Internet an ‘Agent of Democratic Erosion’: Call for Ordinary Citizens to Moderate Online Content

The Lowy Institute is recommending that a platform councils of ordinary citizens and tech experts could moderate content online, including de-platforming. In an executive summary, the Lowy Institute raised concerns most digital platforms in democracies are presided over by a “handful of multi-national corporations.” The author, researcher Lydia Khalil, suggested when power is in the hands of just a few, there is minimal accountability to the population. Instead, she suggested ordinary citizens should have a role in making regulatory decisions. The report (pdf), published on Feb. 21, was funded by the New South Wales government as part of a Digital Threats to Democracy Project....