The international conference entitled "The Future of the 'Marketplace of Ideas' amid the Rise of the Internet, Fake News and Artificial Intelligence: Challenges for Constitutional Courts" commenced today, 24 April, with opening remarks delivered by Mrs Domnica Manole, President of the Constitutional Court.

In her inaugural speech, the President addressed the evolution of the concept of the "marketplace of ideas," recalling its jurisprudential origins and its continued relevance in the current context marked by the expansion of the Internet, the proliferation of fake news, and the rapid development of artificial intelligence. Within this framework, she raised a number of essential questions regarding the future of this concept in the digital era: how pluralism of ideas can be safeguarded in the online environment, what the appropriate limits of regulation of digital platforms should be, and how to maintain a balance between freedom of expression and efforts to counter disinformation and harmful speech. These reflections provided a conceptual anchor for the conference sessions.

President Manole further emphasized that one of the central objectives of the conference is to examine the role of constitutional courts within a public sphere profoundly shaped by emerging technologies, encouraging an in-depth exchange of views on the challenges that digital transformation poses to constitutional democracy and the rule of law.A welcoming address was also delivered by Mrs Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova, who highlighted the importance of safeguarding the information space grounded in democratic values.

The opening session continued with remarks by Mr Claus Neukirch, Director for Programme Co-ordination at the Council of Europe, and Mr Timothy Otty, Vice-President of the Venice Commission, both of whom underscored the need for strengthened European cooperation in addressing the challenges generated by the digital environment.The Conference keynote address was delivered by Mrs Ivana Jelić, Vice-President of the European Court of Human Rights, who examined the legal challenges posed by artificial intelligence from the perspective of the Court's case-law.

The conference will continue throughout the day with thematic sessions dedicated to freedom of expression and artificial intelligence, as viewed through the practice of constitutional courts.

The conference is organized in the context of the Republic of Moldova's Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.The event is held with the support of the Council of Europe, within the framework of the joint project of the European Union and the Council of Europe "Support for Justice Reform in the Republic of Moldova."The full text of the speech delivered by the President of the Constitutional Court, Mrs Domnica Manole, is available here.