Big Tech, Digital Governance, and Democratic Legitimacy

Abstract

This Panel explores the normative implications of Big Tech’s powers and governance structures, especially in the domain of public communication. One primary question is whether or under what circumstances we are warranted to claim that these corporations’ powers are quasi-governmental and, therefore, in need of democratic legitimation (Anderson 2017). The Panel will also discuss what it means to democratize Big Tech platforms, and how we can set the boundaries of the digital demos. Further, the Panel will examine how democratic states can successfully regulate key functions of the digital public sphere, and whether individuals’ deep-seated cognitive deficiencies stand in the way of an effective government regulation to improve the domain of digital public communication.

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