The internet does a lot of good for the estimated 3.5 billion people who use it today. But increasingly, harmful content contaminates the web, threatening democratic institutions and human rights around the globe. In this white paper, the we
focus on two types of dangerous online content: terrorist incitement and
politically motivated disinformation. Though emanating from different sources, both
seek to distort the truth, discredit liberal institutions, and, in the words of the European Parliament, undermine “democratic values, human rights, and the rule of law”. Internet companies have resisted government content regulations. They justifiably worry that many states would seek to suppress dissenting views, undermining free speech online. The danger in this regard is all too obvious. In the absence of government regulation, however, it is incumbent on the major platforms to assume a more active self-governance role.
