Barely a day goes by at present without a new controversy flaring up over the regulation of social media. From the UK riots to alleged threats of violence against the Taoiseach to arguments over what role, if any, the European Commission should have in coverage of the US election, these debates rarely shed much light on what can often seem insuperable problems. It is far easier, it seems, for political leaders to express concern over the latest social media outrage than it is to propose credible solutions.
The platforms themselves have become such an integral part of modern life that debates over legal issues often become confused with separate but related questions about the social, cultural and psychological impact of technologies which often prey on human foibles with disturbing consequences. And the tech companies themselves are so powerful that they are able to wield considerable political influence, not least in Ireland.
At the heart of the matter is the fact that these platforms have flourished thanks in large part to a light-touch regulatory environment which absolved them of the responsibilities traditionally placed on publishers. Recent moves to restrict or regulate their operations, such as the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), will often therefore be strongly resisted by the technology companies. The push and pull is reminiscent of the long, arduous struggle to hold the tobacco industry to account, and it will take some time to ascertain whether the DSA is successful. But because the debate also touches on profound questions about the limits on speech in a democratic society, it is therefore infinitely more nuanced and complex.
Enter Elon Musk. Measured by user numbers or revenues, Twitter, which the billionaire bought in 2022 and renamed X, has been a minor player in the social media ecosystem but it has wielded a disproportionate influence in the worlds of politics and media. Musk changed its rules and adjusted its algorithms to match his own sensibilities. The results have been financially painful for the company, but that seems beside the point. Musk has recently been using X more vigorously as a platform for his own views, including his support for the presidential campaign of Donald Trump, as well as amplifying inflammatory voices and promoting disinformation.
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It should not come as a surprise that one of the richest men in the world holds repellent views and is inclined to spend money to promote them. In a free society he is entitled to do so, as many rich men have done before him. But in so doing Musk further undermines the contention that social media companies provide a value-neutral service. In fact, his current antics may have the effect of bringing what was already an inevitable confrontation with regulators more quickly to a head.