Project Title

‘The digital public square and freedom of expression dynamics in emerging online safety regimes’

Research Topic

Laura’s research explores the conceptual and normative foundations of freedom of expression and their application to the online sphere to recontextualise the clash between an absolutist view of freedom of expression grounded in the US First Amendment where most social media platforms are based, and a positive free speech approach to the right grounded in the European Convention of Human Rights where ‘systems and processes’ online safety regulations are being implemented for the first time. But also, to explore the environment in which freedom of expression operates to understand whether emerging online governance models are reshaping the meaning of expression and deliberation. 

Debates around freedom of expression in social media platforms are often characterised by a top-down approach with a focus on establishing where the red line for content takedown should be placed. The goal is to move beyond these debates by employing a bottom-up approach to the study of freedom of expression online to analyse the different dynamics that arise from platform and regulatory actions, and users’ perceptions of freedom of expression as a result.

Biography

Laura holds an LLM Master of Laws from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) with a specialisation in public international law and a focus on human rights. She also holds an LLB Law and Politics joint honours degree from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). 

Alongside her academic work, Laura works in Ofcom’s Online Safety Group in the implementation of the UK’s Online Safety Act and the regulatory compliance work attached to it. She previously held roles in pro bono and refugee resettlement programmes and has contributed to academic work on public international law. Laura is interested in the intersection and interaction between human rights, policy and technology.

Supervisors 

Dr Damian Tambini and Dr Alison Powell