German MPs, Daily Mail, Guardian to address peers on freedom of expression online
Monday 15 March 2021
Members of Germany’s Bundestag will discuss their country’s laws (NetzDG) designed to reduce the availability of illegal content online tomorrow (Tuesday 16 March from 3.00 p.m.) when the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee continues its inquiry into freedom of expression online.
Executives and lawyers from the publishers of the Daily Mail and The Guardian will appear too to discuss media freedom and issues arising from the committee’s report Breaking News? The future of UK journalism.
The committee will hear from:
At 3.00 p.m.
- Carsten Müller, CDU/CSU coordinator, German Bundestag
- Renate Künast, Alliance 90/The Greens, German Bundestag
Likely questions and topics of discussion include:
- Does NetzDG’s systemic view of social media companies’ compliance rather than examining individual cases give those companies too much power?
- Are fines enough to change social media companies’ behaviour?
- How well does the EU’s proposed Digital Services Act protect freedom of expression?
At 4.00 p.m.
- Peter Wright, Editor Emeritus, DMG Media
- Lizzie Green, Group Legal Adviser, DMG Media
- Matt Rogerson, Director of Public Policy, Guardian Media Group
- Gill Phillips, Director of Editorial Legal Services, Guardian News & Media
Likely questions and topics of discussion include:
- What is your view on developments in Australia regarding mandatory bargaining for platforms and news publishers?
- Has the Government moved swiftly enough to set up the Digital Markets Unit?
- What measures should the Digital Markets Unit take to increase competition in the social media, search, and online advertising markets?
The session will be live on Parliament TV.
