In the final report of the research project “Platform://Democracy“, project leaders Prof. Dr. Matthias C. Kettemann and Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schulz present possibilities for a better protection of human rights and democratic values in the digital space.
Based on research data from six continents, they propose so-called platform councils (Social Media Council/SMC) as a useful advisory instrument for private platform companies. These councils can represent the interests of citizens, industry and politics in important decision-making issues such as discrimination, freedom of expression or disinformation.
About the Project
35 researchers from six continents examined which models of linking private orders back to social, ethical and moral values already exist worldwide within the framework of the project “Platform://Democracy”. To do this, they looked at various advisory bodies such as media, AI and television councils in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and the American continents. They then analysed how these represent the public vis-à-vis private actors in areas such as media regulation, the internet, youth protection and schools.
For the head of the research project, the study provided important insights in this area: “Our regional studies were able to show that models of societal engagement work all over the world. So there is a real need to advise and control powerful communication actors – like platforms – on how they set rules and enforce them in an algorithm-based way.” Kettemann concludes: “Platform councils are a viable instrument to advise the big social media in important social negotiation processes.”
The findings of the study come at a time when the federal government also wants to promote this idea. In its coalition agreement, the goal is to further develop platform councils as bodies composed of state representatives, experts and selected civil society actors.
The research project “Platform://Democracy” was funded by the Mercator Foundation and carried out by the Leibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans-Bredow-Institut (HBI), the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) and the the Department of Legal Theory and Future of Law at the University of Innsbruck.
Kettemann, M. C.; Schulz, W. (eds.) (2023): Platform://Democracy – Perspectives on Platform Power, Public Values and the Potential of Social Media Councils. Hamburg: Verlag Hans-Bredow-Institut. https://doi.org/10.21241/ssoar.86524