Dossier

The platform economy

The major platform providers have become decisive players on the internet - not only as critical information infrastructures, but also at content level. They moderate, they curate content, and block accounts based on rules they set themselves. We ask: How do private companies influence the public debate, and how can they be democratically scrutinised?

Spotlight

Hate and disinformation on digital platforms

Hass und digitale Gewalt: Plattformen in die Pflicht nehmen

2021-06-21 09_20_31-Photos.png

The state of content moderation for the LGBTIQA+ community and the role of the EU Digital Services Act

E-paper
Platforms can empower groups that have previously been silenced. However, platforms also host hateful and illegal content, often targeted at minorities, and content is prone to being unfairly censored by algorithmically biased moderation systems. This report analyzes the current environment of content moderation, particularly bringing to light negative effects for the LGBTIQA+ community, and provides policy recommendations for the forthcoming negotiations on the EU Digital Services Act.
2021-06-21 09_23_50-Photos.png

Algorithmic misogynoir in content moderation practice

E-paper
Existing content moderation practices, both algorithmically-driven and people-determined, are rooted in white colonialist culture. Black women’s opinions, experiences, and expertise are suppressed and their online communication streams are removed abruptly, silently, and quickly. This paper explores algorithmic misogynoir in content moderation and makes the case for the regular examination of the impact of content moderation tactics on Black women and other minoritized communities.