WIN Conference: Foundations and Perspectives of European Platform Regulation

The WIN conference, "Foundations and Perspectives of European Platform Regulation," focuses on the regulation of internet platforms. It is organized by Assistant Professor Dr. Michael Müller (Mannheim) and Postdoctoral Researcher Dr. Hannes Beyerbach (Mannheim).

The regulation of internet platforms is currently one of the key legislative projects at the European Union level. Once the regulations currently under discussion come into force, their application will pose a variety of challenges for the courts and legal scholars. Overcoming these challenges requires an interdisciplinary understanding of the basic conditions and assumptions of platform regulation (“Foundations”). The planned conference and the resulting, internationally recognized anthology are intended to facilitate this and, at the same time, contribute to the further development of this area of law (“Perspectives”).

The conference will be open to registered guests. Please contact m[dot]mueller[at]uni-mannheim[dot]de hannes[dot]beyerbach[at]uni-mannheim[dot]de.

Program:

Date Time Program item
Thursday, September 19 9 a.m.

1. Introduction

Michael W. Müller, Hannes Beyerbach, Mannheim
Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Platform Regulation
Ranjana Achleitner, Linz
Goals, Approaches, and Structures of European Platform Regulation

10:15 a.m. Coffee break
10:30 a.m.

2. Technical Foundations

Carsten Orwat, KIT, Karlsruhe
Algorithmic Bias and Systemic Risks of AI and Platforms
Heiner Stuckenschmidt, Mannheim
“Decided by AI – what could go wrong?” – Risk Amplification when Using Machine Learning

1:30 p.m.

3. Societal foundations

Dominik Rehse/Sebastian Valet, ZEW, Mannheim
Economic Interests of Platform Operators
Cornelius Puschmann, Bremen
Platforms as a Digital Public Sphere: Platform Communication and Self-Representation on Social Platforms

3 – 3:15 p.m. Coffee break
3:15 – 4:45 p.m. Indrė Žliobaitė, Helsinki
Discrimination Risks of Platforms
Laura Jung, BADW, Munich
Regulatory Pitfalls with Old and New Intermediary Powers in the EU
6:30 p.m. Conference Dinner at Vetter’s Altheidelberger Brauhaus
Friday, September 20 9 a.m.

4. Legal Principles of Platform Regulation

David Roth-Isigkeit, Speyer
Risk-Based Regulation as a Principle of Digital Law
Dimitrios Linardatos, Saarbrücken
Company Law and Platform Regulation

10:30 a.m. Coffee break
10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Sonja Heitzer, LMU Munich
Financial Markets Law as a Blueprint for Platform Regulation
Tobias Voigt, Cologne
European Liability Principles for Digital Platforms

1:15 p.m.

5. Regulatory Strategies in the European Union and Beyond

Hannah Ruschemeier, Hagen
Regulatory Strategies: Regulated Self-Regulation, Codes, Technical Standardization
Christian Neumeier, HU Berlin
Content Moderation by Platforms and Free Expression

2:45 p.m. Coffee break
3:00 p.m. Walther Michl, University of the German Armed Forces, Munich
Approaches to a Horizontal Applicability of EU Fundamental Rights
Andreas Kulick, Tübingen
Approaches to a Global Understanding of Principles of Platform Regulation
4:45 p.m. Closing Remarks, Publication Perspectives

Date: September 19, 2024, 9:00 a.m. – September 20, 2024, 5:00 p.m.

Location: Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Karlstr. 4, 69117 Heidelberg

Organizers: Jun.-Prof. Dr. Michael Müller (Mannheim)/ PD Dr. Hannes Beyerbach (Mannheim)