Should Governments Regulate Online Platforms

Context: Australia’s News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code have opened up debates on the regulation of digital media and its effects on free speech.

Arguments against the Code

• Surveillance capitalism: Power local media houses (Rupert Murdoch, owning 70% of the news market) are considered to the main force behind the passage of such regulation.
  • Instead of regulating the digital platforms, the code has shown its bias towards the local media houses.
• Compelled speech is not free speech: Asking the online platforms for a fee and regulation of content impact their free speech.
• Breaks the web: Sir Tim Berners Lee, the creator of the web, has testified to Australian legislators that this breaks the web. 

The Need for regulation of digital media

• Monopoly in the Internet: hijacked by a small group of companies that are rewiring it.
• Spread of Disinformation: Open platforms being used for disinformation operations and to fan the flames of political polarisation, hate speech, misogynistic abuse, terrorist propaganda etc.
• Adoption of the sovereign role: Private corporate actors having the power to de-platform the most powerful politician, the U.S. President, shows the vacuum of institutional arrangement.
• Ethical flaws in the business model: Conservative approach of the media industry, which limits itself to making a product called content and selling the audience to advertisers.
  • As opposed to it, Journalism is a service, and this essence shall be reflected in the business.