The Online Expression and Civic Space Programme advocates for the preservation of fundamental rights and democratic values in platform and content governance policy. The program particularly promotes the right to freedom of expression and association, and access to information. The team monitors the implementation and enforcement of key regulations governing online platforms and user-generated content. We work with our partners to realise a democratic and equitable online space.
Other CDT Europe Programmes
In the European Union, the right to freedom of expression is enshrined in the European Charter of Fundamental Rights. Any restriction of free expression is subject to strict criteria as established by extensive European case law and in line with international human rights standards. This includes limitations in the case of hate speech and incitement to violence and hatred. The team engages in advocacy in relation to any legislative or co-regulatory process that may have an impact on the freedom of expression and information, and freedom from discrimination.
Alongside this, tackling online harms which may not fall into the realm of illegality is also a priority for the Programme. These include, but are not limited to:
The impacts of platform business models and practices, such as content moderation on fundamental rights;
Forms of online harassment that chill free expression, especially for the historically marginalised;
The impact of addictive algorithms and products, especially for vulnerable groups;
The disproportionate proliferation of mis/disinformation and its impact on democratic participation and civic space;
The impact of the lack of transparency on industry practices/services that potentially contribute to societal harms.
We specifically focus on different forms of tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). See our dedicated page.
Actions & Objectives
The Online Expression & Civic Space Programme works to:
Advocate for legislative and voluntary frameworks that respect and protect fundamental rights and freedoms online.
Ensure that any restrictions on freedom of expression comply with international human rights standards, including the six-part test set out in the Rabat Plan of Action.
Promote platform governance that ensures providers of user-generated content and other intermediary services uphold their responsibility to respect human rights.
Policy Priorities
Our current policy priorities include:
Effective and complementary implementation of the DSA and Directive to tackle TFGBV.
Advocating for human-rights centred implementation and enforcement of the Digital Services Act, which proactively includes consultation with public interest stakeholders
Monitoring and informing legislation concerning the regulation of political advertising and political expression
Conducting research and developing rights-respecting recommendations on prominent online harms such as the election integrity and the protection of minors.
Op-Ed: France’s Constitutional Council Ruling Tests the Limits of Social Media Bans
Read our analysis the legal and policy significance of the Constitutional Council’s decision on ongoing social media age restriction and age assurance debates ahead of the most-anticipated EU-wide approach on child online safety due by December 2026.
CDT Europe’s Analysis of the EU Special Panel Report on Child Safety Online
CDT Europe’s analysis of the EU Special Panel Report on Child Safety Online, which looks into the key recommendations of the report, noting its strengths whilst underlining some blind spots that merit additional attention to ensure that subsequent policy developments strike a delicate, yet critical, balance between protecting children online and safeguarding fundamental rights.
Silenced by Design: Gendered Disinformation and its Threat to Democracy
Our latest paper on gendered disinformation and the EU’s response to this growing democratic challenge is part of our TFGBV series. It explores how existing legislation can be leveraged to tackle gendered disinformation, where the current framework falls short, and what policymakers should do next.
CDT Europe’s Response to the Trusted Flaggers Guidelines Consultation
CDT Europe welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Trusted Flaggers Guidelines public consultation and to reiterate the value of an effectively functioning trusted flagger mechanism in advancing the DSA’s enforcement.
“A Union of Equality” – An Analysis of the European Commission’s New Strategies in the Digital Age
CDT Europe analysed the new EU Equality strategies for 2026 to 2030 in light of their objectives to address gender-based cyber-violence as well as online hatred against racial and ethnically minoritised persons and the LGBTIQ+ community.
Our Work on Tech-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence
CDT Europe’s work to combat the proliferation of technology-facilitated gender-based violence is rooted in our commitment to protecting freedom of expression and addressing online harms that disproportionately affect minoritised groups. Through our Online Expression & Civic Space programme, we advocate for a rights-based, feminist, and intersectional approach to online safety.
