Position Title: Legal Expert (m/f/d)
Form of Employment: Home-based Consultant
Starting Date: October 2020
Duration: 15 days
Location: Remote Deskwork
Background
Policy makers at the national and at the EU level have begun adopting legislation or are in the process of proposing regulation to contain online disinformation, hate speech and other illegal content. Approaches have differed across EU member states. Through the proposed Digital Services Act and the European Democracy Action Plan, the EU is trying to contribute to a response to these challenges across the single market.
Against this background, DRI’s project is focused on online platform regulation in the EU and its member states. Through a series of events and reports we have been coordinating and collaborating with civil society organizations specialized in online disinformation, political advertising, illegal content and platform transparency to gather policy recommendations and provide evidence for the EU’s consultative processes.
We now plan to produce a comparative study of the various disinformation regulatory approaches in the EU, both at the national and EU level. This report aims to discuss potential areas where the EU and member states could regulate or create areas for coordination.
Objective
We are looking for a home-based consultant to conduct desk research, compile EU and national laws and regulation to contain or curb disinformation into a database, and analyze this to contribute to a final report. The assignment will start in October 2020, subject to funding.
Timeframe
15 work-days from October to November 2020
Your Tasks
The consultant will work directly with DRI HQ Social Media and Democracy team under the supervision of the Programme Officer. The consultant will perform the following tasks:
- Desk research: scope, identify and research case studies and examples of online disinformation, “fake news”, hate speech and illegal content regulation, laws and measures at the national and EU level
- Based on this, compile, compare and analyze EU and national approaches to regulation on these topics
- Support in the drafting and providing feedback on the final analytical report, with the aim of outlining potential areas of regulation or coordination for EU and member states on this topic
- Provide feedback to DRI’s Social Media and Democracy team throughout the research process
- Deliver the report and required feedback according to the agreed timeline
- Attend calls and video meetings as required and maintain effective communication with the DRI Social Media and Democracy team
Location:
Home-based Consultant
Deliverables:
- Develop a research design and scope of case studies in the EU and member states, of online disinformation (including “fake news”, hate speech and illegal content regulation, laws and measures)
- Conduct a literature review of existing regulatory measures and approaches in the EU and member states
- With support of the team, design and then finalise a database on EU and member state of online disinformation (including “fake news”, hate speech and illegal content regulation, laws and measures), for cross-cutting analysis of regulation and approaches
- Support in drafting the final analytical report
- Provide final feedback on report
Your skills and experience:
- Master’s degree in law, political science, international relations, journalism or related field.
- Experience in EU regulation and decision-making, and comparative/cross-country legal analysis
- Experience working on tech policy would be considered an asset, particularly experience working on topics related to social media research and disinformation.
- Demonstrated strong writing and research skills.
- Fluency in English is required, additional languages will be considered an asset. German is not required.
How to Apply:
DRI values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. Women are encouraged to apply.
The deadline for applications is 5 October 2020.
Candidates should submit a CV and cover letter to [email protected] with ‘Legal Expert’ in the subject line.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.
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