market. More: https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age/digital-services-act-ensuring-safe-and-accountable-online-environment_en
- Strategic communications to reduce the space and possibilities for disinformation and interference activities, strengthen resilience of society, empower civil society action and safeguard the space for policy making. More: https://euvsdisinfo.eu/
On US law:
- CRS Report – Section 230: An Overview (April 7, 2021)
- CRS Report – Social Media: Misinformation and Content Moderation Issues for Congress (January 27, 2021)
On Brazilian Law
- Brazilian “Fake news bill” (Bill n. 2630/20, for an Internet Freedom, Responsibility and Transparency Law). Among other provisions, establishes conditions for “due process” on content moderation and a so-called “regulated self-regulation” mechanism. Unofficial English translation: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MHMDHsVJBi45PI1R5lAyoLmZvZk8eULHisYFqGy9X2s/edit2) Draft executive order on Marco Civil da Internet / 2021, aiming at limiting content moderation and subjecting social media account removals to judicial scrutiny. Unofficial English translation of selected articles: https://www.internetlab.org.br/en/freedom-of-expression/draft-eo-marco-civil/.