Access to Digital Justice: In Search of an Effective Remedy for Removing Unlawful Online Content

To be published as Chapter 14 in X. Kramer et al., Frontiers of Civil Justice (Edward Elgar, forthcoming 2022)

Amsterdam Law School Research Paper No. 2021-35

Amsterdam Centre for Transformative private law Working Paper No. 2021-07

Institute for Information Law Research Paper No. 2021-06

14 Pages Posted: 11 Nov 2021 Last revised: 16 Nov 2021

See all articles by Naomi Appelman

Naomi Appelman

University of Amsterdam - Institute for Information Law (IViR)

Anna van Duin

University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Law

Ronan Fahy

University of Amsterdam

Joris van Hoboken

University of Amsterdam - Institute for Information Law (IViR); Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) - Law, Science, Technology & Society Research Group; University of Amsterdam, Institute for Information Law (IViR), Students

Natali Helberger

University of Amsterdam - Institute for Information Law (IViR)

Brahim Zarouali

University of Amsterdam - Amsterdam School of Communications Research (ASCoR)

Date Written: November 11, 2021

Abstract

The publication and dissemination of unlawful online content and the lack of effective legal remedies has proven to be a persistent problem. This chapter aims to shed light on this by combining the perspectives of online speech regulation and access to justice, explaining why a (civil) procedural solution is so difficult to find. It is based on a study for the Dutch government into procedural routes and obstacles to quickly take down content that causes personal harm – i.e., a wide variety of Article 8 ECHR claims that impact people’s private life. The study consisted of a survey, expert interviews and a legal analysis. The issues identified in the Dutch procedural context are analysed in light of the broader EU legal framework and policy debates. The open and decentralised structure of the internet, as well as the powerful position of digital platforms, make it particularly difficult to regulate and control content moderation in general. This chapter shows that the main challenges for ‘access to digital justice’ are the need for speed and scalability. A trade-off emerges between accessibility on the one hand and the existence of institutional and procedural safeguards for the protection of fundamental rights on the other, especially the freedom of expression and due process. There is no single procedure that can properly balance all the divergent rights and interests concerned. Instead, a problem-oriented approach is proposed, where the removal of unlawful online content is seen as a collection of related specific issues that require a tailored solution. This chapter provides a steppingstone for more empirical research into people’s needs and perceptions in this respect.

Keywords: Unlawful Online Content, Right to Private Life, Access to Justice, Online Speech Regulation, Effective Remedies, Notice and Takedown, Procedural Safeguards, Platforms, Digital Services Act

JEL Classification: K13, K41, K42, O33

Suggested Citation

Appelman, Naomi and van Duin, J.M.L. (Anna) and Fahy, Ronan and van Hoboken, Joris V. J. and van Hoboken, Joris V. J. and van Hoboken, Joris V. J. and Helberger, Natali and Zarouali, Brahim, Access to Digital Justice: In Search of an Effective Remedy for Removing Unlawful Online Content (November 11, 2021). To be published as Chapter 14 in X. Kramer et al., Frontiers of Civil Justice (Edward Elgar, forthcoming 2022), Amsterdam Law School Research Paper No. 2021-35, Amsterdam Centre for Transformative private law Working Paper No. 2021-07, Institute for Information Law Research Paper No. 2021-06, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3961390

Naomi Appelman (Contact Author)

University of Amsterdam - Institute for Information Law (IViR) ( email )

Rokin 84
Amsterdam, 1012 KX
Netherlands

J.M.L. (Anna) Van Duin

University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Law ( email )

Amsterdam
Netherlands

Ronan Fahy

University of Amsterdam ( email )

Spui 21
Amsterdam, 1018 WB
Netherlands

Joris V. J. Van Hoboken

Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) - Law, Science, Technology & Society Research Group ( email )

Pleinlaan 2
Brussels, 1050
Belgium

University of Amsterdam - Institute for Information Law (IViR) ( email )

Rokin 84
Amsterdam, 1012 KX
Netherlands

HOME PAGE: http://www.ivir.nl/staff/vanhoboken.html

University of Amsterdam, Institute for Information Law (IViR), Students ( email )

Amsterdam
Netherlands

Natali Helberger

University of Amsterdam - Institute for Information Law (IViR) ( email )

Kloveniersburgwal 48
1012 CX Amsterdam
Netherlands

HOME PAGE: http://www.ivir.nl

Brahim Zarouali

University of Amsterdam - Amsterdam School of Communications Research (ASCoR) ( email )

Amsterdam, 1018 WB
Netherlands

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