International Summer School “Freedom of Expression on the Internet” in Dehli

From 2 till 8 October 2013, the Hans Bredow Institute together with the faculty of law at the University of Hamburg and the National Law University in Delhi have held an international summer school on “Freedom of Expression on the Internet” in Delhi. 20 students from India, Israel and Germany and German and Indian experts from academia and economy have imparted detailed knowledge on International Laws on Freedom of Expression.Further topis were

  • Differences between Common Law and Civil Law
  • The Constitutional Framework on Freedom of Expression in Europe
  • The Constitutional Framework on Freedom of Expression in Asia
  • Anonymity on the Internet: User Generated Content and Social Media
  • Limitations of Freedom of Expression: Legal Conflicts on Online Platforms
  • Limitations of Freedom of Expression: Balancing Values between Security and Free-dom of Speech and Expression
  • Limitations of Freedom of Expression: Religious Conflicts in Social Media
  • The Protection of Minors in Germany and India
  • The Current Debate on Pornography in India.

After the lecture part, students had to develop and defend own ideas in a policy simulation: While drafting a legal framework for the regulation of online intermediaries, a fictitious UNESCO-Committee held a formal hearing with stakeholder groups. Students had to represent the legal interests of different groups such as platform operators, security agencies or internet activists. Excursions to Delhi’s historical sites and a visit to the Delhi High Court completed the program.