New Technologies Need New Regulations

European Straits #32

Dear all,

As software keeps on eating the world, it is no wonder why a global columnist such as CNN’s Rana Foroohar is focusing more and more on technology and the new breed of company it brings about. In her latest column in the Financial Times, she writes that “the [technology] industry simply does not have the ability, or the right, to self-police any longer” when it comes to regulating online speech on the giant platforms that Facebook, YouTube and Twitter have become.

Foroohar’s reflections, of course, have been inspired by the aftermath of Charlottesville, as we’ve witnessed many Internet platforms taking the initiative in removing content promoting white supremacy and other hateful views. And this line of thinking sounds familiar to all of us in Europe, where we strike a different balance between freedom of speech and suppressing online content. (Since most tech companies are American, Europe doesn’t really care about putting obstacles in their way.)

Historically, many new technol…