Open AccessDIGITAL PLATFORMS AND THE DIGITISATION OF GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE
Author(s) -
R. Ó Fathaigh,
Judith Möller,
Rocco Bellanova
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
selected papers of internet research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2162-3317
DOI - 10.5210/spir.v2021i0.12220
Subject(s) - data protection act 1998 , government (linguistics) , social media , human rights , internet privacy , law enforcement , political science , european union , right to be forgotten , civil society , digital rights , enforcement , public relations , politics , law , business , computer science , philosophy , linguistics , economic policy
In Europe today, digital platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter andYouTube, provide essential means for millions of people to express themselves, engage inpublic debate, and organise politically (Poell & van Dijck, 2018). Crucially,governments are leveraging the power of platforms to impose new forms of restrictions onfree expression, and engage in surveillance of individuals and online activism. This hasprofound implications for the rights to freedom of expression, privacy, and data protection.Further, platforms that once refused to cooperate with governments in identifying usersresponsible for disseminating allegedly illegal or harmful content are now expandingcooperation with authorities, including sharing data about users flagged by law enforcementand other authorities. As civil society organisations warn, this trend is contributing to‘invasive and unlawful digital surveillance’ (Amnesty International, 2019, p. 24). Thispaper examines how European governments are leveraging the power of digital platforms toengage in government surveillance online, and assesses the compatibility of these measureswith European human rights law. The paper applies a unique interdisciplinary perspective,bringing together law, political communication and surveillance studies. First, the paperexamines how platforms’ algorithmic systems shape (and limit) information dissemination. Thepaper then critically analyses government-platform initiatives that exist to surveilcitizens and gather information, including new measures under the EU’s proposed DigitalServices Act. Third, it assesses how these measures comply with freedom of expression andthe right to privacy, and concludes with recommendations on remedying problematic elementsof the role platforms play in digitisation of government surveillance.