Coalition for Freedom of Expression and Content Moderation in BiH at SEEDIG 8

Coalition for Freedom of Expression and Content Moderation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, together with UNESCO’s Social Media 4 Peace Project, hosted a session titled “Reaching Social Media Giants: Perspectives from the Social Media 4 Peace Project” as part of the SEEDIG 8 conference held this week in Zagreb. The main goal of the session was to discuss existing and envisioned modes of cooperation of civil society with big tech companies, especially social media companies.

Moderated by Maida Muminović from Mediacentar Sarajevo, the panel featured a diverse range of speakers including Melisa Durak, Project Officer for Social Media 4 Peace Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNESCO), Bojana Kostić, Digital Rights Researcher and Advocate (Pen to Paper), Lukasz Gabler, Public Policy and Government Relations Manager CEE (TikTok), and internet activist and Coalition member Feđa Kulenović. The discussion focused on the outcomes of the Social Media 4 Peace project and assessed the impact of collaborative efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a view to applying these models across the broader region.

Key points from the session emphasized the necessity of understanding the inner workings of social media platforms. Panelists noted that instead of general inquiries, such as those about the number of content moderators, more specific questions are needed to obtain meaningful insights about the workings of systems and policies that govern the online spaces. This approach aims to address issues more effectively and comprehensively.

The discussion covered a range of topics including gender-based violence, intersectionality, and the importance of collaboration among media, academic, and human rights organizations. Social media platforms are encouraged to adapt their policies and media literacy campaigns to better suit different linguistic and cultural contexts, thus improving content moderation efforts. The panelists also stressed the need for coordinated efforts among civil society, state authorities, and tech companies to align with regulations. Additionally, it was concluded that clear guidelines and capacity building for local organizations are crucial for effective implementation and collaboration.

Coaliton’s representative Feđa Kulenović emphasized the importance of cooperation over competition among digital experts, particularly at the local level, to avoid duplication of efforts and ensure the success of digital regulation principles.

The 8th Annual Meeting of the South Eastern European Dialogue on Internet Governance (SEEDIG 8) was held on 6-7 November 2023 in Zagreb, under the overarching theme “Digital Beyond Borders: Regional Synergy for Community Advancement” and offered a space where stakeholders from South Eastern Europe could connect, exchange insights about in-country projects and initiatives, and explore opportunities for enhanced synergies. The hybrid event was attended by representatives of civil society, tech community, government, intergovernmental organisations, academia, media, and private sector from 22 countries.

The recording of the discussion can be watched on SEEDIG’s official YouTube channel here:

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