The digital space has changed the rules of the game – has the law changed as well? But has the law kept up? People have never had such broad opportunities to comment and express their views as they do today. The digital space provides not only new locations/platforms for self-expression and freedom of speech, but also an incredibly wide/unprecedented reach. At times, this freedom and reach can have serious negative consequences for business reputation.
For a long time, the only way to fight false or offensive comments was in court / false or offensive comments could only be challenged in court. However, with the adoption of the EU Digital Services Act, new requirements for websites and new opportunities to combat unethical commenting have emerged – albeit belatedly, but they should help strengthen online safety. Understanding that businesses face many practical questions, we invite you to a seminar where we will discuss the following topics:
- Current issues in the implementation of the DSA: is Lithuanian business already prepared?
- What requirements for websites arise from the DSA / Website requirements under the DSA
- The (lack of) culture of commenting: old and new legal tools in the fight against unethical comments
- The price of business reputation in Lithuanian courts
In the first part, Vygantas Vaitkus, a member of the Communications Regulatory Authority Council, will share insights on the implementation of the Digital Services Act in Lithuania. The Director of the State Consumer Rights Protection Authority (VVTAT) will present the list of new requirements for websites introduced by the Digital Services Act. In the second part, lawyers will discuss and provide guidance on the tools available to combat false comments and assess their effectiveness.
Program:
08:30 – 09:00 Registration, welcome coffee
09:00 – 09:10 Opening remarks
09:10 – 09:30 “Current issues in the implementation of the DSA: is Lithuanian business already prepared?”
Vygantas Vaitkus, Member of the Communications Regulatory Authority Council
09:30 – 10:15 “What requirements for websites arise from the DSA” / Website requirements under the DSA
Goda Aleksaitė, Director of the State Consumer Rights Protection Authority (VVTAT)
10:15 – 10:40 Coffee break
10:40 – 11:15 Commenting (non)culture: old and new legal tools in the fight against unethical comments
Renata Vasiliauskienė, Managing Associate, COBALT
11:15 – 11:40 The price of business reputation in Lithuanian courts
Marius Inta, Partner, COBALT
11:40 – 12:00 Closing remarks, summary
Date and Time: 11 November, 9:00 AM
Venue: Courtyard Vilnius City Center, Rinktinės str. 3
Registration is needed an is open until 7 November. Link – https://luma.com/ha9w6sn3
Seats are limited. All participants will receive the event materials.
Speakers
Renata Vasiliauskienė is a Managing Associate in the IP & IT and Regulatory Law practice group at COBALT with more than 12 years of legal experience. Her main areas of expertise include regulatory compliance (covering electronic communications and cybersecurity), data protection, and consumer protection (including OMNIBUS and content management under the DSA). Renata also has experience in various e-commerce matters, such as regulation of digital communications, cookie management, promotional campaigns, unfair business-to-consumer commercial practice, and other online consumer-related issues. She provides legal services to both local and international clients on a wide range of TMT matters, for example, the regulation of AI, software products and services, licensing, development and maintenance of e-commerce platforms, as well as representing media platforms in various disputes concerning media content, etc.
Marius Inta is a Partner and Head of the Commercial Disputes Practice Group at COBALT Lithuania. He has more than 17 years of experience in dispute resolution and conflict management, with focus on insurance disputes. He also represents clients in litigation matters involving damages compensation , competition law, and intellectual property law violations. Marius is a litigation lawyer with a long track record of representing clients before courts of general jurisdiction and administrative courts, as well as in alternative dispute resolution (negotiation, arbitration, mediation). Marius Inta holds a Master’s degree in Law from Vilnius University.
Vygantas Vaitkus is a Member of the Communications Regulatory Authority Council. Prior to this position, he worked for three years as the Head of Strategy at AB “LTG Infra,” where he was responsible for developing and implementing the company’s strategy, monitoring KPIs, overseeing performance efficiency measures, establishing and executing operational processes, managing risks, and handling regulatory and international affairs. He also served for seven years as a member of the State Price and Energy Control Commission (currently the National Energy Regulatory Council), where he coordinated legal and natural gas sector regulatory issues, led teams of lawyers and natural gas specialists, and worked to ensure the improvement and efficiency of legislative processes.
Goda Aleksaitė is the Director of the State Consumer Rights Protection Authority, with more than twenty years of experience in strategic management, law, and public administration. She holds a Master’s degree in International and EU Law from Vilnius University has worked at the Government Office and the Ministry of the Interior, and has actively participated in legislative processes. In addition to her legal expertise, Goda has gained valuable experience in communication and psychology – she has led institutional communication, focused on change management, and addressed issues of human relations and organizational psychology. This interdisciplinary background enables her not only to professionally assess the impact of legislation on business, but also to recognize patterns of consumer behaviour and market communication.
Speakers
