Digital Platforms on Trial: EU and US Case Law Perspectives (Course number 2400221, winter semester 2026/27)
This Seminar will cover relevant case laws concerning digital platforms such as Google, Meta, YouTube, Amazon etc. from the EU and the US courts. Through an in-depth analysis of court decisions and the associated legal frameworks/instruments governing digital public space and digital platforms, students would explore how judicial scrutiny translates into practical platform design choices such as content moderation, recommender systems, explainability, and user appeal mechanisms. Furthermore, students will learn about the distinct approaches of the EU and US courts in regulating platforms and protecting public law values such as human dignity, data protection and privacy, accountability and proportionality.