The suspension of former President Trump from major social media platforms was celebrated by many with a sigh of relief. Others saw it as a clear affront against free speech and yet another victory of online cancel culture. One thing is certain, the likes of Facebook, Twitter, Google, and Snapchat have the final say on what is considered hateful or dangerous on their platforms. This has a huge impact on online political discourse and contributes to further polarisation within our democratic societies. 

This Martens Centre webinar aims to address these issues and discuss the future of online free speech in the EU and the US. Should private companies continue to be the ultimate arbiters of truth even as we discuss politics or elections? Will European regulations, such as the Digital Services Act, provide much needed solutions? Should automatic algorithms separate right from wrong in the online domain and would a more transparent design of these algorithms make any difference?