The Global Governance of Online Harms: in Conversation with Cory Doctorow

The free flow of information is an integral part of the liberal international order. Architects of today’s open digital ecosystem hoped it would foster democracy and economic development globally. In recent years, the rise of various forms of online harm have cast doubt on this original belief. Mis- and disinformation, political polarization, the illiberal use of state and corporate power over the digital ecosystem, and the amplification and commodification of extremist content and hate speech increasingly challenge liberal values. The tension between, on the one hand, the right to free speech and the right of governments to regulate speech in democratic societies and, on the other hand, the abuse of these rights for illiberal ends are becoming a key global governance challenge.
Global coordination and potentially new international regimes for online regulation are needed. No single government can effectively protect democratic values from the triple impact of the transnational flow of information, the asymmetric power of tech companies, and the illiberal behavior of particular governments.
The goal of this multi-event conference is to address this global governance challenge head-on. By bringing together international experts, policymakers, and civil stakeholders, it will explore the nature of online harm and possible global governance innovations to address them.