Who Controls the Internet?

Big World

Over the past decade, the internet’s role in international affairs has expanded, with governments, including India’s, periodically shutting down the internet; great powers, like Russia in the 2016 US presidential election, spreading disinformation; and private companies like Facebook and Twitter becoming the gatekeepers of public discourse. In this episode of Big World, SIS professor Eric Novotny joins us to discuss how the internet is used and misused to impact international affairs. Professor Novotny describes how governments’ internet shutdowns impact democracy (2:01) and the implications of social media platforms making decisions that affect international affairs (5:33). He also breaks down issues that arise when large social media companies interact with the US government (6:04) and differentiates what constitutes misinformation and disinformation (9:41). Now that the internet and social media have become our digital public squares, what happens when those spaces host a rise in truth decay (16:04)? How important is internet freedom in citizens’ abilities to spark change and grow human rights movements (17:56)? Professor Novotny answers these questions and describes the kinds of anti-censorship tools he’s built that have been used in different countries (20:20). Lastly, he reveals whether he believes the internet is still a great equalizer or if it has been completely taken over by governments and corporate interests (21:52). During our “Take Five” segment, Professor Novotny shares the five practices he would institute to address misinformation and disinformation on the internet (12:10).