Social Media and European Regulation

The course studies the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), exploring its requirements, enforcement mechanisms, and impact on social media companies and users. Students will gain an understanding of how the GDPR has transformed data privacy practices and set a global standard for data protection. The course also examines the Digital Services Act (DSA) and its implementation regulations on content moderation, analyzing its provisions aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and user safety on digital platforms. Through case studies, students will investigate real-world applications of these regulations and assess their effectiveness in addressing issues such as misinformation, hate speech, content moderation, and online harassment.

In addition to the GDPR and DSA, the course covers other relevant directives and regulations, including the ePrivacy Directive, the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the European Media Freedom Act and the EU Artificial Intelligence Act. Students will explore the challenges and opportunities these regulations present for social media companies, policymakers, and users.