DW Weekly #178 – 20 September 2024
Judging by a digital landscape where content governance is essential to navigating truth, lies, and influence, Meta’s recent decision to ban several Russian state media outlets represents more than a mere policy shift. It is a stark reminder of the tug of war in cyberspace between global superpowers, where platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp serve as modern battlefields. In other words, Meta’s enforcement against RT (Russia Today) and Rossiya Segodnya for covert influence operations underscores the West’s alleged growing unease with the East’s manipulation of online discourse.
Either way, the ban was not born in a vacuum. It follows allegations of Russian interference in the 2024 US elections, with charges against RT employees for money laundering related to influencing operations. These tactics, allegedly meant to shape the outcome of an election pivotal to global geopolitics, bring to light the intersection of data governance and cybersecurity. Once seen as neutral spaces, social media platforms have become fertile grounds for state actors to sow seeds of discord, all under the guise of free speech.
However, the battle does not end with one company’s sweeping policy. Cybercrime and cyberwarfare have evolved into more than just hacking attacks or espionage. They have grown into elaborate strategies to distort information, erode trust in institutions, and sway public opinion. The West, particularly the USA, has grown increasingly wary of Russia’s digital manoeuvres, framing them not as isolated acts of misinformation but as an orchestrated form of warfare. By banning Russian state media, Meta is sending a clear message: covert operations disguised as journalism will no longer be tolerated. Yet, this development is just one part of the broader puzzle of content regulation as global platforms grapple with defining the fine line between censorship and protection.
The implications of such decisions ripple far beyond the USA. As Meta extends its ban across all its apps, from Instagram to WhatsApp, it confronts an international community of users who may not see RT and Rossiya Segodnya as mere puppets of state propaganda. In many parts of the world, these outlets are viewed as alternative news sources, offering a counter-narrative to the Western media.
The complex dance between freedom of expression and security measures now leaves platforms in the tricky position of balancing competing values on the global stage. Meta’s anticipation that Russian state media will attempt to evade the ban points to the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between tech companies and malign actors, all posing the same question: who controls the cyberspace narrative in a world where likes, shares, and comments are currency?
In other news, the UN advisory body released its final report, ‘Governing AI for Humanity,’ outlining seven strategic recommendations for responsible AI governance. Key proposals include the creation of an international scientific panel on AI to provide unbiased assessments, an AI standards exchange to align global values, and an AI capacity development network to address disparities in AI infrastructure. The report also advocates for a global AI data framework to ensure equitable data sharing, a global fund for AI to support under-resourced nations, and a policy dialogue to harmonise international regulations. To oversee these efforts, the UN recommends the establishment of a dedicated AI office to coordinate global actions and ensure that AI benefits are distributed fairly while mitigating risks.
Marko and the Digital Watch team
Highlights from the week of 13-20 September 2024
The recommendations respond to the rapid spread of AI technologies and the varied global regulatory approaches.
Meta’s enforcement will roll out over the next few days across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads
Durov is under investigation for ‘complicity in the administration of an online platform to allow an illicit transaction in an organised gang,’ facing a potential 10-year sentence and a €500,000…
New rules for Chinese platforms like Shein, Temu.
Teen Instagram users will now have app usage limits and a sleep mode feature to silence notifications overnight.
Initially issued in 2019, the fine accused Google of using its dominance to prevent websites from utilising advertising brokers other than its AdSense platform between 2006 and 2016.
The US will host a global summit on AI safety, gathering experts from several countries to discuss safe AI development.
The proposed platform from SIX would likely offer both spot crypto and derivatives trading, thus providing a comprehensive suite of services aimed at institutional players, including asset managers.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington has denied these claims, labelling them baseless.
The EU’s newly agreed AI Act marks the world’s first comprehensive AI regulations, but enforcement specifics remain unclear.
dig.watch
About the High-level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence The multi-stakeholder High-level Advisory Body on Artifcial Intelligence, initially proposed in 2020 as part of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Roadmap for Digital…
www.diplomacy.edu
Blindly believing in state rationality can lead to disaster. Historical mistakes, from Brest-Litovsk to unrestricted warfare, show the dangers of ignoring past lessons. Aldo Matteucci analyses.
dig.watch
The Summit of the Future 2024 aims to create a new global consensus for a better future, emphasizing multilateral solutions. It will bring together diverse stakeholders to address institutional reforms,…
dig.watch
The general debate of the 79th session of the General Assembly will open on Tuesday, 24 September, continue through Saturday, 28 September, and conclude on Monday, 30 September 2024.
