Speaker Announcement
We are thrilled that
Mrs. Nienke de Bruijn LL.M.
Attorney-at-Law at The Firewall,
Speaker/Podcast maker and
NextGen Lawyer
will be speaking at the conference
THE RULE OF LAW IN CHALLENGING TIMES
Title:
Does the Rule of Law Stop
At the Platform Gate?
The Firewall was established in September 2025 with the object of safeguarding democratic society in the European Union against the harmful influence of the positions of power held by Big Tech and other undertakings through their exploitation of online platforms and online services. The Firewall exposes wrongdoing in a journalistic and verifiable manner. In addition, The Firewall combats those wrongdoings, where possible and appropriate, by legal means as well.
In our “offline” world we have laws, rules and treaties. That system protects human rights and keeps our democratic values intact: the prohibition of discrimination, safety, the protection of those least able to protect themselves, minors above all. It also gives us somewhere to turn to when things go wrong: a court, a tribunal, an arbitrator. On the platforms where Big Tech rules, those same rules carry far less weight, and the forum on offer is usually the one operated by the party you are complaining about.
What does this mean for our democratic society? Can this environment still be brought within the reach of the law, or will Europe remain a step behind? And what is the effect on the “offline” society: the one we all actually inhabit?
