PhD Thesis
Title: Regulating Freedom of Expression in the Age of Social Media
Expected Completion Date: 2024
PhD Supervisor: Andrew Clapham
Profile
Stefania Di Stefano is a Ph.D. Researcher in International Law at the Geneva Graduate Institute and Project Officer for the Geneva Human Rights Platform at the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. Her doctoral research examines the role of international human rights law in regulating the exercise of freedom of expression on social media platforms.
She is currently a Visiting Lecturer at Riga Graduate School of Law and, since 2022, she has served as Convenor of the ESIL Interest Group on International Law and Technology.
Previously, Stefania has served as Teaching Assistant (in 2020) and as Programme Manager (2021–2022) for the LL.M. in International Law at the Geneva Graduate Institute. In 2021, she was a Consultant for the Mandate of the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. From 2020 to 2021, she was a Research Associate for the project ‘The Co-Evolution of Facebook’s Content Policies and International Instruments on Freedom of Expression’ at the University of Leeds.
Stefania holds a Master’s degree in International Law from the Geneva Graduate Institute (2018) and an LLB (Hons) in Law and European Legal Studies from the University of Southampton (2016). In 2019, she was awarded the Diploma in Human Rights Law by the European University Institute.
Academic Work Experience
Teaching Experience
- Teaching Assistant at the LL.M. Program in International Law at the Graduate Institute
- Visiting Lecturer at Riga Graduate School of Law
Research Experience
- Research Associate on Content Moderation of Online Platforms, University of Leeds (2020-2021)
Research Interests
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International Human Rights Law
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Business and Human Rights
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Human Rights in the Digital Age
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Corporate Responsibility
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Rights to Freedom of Expression and Access to Information
Relevant Publications and Works
- “Parameters for a Global Helpdesk on Business and Human Rights”, Research Brief, Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, November 2023
- “En France ou ailleurs, couper l’accès aux réseaux sociaux pour couper court aux émeutes ?”, The Conversation (2023)
- Is Facebook Keeping Up with International Standards on Freedom of Expression? A Time-Series Analysis 2005-2020”, co-authored with Konstantinos Stylianou and Nicolo Zingales, Project funded by Facebook Research, (2022
- “The Facebook Oversight Board and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: A Missed Opportunity for Alignment?” in Frédéric Bernard & Jonathan Andrew (eds.) ‘Human Rights Responsibilities in the Digital Age – States, Companies and Individuals' – Hart Publishing, Oxford (2021), 93-116
- “Facebook’s new recipe: too much optimism, not enough human rights”, OpenGlobalRights (2020)
- “State behaviour in cyberspace: a new challenge for the international community”, DiploFoundation (2018), co-authored with Francesca Casalini
- “State behaviour in cyberspace: moving away from a military discourse”, DiploFoundation (2018) co-authored with Francesca Casalini
- “A ‘Digital’ Geneva Convention to Protect Cyberspace? Evaluating the prospects for and content of a Convention on Cybersecurity”, TradeLab (2018), co-authored with Francesca Casalini and Fabiola Rosi
OTHER WORK EXPERIENCEs
Consultant, Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Geneva
Project Assistant, Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights
Intern, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Geneva
Junior Pro Bono Coordinator, Sidley Austin LLP, Geneva
Fellowships, Grants and Awards
(2019) Diploma in Human Rights Law by the European University Institute