Platform governance
Platforms have installed themselves as key intermediaries in contemporary societies. They re-organise communication and politics, mobility and travel, work and everyday life. Yet, with this change controversies arise. How do social media companies moderate the content on their sites? How does Uber allocate drivers and assigns prices to ride requests? The way platforms order and govern the activities they host has tremendous effects on how communication, politics, mobility and other key sectors are organized in the digital society. Thus, it is no surprise that public and political attention has turned to the question how platforms shall be governed in turn. Should platforms be liable for copyrighted content that users upload, and if so, to what extent? What responsibility do they hold for hostile communication dynamics and hate speech taking place on their sites?
In this long-term project we look at both the governance of and the governance by platforms. We are specifically interested in the entanglement of discourses, regulation, and technological measures in these developments. Partly in response to public outcry and political pressure, platforms have extended and elaborated their site policy documents such as Terms of Service, Community Guidelines and Privacy Policies. At the same time, in order to balance the public pressure to take action on problematic content such as hate speech and misinformation on the one hand and the massive scale of the content that they host, platforms increasingly turn to automated measures to filter and block content deemed illegitimate. In addition to conceptual contributions on governance in general, and platform governance specifically, we empirically investigate the nexus of public discourse, policy measures and technological fixes in several sub-projects.
Sub-Projects and studies within this project:
- Freedom of expression in the quasi-public sphere
- The turn to AI in communication goverance online
- Ranking digital rights
| Duration | since 2013 |
| Sponsors | self-funded, for other sources of funding see sub-projects |
Christian Katzenbach, Prof. Dr.
Christian Katzenbach, Prof. Dr.Associated researcher: The evolving digital society
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Amélie HeldtFormer Associated Researcher: Platform Governance -
Clara Iglesias Keller, Dr.Former Associated Researcher: The developing digital society -
João Carlos Magalhães, Dr.Former Senior Researcher: The evolving digital society -
Kirsten GollatzFormer Associate Researcher: The evolving digital society -
Lisa GutermuthFormer Associated Researcher: The evolving digital society -
Martin J. RiedlAssociate researcher: The evolving digital society
Books
Katzenbach, C. (2017). Die Regeln digitaler Kommunikation. Governance zwischen Norm, Diskurs und Technik. Wiesbaden: Springer VS. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-658-19337-9 Publication details
MacKinnon, R., Hickok, E., Bar, A., & Lim, H. with research contribution by Kirsten Gollatz (2015). Fostering Freedom Online: the Role of Internet Intermediaries. Paris, France: UNESCO/Internet Society. Publication details
Journal articles and conference proceedings
Gorwa, R., Binns, R., & Katzenbach, C. (2020). Algorithmic Content Moderation: Technical and Political Challenges in the Automation of Platform Governance. Big Data & Society, 7(1). DOI: 10.1177/2053951719897945 Publication details
Waldherr, A., Geise, S., & Katzenbach, C. (2019). Because Technology Matters – Revisiting Actor-Network-Theory for Computational Communication Science. International Journal of Communication, 13. Publication details
Hofmann, J., Katzenbach, C., & Gollatz, K. (2016). Between coordination and regulation: Finding the governance in Internet governance. New Media & Society. Publication details
Pentzold, C., Katzenbach, C., & Fraas, C. (2014). Digitale Plattformen und Öffentlichkeiten mediatisierter politischer Kommunikation. Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte (APuZ), 14(22-23), 28-34. Publication details
Gollatz, K. (2014). Online Free expression in the Corporate Realm: Corporations’ Policies and Practices Shaping Private Speech on Communication Platforms. Nova Acta Leopoldina, NF 119(403), 49-55. Publication details
Book contributions and chapters
Dogruel, L. & Katzenbach, C. (2018). Internet-Ökonomie – Grundlagen, Strategien, Plattformen. In Schweiger, W. & Beck, K. (Eds.), Handbuch Online-Kommunikation. Wiesbaden: Springer VS. Publication details
Christian Katzenbach (2018). Die Ordnung der Algorithmen. Zur Automatisierung von Relevanz und Regulierung gesellschaftlicher Kommunikation. In R. Mohabbat Kar, B. Thapa, P. Parycek, (Un)Berechenbar? Algorithmen und Automatisierung in Staat und Gesellschaft (pp. 315-339). Berlin: Kompetenzzentrum Öffentliche IT. Publication details
Katzenbach, C. (2017). Von kleinen Gesprächen zu großen Öffentlichkeiten? Zur Dynamik und Theorie von Öffentlichkeiten in sozialen Medien. In Klaus, E. & Drüeke, R., Öffentlichkeiten und gesellschaftliche Aushandlungsprozesse. Theoretische Perspektiven und empirische Befunde (pp. 151-174). Bielefeld: Transcript. Publication details
Hofmann, J., Katzenbach, C., & Gollatz, K. (2013). Freedom on the Net Report Germany. In Kelly, S., Truong, M., Earp, M., Reed, L., Shahbaz, A., & Greco-Stoner, A. (Eds.), Freedom on the Net 2013 (pp. 302-321). New York, NY: Freedom House. Publication details
Working paper
Gollatz, K., Beer, F. &, Katzenbach, C. (2018). The Turn to Artificial Intelligence in Governing Communication Online Workshop Report. HIIG Discussion Paper Series, 2018(09). Publication details
Hofmann, J., Katzenbach, C., & Gollatz, K. (2014). Between Coordination and Regulation: Conceptualizing Governance in Internet Governance. HIIG Discussion Paper Series, 2014(04). Publication details
Wagner, B., Gollatz, K., & Calderaro, A. (2014). Internet & Human Rights in Foreign Policy: comparing narratives in the US and EU Internet Governance agenda. EUI Working Paper RSCAS; Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom (CMPF), 2014/86. Publication details
Other publications
Friederici, N. (2021). Platform Alternatives: The Strategic Guide to Responsible Platform Business. HIIG Impact Publication Series. Publication details
Magalhães, J. C., Couldry, N. (2020). Tech Giants Are Using This Crisis to Colonize the Welfare System, [Jacobin]. Publication details
Gollatz, K., Riedl, M. J. & Pohlmann, J. (2018). Removals of Online Hate Speech in Numbers. Digital Society Blog, HIIG Science Blog, Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society, Berlin, Germany. Cross-posted at Media Policy Project Blog, London School of Economics, London, UK. Publication details
Gollatz, K. & Jenner, L. (2017). Hate Speech und Fake News – Über die Vermischung und Politisierung zweier Begriffe, Teil 2. Digital Society Blog. Publication details
Gollatz, K. & Jenner, L. (2017). Hate Speech und Fake News – Über die Vermischung und Politisierung zweier Begriffe, Teil 1. Digital Society Blog. Publication details
Gollatz, K. (2016). The Power of Platforms. Digital Society Blog. Publication details
Gollatz, K. (2014). Deutsche Telekom’s ‘surveillance report’ builds on a trend. Internet Policy Review. Publication details
Gollatz, K. (2013). App development: is ‘privacy by design’ the new standard? Internet Policy Review. Publication details
Lectures and presentations
Emerging Structures of Platform Governance and Copyright. Methods and Challenges in Studying Content PoliciesPublic and private regulatory framework of online intermediaries. University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary: 05.05.2020
João Carlos Magalhães, Christian Katzenbach
Die Dynamik der Governance digitalisierter Meinungsbildung auf PlattformenDGPuK 2020: Jahrestagung 2020 der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Publizistik- und Kommunikationswissenschaft. Department of Media and Communication (IfKW). Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany: 11.03.2020 Further information
Christian Katzenbach
Digitale Gesellschaft = Automatisierung von Programmen und Regeln?Großer Konvent der Schader-Stiftung. Schader-Forum, Darmstadt, Germany: 09.11.2018 Further information
Christian Katzenbach
Künstliche Intelligenz und Algorithmen – Ethische und politische Herausforderungen in der Digitalen GesellschaftNeusser Wirtschaftstreff. Amt für Wirtschaftsförderung, Stadt Neuss. Sparkassen-Forum, Neuss, Germany: 25.09.2018
Christian Katzenbach
Platform Governance as Reflexive Coordination – Mediating Nudity, Hate Speech and Fake News on FacebookAoIR 2017 Networked Publics. Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR). University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia: 19.10.2017
Christian Katzenbach, Kirsten Gollatz
Politics of Discourse: Fake News Controversy in Germany and how it solidifies in new institutional arrangementsAoIR 2017 Networked Publics (Session: Misinformation, Propaganda and "Fake News": A European Perspective). Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR). University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia: 19.10.2017
Kirsten Gollatz, Jonas Kaiser, Cornelius Puschmann
Ordering (Digital) Communication: Eine mediensoziologische Zusammenführung von Regulierung, Kommunikation und TechnikMedien- und Kommunikationssoziologie: Vergangenheit, Gegenwart und Zukunft. Gemeinsame Tagung der DGPuK-FG Soziologie der Medienkommunikation und der DGS-Sektion Medien- und Kommunikationssoziologie. Zeppelin Universität, Friedrichshafen, Germany: 11.10.2017
Christian Katzenbach
The turn to artificial intelligence in content moderationDigital-born Media Carnival (Session: Understanding Complex Systems). SHARE Foundation, OSCE Mission to Serbia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. Pjaca od Kina, Kotor, Montenegro: 17.07.2017
Kirsten Gollatz
Measuring User Rights Online: Numerical Rankings as a Form of Governing Internet FreedomAnnual Conference of the Canadian Sociological Association at Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences 2017 (Session: Sociology of quantification, commensuration, statistics, and valuation). Canadian Federation of the Humanities and Social Sciences. Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada: 29.05.2017
Kirsten Gollatz
Governing Platforms by Algorithms? Digital Sovereignty and the Technological Fix for Hate Speech and Fake NewsDigital Future 2017 – Digital Science Match. Tagesspiegel / Alfred Herrhausen Gesellschaft. Kosmos, Berlin, Germany: 12.05.2017
Christian Katzenbach
Platform Governance. Die regulative, normative, diskursive und technische Regelung vernetzter KommunikationJahrestagung 2017 der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Publizistik- und Kommunikationswissenschaft (DGPuK). Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany: 31.03.2017
Christian Katzenbach
Regulations, Norms, Discourses and Technology: An Integrated Governance Perspective for Media and Communication StudiesECREA 2016 – 6th European Communication Congress. Congress Center, Prague, Czech Republic: 09.11.2016
Christian Katzenbach
My place, my rules! Wie Plattformen entscheiden was wir online sagen könnenLange Nacht der Wissenschaften. Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften e.V.. Humboldt Institut für Internet und Gesellschaft, Berlin, Germany: 11.06.2016
Kirsten Gollatz
Continous Ordering and Algorithmic Translation: How STS opens up and re-assembles Internet GovernanceInternet Research 16. Association of Internet Research. ., Phoenix, USA: 23.10.2015
Christian Katzenbach, Kirsten Gollatz, Jeanette Hofmann
"You own your content, but…" - Tracing changing notions of ownership over user content in social media platform policiesMedia Trends 2015: Power and Media: Ownership, Sponsorship, Censorship (Session: Panel 8. Users and Consumers). Webster Vienna Private University's Media Communications department. Webster Vienna Private University, Vienna, Austria: 12.09.2015
Kirsten Gollatz
Internet Governance – Komplexe Strukturen, reflexive Prozesse und deren LegitimitätTelemedicus Sommerkonferenz: Zwei Schritte vorwärts: Die Zukunft des Internetrechts (Session: Rough Consensus and Running Code). Telemedicus in Kooperation mit Internet & Gesellschaft Collaboratory, Hertie Stiftung, Alexander von Humboldt Institut für Internet und Gesellschaft, Humboldt Law Clinic Internetrecht. Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, Germany: 30.08.2015
Kirsten Gollatz
Governance durch Algorithmen? "Politics of Platforms" und die Ordnung des NetzesVortragsreihe "Kollektives Handeln im Netz". Institut für Sozialwissenschaft, Abteilung Organisations- und Innovationssoziologie. Universität Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany: 13.01.2015
Christian Katzenbach
Between Coordination and Regulation: Conceptualizing Governance in Internet GovernanceGigaNet 9th Annual Symposium (Session: THEORETICAL SESSION: Conceptualizing Internet governance). The Global Internet Governance Academic Network (GigaNet). Lütfi Kırdar Convention and Exhibition Center, Istanbul, Turkey: 01.09.2014
Jeanette Hofmann, Christian, Katzenbach, Kirsten Gollatz
Terms & Conditions – it's ze law, stupid! Taking practical suggestions from German Constitutional LawRightsCon Silicon Valley. access. Mission Bay Conference Center, San Francisco, USA: 03.03.2014
Kirsten Gollatz, Julian Staben
Corporate Policies and Practices Shaping Private Speech Online4th Symposium “Human Rights and Science” (Session: Human Rights and New Media). Human Rights Committee of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and Polish Academy of Sciences. Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland: 13.09.2013
Kirsten Gollatz
Common Narrative Divergent Agendas: The Internet and Human Rights in Foreign Policy1st International Conference on Internet Science of the Network of Excellence in Internet Science (EINS) (Session: Internet Science and Politics). EINS project, the FP7 European Network of Excellence in Internet Science. Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts, Brussels, Belgium: 10.04.2013
Ben Wagner, Kirsten Gollatz, Andrea Calderaro
Facebook at a Tipping Point. Is there a need for a new valorization of privacy?4th European Communication Conference on “Social Media – Global Voices”, ECREA 2012. ECREA European Communication Research and Education Association. Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Istanbul, Turkey: 27.10.2012
Kirsten Gollatz, Alexander Sängerlaub
The quasi-public Sphere of Online Platforms. Global Spaces for Free Expression?ECREA 2012 Pre-Conference “Imposing Freedoms: The role of copyright, privacy and censorship governance in the re/definition of rights in digital media” (Session: Freedom and the media). Media Governance and Industries Research Group of the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Vienna. Plato College of Higher Education, Istanbul, Turkey: 23.10.2012
Kirsten Gollatz
Organisation of events
The First Annual Conference of the Platform Governance Research NetworkFrom 24.03.2021 to 26.03.2021. Online, Berlin, Germany. Co-Organised by: Leibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans Bredow Institute (HBI) (International) Further information
Robert Gorwa, João Carlos Magalhães, Clara Iglesias Keller, Amélie Heldt, Christian Katzenbach