Social media regulation issues seem to ignite a new dispute virtually every day – from the British civil unrest to allegations of hostility towards the Taoiseach and debates about the European Commission’s potential involvement in the coverage of American elections. Most of these discussions fail to provide clarity on the complexities and hurdles of the situation. It’s often more straightforward for politicians to voice their worries about the latest social media scandal rather than offer viable solutions.
The tech giants behind these platforms hold a significant degree of political influence, particularly in Ireland, given their central role in contemporary life. These platforms have thrived primarily because of a lenient regulatory ecosystem that exempts them from the standards usually expected of publishers. On the one hand, their societal, psychological, and cultural influence has raised legal questions, often intertwining with the broader implications of such technologies that might have troubling outcomes.
Resistance comes naturally to tech firms when there’s talk about bringing restrictions or regulations such as the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). The situation brings to mind the long and difficult path in holding the tobacco industry accountable. We still need time to gauge whether the DSA is effective. But given that this discussion also touches on concerns regarding freedom of speech in a democracy, it naturally becomes a far more sophisticated and layered topic.
Elon Musk, however, has entered the scene by taking over Twitter, a platform that – despite its smaller size when measured by users or revenue – has had extensive political and media influence. Musk acquired it in 2022 and rebranded it as ‘X’, made changes to its regulations and fine-tuned its algorithms to align with his ideology. While the financial consequences have been detrimental to X, that seems secondary. Lately, Musk has leveraged X more aggressively to communicate his viewpoints, including his endorsement of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, fuelling controversial opinions, and disseminating misinformation.
The highlight of the equine calendar – the Dublin Horse Show – has the industry buzzing with anticipation as well as indulging in nostalgic reminisces. What may come across as unexpected however, is the fact that one of the planet’s wealthiest individuals harbours polarising opinions, and does not shy away from financing their propagation. In a liberal society, as history informs, numerous wealthy individuals have utilised their wealth in a similar manner. However, Musk’s recent escapades potentially have the outcome of exacerbating the argument that digital media corporations are value-neutral in their services. His latest exploits may inadvertently hasten an unavoidable face-off with regulatory authorities.