CANCELLED “Combating Hate Speech Online: a Franco-Baltic Perspective” – Online conference

In the framework of Europe Day, the French Institutes of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are pleased to invite you to an online conference on combating hate speech online, with the participation of French and Baltic experts.

• 10 May 2021, 17H – 18H30 (Estonia) / 16H – 17H30 (France).
• In English.
• The conference will take place on Zoom and will also be live-streamed on Facebook.
• Registration: forms.gle/27cbVq7nkMxRgAoh6 (You will receive the Zoom link by e-mail before the event.)

About the conference

The dissemination of online hate speech has become one of the major concerns of democracies throughout Europe and the world. The virality of information, the reinforcement of extreme positions on social networks and the effects of filter bubbles endanger the peaceful organization of debates in the digital space. 

However, regulating platforms is not easy without compromising freedom of expression and without turning into censorship. What balance should be found between the necessary combating of hate speech and the respect of fundamental rights? 

Speakers

To discuss this issue, four representatives of the Franco-Baltic regulatory authorities will present the debates in their countries and the initiatives proposed to tackle them: 

• Ms. Michèle Léribon, Member of the French Audiovisual Council’s College (CSA), in France;
• M. Oliver Gailan, Head of Communications Department, Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA), in Estonia; 
• Ms. Auleija Ieva Druviete, Vice-President of the National electronic mass media Council (NEMMC) in Latvia;
• M. Vadim Gasperskij, Head of Legal Division and M. Andrius Katinas, Head of Supervision Division at the Radio and television Commission (LRTK) in Lithuania.

Moderation will be ensured by Ms. Sabine Sile-Eglite, Director of the Centre for Media Studies at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga.

MODERATION

Sabīne Sīle-Eglīte is the Director of the Centre for Media Studies at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, one of the leading centres for training in investigative journalism and media management across CEE countries and Scandinavia. The centre focuses on media sustainability and has built a network of independent media across the region (currently comprised of 61 media outlets). Previously Sabine served as a board member at Otra Elpa charity foundation, the Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia and the British Chamber of Commerce in Latvia whilst working as a management consultant to social enterprises.

FRANCE

Michèle Léribon, Member of the French Audiovisual Council’s College (CSA), in France

• Member of the CSA (Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel)
• Chair of the Working Group on « Pluralism, Ethics and supervision of online platforms » and the Committee of Experts on « Combating Online Misinformation »

Michèle Léridon graduated from the training center for journalists in Paris and the University Lumière-Lyon II. She became a journalist for regional newspapers between 1977 and in 1981, when she joined the international news agency France-Presse (AFP). After a stint at the France desk, she covered the media section from 1984 to 1989.

When she was assigned to the Africa desk (from 1989 to 1991), she carried out several missions in West Africa. Then, she founded the ‘Cities and Suburbs’ section on her own initiative, before being appointed Deputy Director of the Abidjan office, in charge of eight west African countries. In this regard, she covered the conflicts in Liberia and Sierra Leone from 1996 to 1999.

She also became Deputy Editor-in-Chief Europe Africa, Head of Social News department, Editorial Director (2006-2009) and Director of the Rome Office (2009-2014).

In the summer of 2014, she is the first woman appointed AFP Global News Director  Director and Member of the AFP Executive Committee until 2019.

In 2014, Michèle Léridon won the prize of the Annual international conference on journalism and information (Investigation and Reporting category) and in 2015, the European Alliance of New Agencies prize.

She was also trustee of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) from 2015 to January 2019.

She joined the CSA in February 2019 and will be a member until January 2025.

LATVIA

Dr.sc.comm. Aurēlija Ieva Druviete is the Vice-Chair of the National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP). She also ensures international cooperation and represents Latvia in the European Regulators Group for Audiovisual Media Services (ERGA) and European Platform of Regulatory Authorities (EPRA). In addition, Aurēlija Ieva Druviete contributes media literacy and is co-responsible for the supervision of Latvian public service media and commercial services in Latvia.  

ESTONIA

Oliver Gailan is a head of Electronic Communications Department at Estonian Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority, where he coordinates regulation of telecommunications and also media services. He has a degree in telecommunications from Tallinn University of Technology.

LITHUANIA

Vadim Gasperskij, Head Of Legal Division at the Radio and Television Commission of Lithuania.

Previously: 

• Legal Assistant at Vilnius Regional Administrative Court;
• Chief Specialist at State Tax Inspectorate.
• Graduated from Mykolas Romeris University

Andrius Katinas, Head of Supervision Division at Radio and Television Commission of Lithuania

Previously:

• Coordinator of the Virtual Cultural Heritage Information System Project, at the National Library of Lithuania
• Chief Specialist of Music and Visual Arts Unit
• Specialist at the Department of Membership and Distribution at Lithuanian Neighbouring Rights Association
• Graduated from International Law and Legal Studies at Mykolas Romeris University and Intellectual Property Law at Masaryk University Brno.