Albany Law School Government Law Review Symposium

Federalism, Social Media, and Free Speech

Wednesday, April 10, 2024
5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
Albany Law School, Dean Alexander Moot Courtroom
80 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208
Also available via Zoom

Reception to follow in East Foyer

Registration

Attendee List

In the face of inaction at the national level, state actors have ventured into areas with profound potential impacts on the future of digital media, free speech, the internet, and mobile technologies. Some states have passed legislation to protect digital privacy, while others have sought to prohibit what is perceived as discriminatory content moderation. Some have sought to ban popular apps, like TikTok. In contrast, others have sought legal action that comes squarely up against the protections afforded platform companies from liability under Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act. In each instance, states are pushing up against the boundaries of, and testing the reach of their powers against, the First Amendment’s free speech protections and the potential preemptive effect of federal laws.  This symposium will delve into whether such state actions could be construed merely as endeavors to combat discrimination by social media platforms, or if they might be viewed as an unprecedented exertion of governmental authority over expression such that it infringes upon the First Amendment on multiple fronts.

(1) CLE credit in Professional Practice available for in person attendees only. 

Facilitator 

Prof. J. Stephen Clark
Professor of Law, Albany Law School

Speakers 

Prof. Leslie Y. Garfield Tenzer
Professor of Law at Pace University Elisabeth Haub School of Law

Prof. Roy Gutterman
Director of the Tully Center for Free Speech and Professor of Magazine, News and Digital Journalism and Communications at Syracuse University Newhouse School of Public Communications

Prof. Anupam Chander
Professor of Law and Technology at Georgetown Law

Gilad Mills
S.J.D. Candidate at Harvard Law School

CLE Information:

Albany Law School’s Center for Continuing Legal Education has been certified by the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board as an accredited provider of Continuing Legal Education in the State of New York. This program has been accredited as a source of continuing legal education credits for both transitional and non-transitional attorneys in New York State (1.0 Professional Practice credit). For financial hardship guidelines, please call the Center for Continuing Legal Education at (518) 472-5888.

ACCOMMODATION

We welcome requests for accommodation due to a disability. Please contact Albany Law School’s Center for Continuing Legal Education at (518) 472-5888 at least a week prior to the course to discuss your requirements.

NOTE

New York State Continuing Legal Education Board regulations state that credit shall be awarded only for attendance at an entire course or program, or for attendance at an entire session of a course or program. No credit shall be awarded for attending portion of a session.