Rules for cleaning the content --- Florence, you outline the paradox we have: on one hand, we want big tech to be responsible for content on/through their networks - because they are the gatekeepers; on the other, we don't want them to deal with the content - because it should be the society (and, indeed, the elected institutions) to decide what is wrong and what not (particularly complex when it comes to grey areas of violence, hate speech, etc).

It is important to define the roles and responsibilities clearly. If we expect big tech to police content - we may well expect this - then we (policy-makers?) should set clear guidelines and principles on what is acceptable and what not.

Moreover, since in practice much of the material will be in the grey zone, should we also have 'national content police' sitting next to big tech censors to ensure right decisions - and add to the legitimacy of that process? What are the nus-effect of such content control?

Source author: Vladimir Radunovic vladar@diplomacy.edu