The Digital Services Act as a tool for tackling gender-based digital violence

The Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society in collaboration with the Leibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans-Bredow-Institut (HBI), and the DSA Observatory, with support from the Network of Centres (NoC), invites you to a new Learning Call Series on the impact of the Digital Services Act (DSA) on the future of global tech policy: Is the DSA a global censorship law or the necessary basis for rights-based content moderation? The event is part of a broader Learning Call Series addressing current topics related to the DSA. It will take place online and in English. This Learning Call is part of the DSA Research Network, funded by Stiftung Mercator.

The Digital Services Act as a tool for tackling gender-based digital violence

Learning Call
Wednesday, 13 May 2026 • 2.00–3.00 p.m. (CET)
Online (via Zoom)

In this session, we explore what measure the Digital Services Act provides to tackle gender-based violence. Against the backdrop of recent cases, such as the Grok sexual deepfake scandal, the question of what legal recourse victims of digital violence have is as relevant as ever.

This Learning Call will examine gender-based violence in the context of the Digital Services Act (DSA) systemic risks framework. The discussion will explore how gender-based violence may be addressed within this framework, including how this category of risk is currently interpreted and operationalised by platforms and regulators (e.g. in recent Commission investigations concerning Grok). It will also situate the DSA within the broader legal landscape, including the EU Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence. We will consider both clearly unlawful content and more diffuse forms of online discourse that may contribute to gender-based harms, and reflect on whether the DSA provides an effective regulatory tool for addressing these dynamics.

Speaker

Asha Allen is Director and Secretary General of the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) Europe Office in Brussels. She previously served as CDT Europe’s Deputy Director and Programme Director for Online Expression & Civic Space. In that capacity, she led their work on issues at the intersection of online expression, civic engagement, and technology, focusing on advocating for the preservation of fundamental rights in European Union/Regional legislation, and democratic accountability in industry content policies.

Dr. Carlotta Rigotti is an Assistant Professor at eLaw – Center for Law and Digital Technologies at Leiden University. Her research sits at the intersection of law, gender, and technology, where she examines contemporary manifestations of structural and intersectional subordination of women that are technologically facilitated, amplified, or created.

Moderator

Magdalena Jóźwiak is a researcher at the Institute for Information Law (IViR) of the University of Amsterdam.

About the Learning Call Series

In the Learning Call Series “A Global Censorship Law or Rights-Based Content Moderation?”, we explore the impact of the Digital Services Act (DSA) on the future of global technology policy. Across a set of focused sessions, experts examine whether restrictive regulatory models or rights-based approaches to platform governance are more likely to shape content moderation worldwide.

About the Network of Centers (NoC)

The NoC is a collaborative initiative among academic institutions with a focus on interdisciplinary research on the development, social impact, policy implications, and legal issues concerning the Internet. This collective aims to increase interoperability between participating centers in order to stimulate the creation of new cross-national, cross-disciplinary conversation, debate, teaching, learning, and engagement regarding the most pressing questions around new technologies, social change, and related policy and regulatory developments.

About the DSA Research Network

The DSA Research Network aims to establish a unique space for communication and collaboration on the implementation of the Digital Services Act, with a strong focus on making early recommendations on potential areas for reform. Following a network-based approach, the project sets out to add value to already existing initiatives that have been formed to accompany the process of implementation. By providing a platform for cross-sectoral dialogue between academics, practitioners, NGOs, and regulators, we facilitate the creation of actionable knowledge and foster a culture of collaboration.

Partner

The DSA Research Network is a collaboration between the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society, the Leibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans Bredow Institute, and the DSA Observatory, University of Amsterdam. It is funded by the Stiftung Mercator.

Registration

To participate in this event, please follow this link and register directly on the site of the DSA Observatory. 

You will receive the login details on the day of the event.

If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to sarah.spitz@hiig.de.