Report on the Academic Round Table, 30 April 2024, New York City: Freedom of Online Communication Across Transatlantic Borders.

The article focuses on a transatlantic academic workshop held in New York City on April 30, 2024, co-hosted by several research institutes, which examined freedom of expression on digital platforms in the US and Europe. It compared the US legal framework, shaped by the First Amendment and ongoing Supreme Court cases, with the European Union's regulatory approach, notably the Digital Services Act and related legislation, highlighting differences in platform governance, content moderation, and fundamental rights obligations. Discussions addressed challenges such as the politicization of US platform regulation, the hybrid nature of social media governance, and emerging issues like AI regulation and national security concerns exemplified by the TikTok ban. The workshop concluded that advancing platform regulation requires nuanced, function-based approaches and enhanced transatlantic cooperation, recognizing the complexities of balancing free speech, user rights, and regulatory enforcement.