Causality Research Meets Policy: Measuring Impact in the New Digital Era

October 30, 2025  ·   2:00 - 5:30 p.m. ET | Reception to follow

This half-day, in-person event in Washington, D.C., will convene experts from across fields to explore pressing questions around the surge of new tech policy worldwide, discuss policy changes, generate questions for research on policy impact, and identify priority issue areas.

For the first time in two decades, we are witnessing a surge of new tech policy around the world—from the United Kingdom’s Online Safety Act to China’s “Labeling Rules” for artificial intelligence-generated content.

This moment presents an unprecedented opportunity to explore the impacts of these policies, particularly how platforms are responding to new requirements, and in turn, producing new questions for researchers to investigate.

Join us for a half-day, in-person event in Washington, D.C., featuring both lightning talks delivered by experts in digital policy and the information environment as well as breakout sessions to discuss policy changes, generate questions for research on policy impact, and identify priority issue areas. 

Questions addressed in the breakout sessions may include:

  • How can we measure the impact of new mandates around AI labeling and age-based content?

  • How are platforms responding to regulation across different jurisdictions?

  • How can rigorous causal research inform policymaking and legislation on these topics and vice versa?

  • What research would be most valuable to policymakers?

  • And how can more data be available to help researchers, policymakers, and the public better understand this environment?

  • By bringing together a mix of researchers and policymakers, this event will serve as a unique opportunity for these parties to learn and connect, align on priorities, and chart a path forward for digital media research and policy.

By convening experts from the research and policy communities, this event will serve as a unique opportunity for these parties to learn and connect, align on priorities, and chart a path forward for digital media research and policy.

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Co-sponsored by New York University's Center for Social Media and Politics, the Knight-Georgetown Institute, and the Center for Democracy and Technology

Georgetown University Capitol Campus
500 First St NW, 9th floor
Washington, DC 20001

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Registration is closed for this event. If you're interested in attending, please email lrm413@nyu.edu.

Thursday, October 30, 2025

  • Introductions

    2:00 - 2:30 p.m.

    Introductory remarks from

    • Leticia Bode - Research Director, Knight-Georgetown Institute

    • Joshua A. Tucker - Co-Director, New York University's Center for Social Media and Politics

  • Lightning Talk #1: Coming of Age (Assurance): The Role of Empirical Evidence in Age Assurance Policy

    2:30-2:45 p.m.

    Presenter

  • Lightning Talk #2: The Role of Empirical Evidence in the Google Search Antitrust Case

    2:45-3:00 p.m.

    Presenter

  • Lightning Talk #3: From Friend to Foe? Digital Platforms and Journalism Supporting Policies Across the World

    3:00-3:15 p.m.

    Presentations from

    • Karina Montoya - Senior Reporter for Center for Journalism & Liberty, Open Markets Institute

  • Lightning Talk #4: Regional Variations in Platform Content Moderation Policies

    3:15-3:30 p.m.

    Presenter:

    • John P. Wihbey - Director of the AI-Media Strategies Lab, Northeastern University

  • Break (Refreshments)

    3:30 - 4:00 p.m.

  • Breakout Groups

    4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

  • Reporting From Breakout Groups

    5:00 - 5:20 p.m.

  • Closing Remarks

    5:20 - 5:30 p.m.

  • Networking Reception

    5:30 - 6:30 p.m.