Almost two decades after the rise of online platformsAn online platform refers to a digital service that enables interactions between two or more sets of users who are distinct but interdependent and use the service to communicate via the internet. The phrase "online platform" is a broad term used to refer to various internet services such as marketplaces, search engines, social media, etc. In the DSA, online platforms..., governments across the world including in the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, have started designing new frameworks to regulate these services. Debate and controversy has been rife, including the recent Congressional hearing of the Facebook whistle-blower Frances Haugen and Apple’s reversal of its plan to scan images and videos on its devices to detect child sexual abuse material (CSAM)Child Sexual Abuse Material refers to any material that portrays sexual activity involving a person who is below the legal age of consent. To accurately describe the exploitation and abuse of children and protect the dignity of victims, the European Parliament recommends using the term "child sexual abuse material" instead of "child pornography.". Increased regulation will have important implications both for these businesses and for wider society.
Challenges in online platform regulation
Democratic governments face numerous challenges in attempting to regulate the online space. They grapple with sometimes contradictory objectives, as they attempt to find a balance between keeping the internet safe, while also protecting fundamental rights, including freedom of speech.
Read the full version of this article on the World Economic Forum.
By: Francois Candelon, Theos Evgeniou, Louis-Victor de Franssu
