The Networked Leviathan: For Democratic Platforms

Internet platform companies have failed to regulate their users, leading to stolen elections, refused vaccines, counterfeit N95s, and even genocide. The Networked Leviathan argues that countries should adapt institutional tools to democratize the platforms, allowing knowledgeable actors to share and apply their understanding and leaders to recruit third parties to manage their decision-making capacity.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 300 pages
Publication date: 03 August 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Governments and consumers alike anticipate that internet platform companies will take responsibility for regulating their users to mitigate fraud, combat misinformation, and prevent acts of violence. Regrettably, these companies have fallen short in fulfilling these expectations. The failure of platforms such as Facebook, Google, and Amazon to effectively govern their users has resulted in detrimental consequences, including stolen elections, vaccine refusals, the proliferation of counterfeit N95 masks during a pandemic, and even acts of genocide. The root of these failures lies in these companies' inability to effectively manage the complexity of their user bases, products, and their own self-interests, all while being scrutinized by internal and external stakeholders.

In response to these challenges, The Networked Leviathan proposes a novel approach. It advocates for countries to adapt the institutional tools developed in political science to democratize the major platforms. Democratic institutions empower knowledgeable actors to freely share and apply their understanding of the problems they face, while also facilitating the recruitment of third parties to assist in managing decision-making capacity. By embracing these democratic principles, platforms can become more accountable, transparent, and responsive to the needs and concerns of their users.

This book offers valuable insights into the dynamics of internet platform companies and the urgent need for regulatory reform. It is available Open Access on Cambridge Core, providing access to a wide audience. For more information and to explore the book further, please visit https://networked-leviathan.com.

Weight: 380g
Dimension: 151 x 299 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108971904