Paddy Leerssen
@pjleerssen.bsky.social
Postdoc @ivir_uva | DSA Observatory | social media law
Reposted by Paddy Leerssen
Recent upheavals at X and Meta stem from oligarchic ownership by Musk and Zuckerberg who directly control content policies. CIS Affiliate @pjleerssen.bsky.social examines how these moguls influence digital governance through ideological or economic motives.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
October 24, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Recent upheavals at X and Meta stem from oligarchic ownership by Musk and Zuckerberg who directly control content policies. CIS Affiliate @pjleerssen.bsky.social examines how these moguls influence digital governance through ideological or economic motives.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by Paddy Leerssen
While we're still waiting on details of the TikTok deal, this paper by @pjleerssen.bsky.social opens up some crucial questions about platform ownership that are still tbd for any new US TikTok entity. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
November 13, 2025 at 4:30 PM
While we're still waiting on details of the TikTok deal, this paper by @pjleerssen.bsky.social opens up some crucial questions about platform ownership that are still tbd for any new US TikTok entity. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by Paddy Leerssen
"The video is part of a paid Israeli government campaign of posts on Google-owned YouTube that 'focus on whether or not a famine is taking place in Gaza,' according to an internal Google email reviewed by The Washington Post." wapo.st/47dlXDu
As famine struck Gaza, Google let Israel run YouTube ads claiming, ‘There is food’
An internal Google email said it received many complaints about Israeli government YouTube ads about food access in Gaza, but ruled they could remain online.
wapo.st
October 15, 2025 at 11:32 AM
"The video is part of a paid Israeli government campaign of posts on Google-owned YouTube that 'focus on whether or not a famine is taking place in Gaza,' according to an internal Google email reviewed by The Washington Post." wapo.st/47dlXDu
Reposted by Paddy Leerssen
Europe's Digital Services Act lets users challenge platform moderation decisions through independent certified bodies. Article 21 dispute settlements cover takedowns, suspensions & more. @pjleerssen.bsky.social interviewed by @techpolicypress.bsky.social
www.techpolicy.press/what-we-can-...
www.techpolicy.press/what-we-can-...
What We Can Learn from the First Digital Services Act Out-of-Court Dispute Settlements? | TechPolicy.Press
Ramsha Jahangir spoke to two experts to unpack what the early wave of disputes tells us about how the out-of-court system is working under the DSA.
www.techpolicy.press
October 14, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Europe's Digital Services Act lets users challenge platform moderation decisions through independent certified bodies. Article 21 dispute settlements cover takedowns, suspensions & more. @pjleerssen.bsky.social interviewed by @techpolicypress.bsky.social
www.techpolicy.press/what-we-can-...
www.techpolicy.press/what-we-can-...
Reposted by Paddy Leerssen
Under Article 21 of the DSA, out-of-court bodies review moderation disputes. One such body, Appeals Centre Europe, has released its first transparency report.
@ramshajahangir.bsky.social spoke with Thomas Hughes and Paddy Leerssen about what these early findings suggest.
@ramshajahangir.bsky.social spoke with Thomas Hughes and Paddy Leerssen about what these early findings suggest.
What We Can Learn from the First Digital Services Act Out-of-Court Dispute Settlements? | TechPolicy.Press
Ramsha Jahangir spoke to two experts to unpack what the early wave of disputes tells us about how the out-of-court system is working under the DSA.
www.techpolicy.press
October 8, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Under Article 21 of the DSA, out-of-court bodies review moderation disputes. One such body, Appeals Centre Europe, has released its first transparency report.
@ramshajahangir.bsky.social spoke with Thomas Hughes and Paddy Leerssen about what these early findings suggest.
@ramshajahangir.bsky.social spoke with Thomas Hughes and Paddy Leerssen about what these early findings suggest.
Prague University Law School, i owe you an apology, I wasn't familiar with your game
September 27, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Prague University Law School, i owe you an apology, I wasn't familiar with your game
Not content just ruining their own product, Google Search is now auto-translating all my <site:reddit.com> queries. One of the few remaining use cases for Search and they can't resist screwing with it.
August 10, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Not content just ruining their own product, Google Search is now auto-translating all my <site:reddit.com> queries. One of the few remaining use cases for Search and they can't resist screwing with it.
Reposted by Paddy Leerssen
In today's Briefing: I found 114 ads for AI nudifiers on Meta.
The copy of the ads included the word "undress," which isn't a sophisticated term to watch out for.
As always, I flagged these ads to Meta, which took them down. Google also took down a related app.
indicator.media/p/ai-nudifie...
The copy of the ads included the word "undress," which isn't a sophisticated term to watch out for.
As always, I flagged these ads to Meta, which took them down. Google also took down a related app.
indicator.media/p/ai-nudifie...
August 8, 2025 at 11:56 AM
In today's Briefing: I found 114 ads for AI nudifiers on Meta.
The copy of the ads included the word "undress," which isn't a sophisticated term to watch out for.
As always, I flagged these ads to Meta, which took them down. Google also took down a related app.
indicator.media/p/ai-nudifie...
The copy of the ads included the word "undress," which isn't a sophisticated term to watch out for.
As always, I flagged these ads to Meta, which took them down. Google also took down a related app.
indicator.media/p/ai-nudifie...
Chuffed to see my new draft paper on platform ownership billed as "hidden gem of the week" over at the Syllabus 👇
Ownership of social media platforms by tech oligarchs like Musk and Zuckerberg has become a decisive force shaping content governance. Our hidden gem of the week shows how individually-owned firms enable direct ideological and political instrumentalism.
By @pjleerssen.bsky.social
osf.io/bzxs2
By @pjleerssen.bsky.social
osf.io/bzxs2
July 22, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Chuffed to see my new draft paper on platform ownership billed as "hidden gem of the week" over at the Syllabus 👇
🎺🎺 New draft paper 🎺🎺
From Murdoch to Musk: Social media ownership and the political economy of platform content governance
The question is simple: who owns the major social media companies, and how do these owners influence content governance outcomes?
osf.io/preprints/os...
From Murdoch to Musk: Social media ownership and the political economy of platform content governance
The question is simple: who owns the major social media companies, and how do these owners influence content governance outcomes?
osf.io/preprints/os...
OSF
osf.io
July 9, 2025 at 4:36 PM
🎺🎺 New draft paper 🎺🎺
From Murdoch to Musk: Social media ownership and the political economy of platform content governance
The question is simple: who owns the major social media companies, and how do these owners influence content governance outcomes?
osf.io/preprints/os...
From Murdoch to Musk: Social media ownership and the political economy of platform content governance
The question is simple: who owns the major social media companies, and how do these owners influence content governance outcomes?
osf.io/preprints/os...
Reposted by Paddy Leerssen
So... I'm not saying you should sue any platforms under the DSA. But if you *did* want to do that, you'd definitely want to look at this article from @pjleerssen.bsky.social, Iris Toepoel, Anna van Duin, and @jvh.bsky.social
It's basically a tactical guide.
dsa-observatory.eu/wp-content/u...
It's basically a tactical guide.
dsa-observatory.eu/wp-content/u...
dsa-observatory.eu
July 2, 2025 at 9:38 AM
So... I'm not saying you should sue any platforms under the DSA. But if you *did* want to do that, you'd definitely want to look at this article from @pjleerssen.bsky.social, Iris Toepoel, Anna van Duin, and @jvh.bsky.social
It's basically a tactical guide.
dsa-observatory.eu/wp-content/u...
It's basically a tactical guide.
dsa-observatory.eu/wp-content/u...
PlatGovNet 2025: Dec 1-2
I'll be counting the days! Very grateful that this is happening again.
I'll be counting the days! Very grateful that this is happening again.
Working on platform governance?
Join for PlatGovNet 2025
Free online conference Dec 1-2
Extended abstracts (800-1000 words) due Sep 2
Amazing community, opportunity to share work, get feedback, meet others working in this area.
Glad to be part of organizing it
Details: platgov.net/conferences/...
Join for PlatGovNet 2025
Free online conference Dec 1-2
Extended abstracts (800-1000 words) due Sep 2
Amazing community, opportunity to share work, get feedback, meet others working in this area.
Glad to be part of organizing it
Details: platgov.net/conferences/...
2025 Conference Call for Submissions — PlatGovOpen MenuClose Menu
2025 Conference Call for Submissions
platgov.net
June 24, 2025 at 2:58 PM
PlatGovNet 2025: Dec 1-2
I'll be counting the days! Very grateful that this is happening again.
I'll be counting the days! Very grateful that this is happening again.
Reposted by Paddy Leerssen
Working on platform governance?
Join for PlatGovNet 2025
Free online conference Dec 1-2
Extended abstracts (800-1000 words) due Sep 2
Amazing community, opportunity to share work, get feedback, meet others working in this area.
Glad to be part of organizing it
Details: platgov.net/conferences/...
Join for PlatGovNet 2025
Free online conference Dec 1-2
Extended abstracts (800-1000 words) due Sep 2
Amazing community, opportunity to share work, get feedback, meet others working in this area.
Glad to be part of organizing it
Details: platgov.net/conferences/...
2025 Conference Call for Submissions — PlatGovOpen MenuClose Menu
2025 Conference Call for Submissions
platgov.net
June 24, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Working on platform governance?
Join for PlatGovNet 2025
Free online conference Dec 1-2
Extended abstracts (800-1000 words) due Sep 2
Amazing community, opportunity to share work, get feedback, meet others working in this area.
Glad to be part of organizing it
Details: platgov.net/conferences/...
Join for PlatGovNet 2025
Free online conference Dec 1-2
Extended abstracts (800-1000 words) due Sep 2
Amazing community, opportunity to share work, get feedback, meet others working in this area.
Glad to be part of organizing it
Details: platgov.net/conferences/...
Reposted by Paddy Leerssen
Coming soon 📣: @yannickvdberg.bsky.social in SPUI25 over het recht gebruiken om mensen minder te laten vliegen ✈️ Meld je aan voor het event op 13 juni https://bit.ly/459lUJw
SPUI25: Hoe kunnen we het recht inzetten om mensen minder te laten vliegen?
Luchtvaart is een vervuilende bezigheid: Iemand die van Lissabon naar New York vliegt en terug, veroorzaakt ongeveer evenveel uitstoot als een gemiddelde EU-burger doet door zijn huis een heel jaar te verwarmen. Sinds 1992 maakt de EU wetten en beleid om de uitstoot van de luchtvaart aan te pakken, maar ondertussen heeft de uitstoot door de luchtvaart recordhoogtes bereikt. Hoe kunnen we dit inperken?
bit.ly
June 5, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Coming soon 📣: @yannickvdberg.bsky.social in SPUI25 over het recht gebruiken om mensen minder te laten vliegen ✈️ Meld je aan voor het event op 13 juni https://bit.ly/459lUJw
Yesterday, for the first time, I presented findings from a new empirical project. The question is simple: who owns social media?
I'm leaving the AoIR symposium in Bremen more inspired than ever to pursue this topic. Many thanks to the organisers at @zemki.bsky.social!
I'm leaving the AoIR symposium in Bremen more inspired than ever to pursue this topic. Many thanks to the organisers at @zemki.bsky.social!
June 5, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Yesterday, for the first time, I presented findings from a new empirical project. The question is simple: who owns social media?
I'm leaving the AoIR symposium in Bremen more inspired than ever to pursue this topic. Many thanks to the organisers at @zemki.bsky.social!
I'm leaving the AoIR symposium in Bremen more inspired than ever to pursue this topic. Many thanks to the organisers at @zemki.bsky.social!
WAITRESS: please keep your voices down, this is a family restaurant.
WALTER: Oh please dear! For your information: the Supreme Court roundly rejected prior restraint!
DUDE: C'mon Walter, this is not a First Amendment thing, man.
WALTER: Oh please dear! For your information: the Supreme Court roundly rejected prior restraint!
DUDE: C'mon Walter, this is not a First Amendment thing, man.
May 25, 2025 at 6:20 PM
WAITRESS: please keep your voices down, this is a family restaurant.
WALTER: Oh please dear! For your information: the Supreme Court roundly rejected prior restraint!
DUDE: C'mon Walter, this is not a First Amendment thing, man.
WALTER: Oh please dear! For your information: the Supreme Court roundly rejected prior restraint!
DUDE: C'mon Walter, this is not a First Amendment thing, man.
The folks at @knightgtown.bsky.social are doing cutting-edge research on recommender systems. 👇
In this new commentary for @dsaobservatory.bsky.social l, @alissacooper.bsky.social and Peter Chapman discuss key findings and their relevance to the DSA.
dsa-observatory.eu/2025/05/19/m...
In this new commentary for @dsaobservatory.bsky.social l, @alissacooper.bsky.social and Peter Chapman discuss key findings and their relevance to the DSA.
dsa-observatory.eu/2025/05/19/m...
Making Recommender Systems Work for People: Turning the DSA’s Potential into Practice - DSA Observatory
By Alissa Cooper and Peter Chapman, Knight-Georgetown Institute The Digital Services Act sets out broad new legal requirements to make recommender systems more transparent and accountable, including f...
dsa-observatory.eu
May 19, 2025 at 7:09 PM
The folks at @knightgtown.bsky.social are doing cutting-edge research on recommender systems. 👇
In this new commentary for @dsaobservatory.bsky.social l, @alissacooper.bsky.social and Peter Chapman discuss key findings and their relevance to the DSA.
dsa-observatory.eu/2025/05/19/m...
In this new commentary for @dsaobservatory.bsky.social l, @alissacooper.bsky.social and Peter Chapman discuss key findings and their relevance to the DSA.
dsa-observatory.eu/2025/05/19/m...
👇Join us on Thursday - online or in Amsterdam 👇
📣 This week, I'll be moderating a conversation with @theresajseipp.bsky.social and @pjleerssen.bsky.social on the rising power of big tech and its growing influence on global politics, media, and democracy.
📆 Join us on 8 May at 17:00 at SPUI25.
➡️ Registered here: spui25.nl/programma/re...
📆 Join us on 8 May at 17:00 at SPUI25.
➡️ Registered here: spui25.nl/programma/re...
The Rising Power of Big Tech (rescheduled)
In a moment of rapid change for global politics, Big Tech platforms and their owners are shaping up to be international power brokers. Trump’s White house cozies up to Silicon Valley oligarchs as Elon...
spui25.nl
May 6, 2025 at 11:16 AM
👇Join us on Thursday - online or in Amsterdam 👇
Reposted by Paddy Leerssen
📣 Panel Discussion: The Rising Power of Big Tech (New Date!) Thursday, 8 May 2025 | 17:00 | SPUI25. Join @pjleerssen.bsky.social, @tomasdodds.bsky.social and me as we discuss Big Tech’s growing influence on global politics, media and democracy. Register here: spui25.nl/programma/re...
The Rising Power of Big Tech (rescheduled)
In a moment of rapid change for global politics, Big Tech platforms and their owners are shaping up to be international power brokers. Trump’s White house cozies up to Silicon Valley oligarchs as Elon...
spui25.nl
April 24, 2025 at 2:04 PM
📣 Panel Discussion: The Rising Power of Big Tech (New Date!) Thursday, 8 May 2025 | 17:00 | SPUI25. Join @pjleerssen.bsky.social, @tomasdodds.bsky.social and me as we discuss Big Tech’s growing influence on global politics, media and democracy. Register here: spui25.nl/programma/re...
Just published: another victory for @dannymekic.nl over X at the Amsterdam District Court.
Enforcing your digital rights shouldn't be this hard, but at least someone's doing the heavy lifting.
uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl/details?id=E...
Enforcing your digital rights shouldn't be this hard, but at least someone's doing the heavy lifting.
uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl/details?id=E...
Rechtspraak.nl - Zoeken in uitspraken
Zoeken in uitspraken
uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl
March 27, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Just published: another victory for @dannymekic.nl over X at the Amsterdam District Court.
Enforcing your digital rights shouldn't be this hard, but at least someone's doing the heavy lifting.
uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl/details?id=E...
Enforcing your digital rights shouldn't be this hard, but at least someone's doing the heavy lifting.
uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl/details?id=E...
I'm sorry to say that tonight's event will be POSTPONED until futher notice.
My apologies for any inconvenience. Hopefully we'll get a new date scheduled soon. 🙏
My apologies for any inconvenience. Hopefully we'll get a new date scheduled soon. 🙏
If you can't make it to SPUI25 today, feel free to join @theresajseipp.bsky.social and @pjleerssen.bsky.social online to learn more about the way Big Tech affect our democracies 💻 https://bit.ly/41BstAU
The Rising Power of Big Tech
In a moment of rapid change for global politics, Big Tech platforms and their owners are shaping up to be international power brokers. Trump’s White house cozies up to Silicon Valley oligarchs as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, and clashes with the EU over its platform laws. How does the power of Big Tech affect our democracies, and can it be contained? In this panel discussion, researchers Theresa Josephine Seipp and Paddy Leerssen will discuss their latest research on platform power and regulation.
bit.ly
March 25, 2025 at 2:08 PM
I'm sorry to say that tonight's event will be POSTPONED until futher notice.
My apologies for any inconvenience. Hopefully we'll get a new date scheduled soon. 🙏
My apologies for any inconvenience. Hopefully we'll get a new date scheduled soon. 🙏
At Spui25 later this month: I'll be talking (social) media regulation with IViR colleagues Theresa Seipp and Petros Terzis.
Save the date! 🚨 Really important and timely Spui25 event @uva.nl on the rising power of big tech with the excellent @theresajseipp.bsky.social and @pjleerssen.bsky.social
🗓️ March 25, 17.00
@ivir-uva.bsky.social @uvalawschool.bsky.social @ascor.bsky.social @algosoc.org
spui25.nl/programma/th...
🗓️ March 25, 17.00
@ivir-uva.bsky.social @uvalawschool.bsky.social @ascor.bsky.social @algosoc.org
spui25.nl/programma/th...
The Rising Power of Big Tech
In a moment of rapid change for global politics, Big Tech platforms and their owners are shaping up to be international power brokers. Trump’s White house cozies up to Silicon Valley oligarchs as Elon...
spui25.nl
March 16, 2025 at 6:41 PM
At Spui25 later this month: I'll be talking (social) media regulation with IViR colleagues Theresa Seipp and Petros Terzis.
What are some good *open access* journals to submit to in European (private) law?
March 7, 2025 at 12:29 PM
What are some good *open access* journals to submit to in European (private) law?
The 'Instagore' story from last week is absolutely nuts and really flew under the radar.
No clear explanation either. Theories I've seen:
- deliberate sabotage, e.g. from a disgruntled employee?
- coding error, e.g. inverting ranking scores to show lowest first?
www.404media.co/instagram-er...
No clear explanation either. Theories I've seen:
- deliberate sabotage, e.g. from a disgruntled employee?
- coding error, e.g. inverting ranking scores to show lowest first?
www.404media.co/instagram-er...
Instagram 'Error' Turned Reels Into Neverending Scroll of Murder, Gore, and Violence
“Today’s algorithm showed me around 70 murders, 100+ accidents, and around 115 violence videos, is anyone on Instagram noticing it?”
www.404media.co
March 3, 2025 at 2:23 PM
The 'Instagore' story from last week is absolutely nuts and really flew under the radar.
No clear explanation either. Theories I've seen:
- deliberate sabotage, e.g. from a disgruntled employee?
- coding error, e.g. inverting ranking scores to show lowest first?
www.404media.co/instagram-er...
No clear explanation either. Theories I've seen:
- deliberate sabotage, e.g. from a disgruntled employee?
- coding error, e.g. inverting ranking scores to show lowest first?
www.404media.co/instagram-er...