XVIII International Conference on Natural Law

Freedom of Expression in the Digital Era

Platforms, deepfakes, social media and the public sphere

October 2026 · Faculty of Law · Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

October 2026

An international dialogue on law, technology and human dignity

Digital transformation has redefined the terms in which freedom of expression is exercised, protected and undermined. Private platforms now concentrate the moderation of public discourse, deepfakes erode trust in audiovisual testimony, and artificial intelligence systems increasingly mediate citizens' experience of truth.

The XVIII International Conference on Natural Law brings together scholars, judges, lawyers and practitioners from five universities to examine these challenges from the natural law tradition, with particular attention to human dignity, technological governance and the health of the democratic public sphere.

Academic program

Conference tracks

Six thematic tracks frame the academic discussion of the Conference.

Freedom of expression and human dignity in the digital era
The articulation between freedom of expression and the dignity of the human person in the context of global digital platforms. The track examines the philosophical foundations of protected speech and the legitimate limits to expression when it erodes basic human goods.
Deepfakes, synthetic content and audiovisual manipulation
Deepfakes and AI-generated content raise unprecedented problems of evidence, attribution and responsibility. How can we protect the integrity of audiovisual testimony and social trust in the image?
Digital platforms: content moderation and responsibility
Private platforms now concentrate the moderation of public discourse. The track analyzes intermediary liability regimes, moderation procedures and emerging standards in comparative law.
Public sphere, disinformation and the social construction of truth
The health of democratic deliberation depends on shared access to verifiable facts. The dynamics of disinformation, its effects on the political common good and institutional and citizen responses are discussed.
Artificial intelligence as mediator of human experience
Artificial intelligence systems increasingly mediate citizens' experience of information, culture and law. The track examines the anthropological, ethical and legal implications of this mediation.
Technological governance and regulation: a comparative perspective
Comparative analysis of emerging regulatory frameworks on platforms, artificial intelligence and personal data. Special attention to the European Union, the United States, Latin America and international forums.