Learning Call: The DSA as a Tool for Tackling Gender-Based Violence
Wednesday, 13 May
14:00-15:00 (CEST)
Online (Zoom), Register here
Moderator: Magdalena Jóźwiak (IViR, University of Amsterdam)
Speakers: Asha Allen (CDT Europe), Carlotta Rigotti (eLaw, Leiden University)
This Learning Call, part of an ongoing series addressing current issues related to the Digital Services Act (DSA), examines gender-based violence through the lens of the DSA’s systemic risk framework.
The discussion will explore how gender-based violence may be addressed under the DSA, including how this category of risk is currently being interpreted and operationalised by platforms and regulators. It will also consider recent developments, such as Commission investigations concerning Grok, and situate the DSA within the broader EU legal landscape, including the Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence.
The session will consider both clearly unlawful content and more diffuse forms of online discourse that may contribute to gender-based harms. More broadly, it will ask whether, and under what conditions, the DSA can serve as an effective regulatory tool for addressing gender-based violence online.
Speakers
Asha Allen is Director and Secretary General of the CDT Europe Office in Brussels. She previously served as CDT Europe’s Deputy Director and Programme Director for Online Expression & Civic Space. In her recent paper, she positions the issue of tech-facilitated gender-based violence within the broader EU and international legal framework.
Dr. Carlotta Rigotti is an Assistant Professor at eLaw – Center for Law and Digital Technologies at Leiden University. Her research sits at the intersection of law, gender, and technology, where she examines contemporary manifestations of structural and intersectional subordination of women that are technologically facilitated, amplified, or created.
About the Learning Call Series
This series brings together researchers and practitioners to discuss current developments and emerging questions related to the Digital Services Act and its implementation. It is organised by the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society in collaboration with the Leibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans-Bredow-Institut (HBI), and the DSA Observatory, with support from the Network of Centres (NoC), and as part of the DSA Research Network, funded by Stiftung Mercator.
About the Network of Centers (NoC)
The NoC is a collaborative initiative among academic institutions with a focus on interdisciplinary research on the development, social impact, policy implications, and legal issues concerning the Internet. This collective aims to increase interoperability between participating centers in order to stimulate the creation of new cross-national, cross-disciplinary conversation, debate, teaching, learning, and engagement regarding the most pressing questions around new technologies, social change, and related policy and regulatory developments.
About the DSA Research Network
The DSA Research Network aims to establish a unique space for communication and collaboration on the implementation of the Digital Services Act, with a strong focus on making early recommendations on potential areas for reform. Following a network-based approach, the project sets out to add value to already existing initiatives that have been formed to accompany the process of implementation. By providing a platform for cross-sectoral dialogue between academics, practitioners, NGOs, and regulators, we facilitate the creation of actionable knowledge and foster a culture of collaboration.
Participation
To participate in this event, please register using this form. You will receive the login details on the day of the event. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to us at dsaobservatory-ivir@uva.nl.
Partners
The DSA Research Network is a collaboration between the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society, the Leibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans Bredow Institute, and the DSA Observatory, University of Amsterdam. It is funded by Stiftung Mercator.
