Calls for Action

Governments and Ministries of Education should promote inclusive language practices 

  1. Guided by the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis - our perception of reality is determined by our thought processes, which are influenced by the language we use- governments should advocate for the adoption of inclusive language practices in public discourse, education, and legislation. 

    See Appendix i. Legislative reforms driven by Spain and Canada

  2. International agencies such as Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) should develop media literacy and critical thinking curriculum that can be applied to national education systems

    As proposed by Jennifer Mather Saul, with the intention to educate the public, especially youth, on identifying mis/disinformation and manipulation online

    See Appendix ii. Case study: How has Finland implemented age-appropriate media literacy lesson plans

  3. Technology experts in social media platforms (such as Meta) should stop algorithmic radicalization

    Examine how to tackle the undesired effects of algorithmic radicalization, suggesting that recommender algorithms on popular social media sites such as YouTube and Facebook drive users toward progressively more extreme content over time, leading to them developing radicalized extremist political views

    See Appendix iii. How platform algorithms and designs may unintentionally promote extremism?

  4. Media companies should reform content governance structures (frameworks and policies that organizations use to manage the creation, approval, distribution, and maintenance of content) and address representation gaps in online public discourse

    Limit reliance on AI for moderation in favor of human experts from represented communities, to ensure, for instance diverse language’s inclusion

    See Appendix iv. What organizations are currently working on AI being accessed by diverse language communities - how does this lack of resource have to do with political correctness?

  5. National regulatory agencies and governments should implement protocols from the Digital Services Act (DSA) beyond the EU 

    The Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act aim to create a safer digital space where the fundamental rights of users are protected and to establish a level playing field for businesses.

    See Appendix v. How has the Digital Services Act made things better for people? How has it affected this "issue" of political correctness or has it made for inclusive online spaces? 

  6. Civil society organizations (such as Cinema for Peace) should push platforms from the outside through creative advocacy campaigns. York gave the example of Stop Silencing Palestine campaign, which pressured Meta on the censorship of Palestinian voices through coordinated advocacy campaigns.

  7. Government research agencies and scientific programs should avoid biases and stereotypes 

    Encourage diversity and inclusion in scientific inquiry to address biases and disparities in research

    See Appendix vi. Efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in scientific inquiry

  8. National governments should enforce anti-discrimination laws 

    Protection of marginalized groups from systemic discrimination and violence

    Real life Act for Reference: Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 (Commencement: 1 April 2024, Royal assent: 23 April 2021).

Main Outcomes

  • Emphasis on the importance of nuanced dialogue and critique in navigating debates on political  correctness and free speech. 

  • Recognition of cultural nuances surrounding freedom of expression, highlighting the need for  inclusive discourse. 

  • Advocacy for proactive measures to combat extremism and misinformation, including education  and promotion of diverse perspectives. 

  • Acknowledgment of the challenges of governance in online spaces, particularly regarding content  moderation on social media platforms. 

  • Call for greater transparency and accountability in digital environments to uphold fundamental  rights while preventing harm. 

  • Highlighting the complexities of free speech issues in the digital age and the imperative of  thoughtful consideration of context, intent, and consequences.

Panel Discussion Summary

“Political Correctness in Open Societies - new rules for language, humour, science and behavior in the 21st century” provided insights into the complex relationship between societal norms, freedom of expression, and the digital realm, together with an evaluation of the intersection of free expression, censorship, and social justice. Nicholas Bruckman moderated the conversation asking questions on topics such as the balance of political correctness and censorship, cultural differences in free expression approaches between the US and Germany, and boundaries regarding speech issues like jokes, satire and sexual harassment.
Jillian C. York provided context on her work promoting online freedom of expression and analyzed the evolution of "political correctness" as a term used in its inception by conservatives. Jennifer MatherSaul pushed back on framing the issue as a debate between political correctness and censorship and proposed education and technology-focused solutions to resist extremism. Participants debated challenges like online anonymity while Jillian C. York criticized censorship and emphasized social issues. Jennifer also emphasized considering power dynamics in determining harassment. Finally, Jillian outlined historical problems with platforms, such as insufficient moderators for certain languages and censorship of Palestinian and Jewish speech in Germany. Proposals included urging platforms, advocacy, and regulation to enhance practices (such as content moderation, algorithmic design, governance structures, and representation in decision-making) and to foster environments that discourage hate speech and manipulation.