Keyword: Democracy

Algorithmic News Diversity and Democratic Theory: Adding Agonism to the Mix

Sax, M.
Digital Journalism, vol. 10, iss. : 10, pp: 1650-1670, 2022

Abstract

The role news recommenders can play in stimulating news diversity is receiving increasing amounts of attention. Democratic theory plays an important role in this debate because it helps explain why news diversity is important and which kinds of news diversity should be pursued. In this article, I observe that the current literature on news recommenders and news diversity largely draws on a narrow set of theories of liberal and deliberative democracy. Another strand of democratic theory often referred to as ‘agonism’ is often ignored. This, I argue, is a mistake. Liberal and deliberative theories of democracy focus on the question of how political disagreements and conflicts can be resolved in a rational and legitimate manner. Agonism, to the contrary, stresses the ineradicability of conflict and the need to make conflict productive. This difference in thinking about the purpose of democratic politics can also lead to new ways of thinking about the value of news diversity and role algorithmic news recommenders should play in promoting it. The overall aim of the article is (re)introduce agonistic theory to the news recommender context and to argue that agonism deserves more serious attention.

agonism, algorithmic news recommenders, Democracy, diversity, Media law, news recommenders

Bibtex

Article{nokey, title = {Algorithmic News Diversity and Democratic Theory: Adding Agonism to the Mix}, author = {Sax, M.}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2022.2114919}, year = {2022}, date = {2022-09-14}, journal = {Digital Journalism}, volume = {10}, issue = {10}, pages = {1650-1670}, abstract = {The role news recommenders can play in stimulating news diversity is receiving increasing amounts of attention. Democratic theory plays an important role in this debate because it helps explain why news diversity is important and which kinds of news diversity should be pursued. In this article, I observe that the current literature on news recommenders and news diversity largely draws on a narrow set of theories of liberal and deliberative democracy. Another strand of democratic theory often referred to as ‘agonism’ is often ignored. This, I argue, is a mistake. Liberal and deliberative theories of democracy focus on the question of how political disagreements and conflicts can be resolved in a rational and legitimate manner. Agonism, to the contrary, stresses the ineradicability of conflict and the need to make conflict productive. This difference in thinking about the purpose of democratic politics can also lead to new ways of thinking about the value of news diversity and role algorithmic news recommenders should play in promoting it. The overall aim of the article is (re)introduce agonistic theory to the news recommender context and to argue that agonism deserves more serious attention.}, keywords = {agonism, algorithmic news recommenders, Democracy, diversity, Media law, news recommenders}, }

A minha fonte sou eu – Meine Quelle bin ich. Soziale Medien als Diskurserweiterung am Beispiel der Aufarbeitung der Militärdiktatur und der Diskussion über die Einrichtung einer Wahrheitskommission in brasilianischen Printmedien und auf Twitter external link

Bastian, M.
2012

Brazil, Democracy, Latin America, military dictatorship, public discourse, Social media, truth commission, Twitter

Bibtex

Other{Bastian2012, title = {A minha fonte sou eu – Meine Quelle bin ich. Soziale Medien als Diskurserweiterung am Beispiel der Aufarbeitung der Militärdiktatur und der Diskussion über die Einrichtung einer Wahrheitskommission in brasilianischen Printmedien und auf Twitter}, author = {Bastian, M.}, year = {1001}, date = {2012-10-01}, keywords = {Brazil, Democracy, Latin America, military dictatorship, public discourse, Social media, truth commission, Twitter}, }

An unfulfilled promise. Twitter and the dictatorial past in Brazil external link

Bastian, M. & Trilling, D.
Revista Brasileira de Políticas de Comunicação, vol. 4, pp: 51-68, 2013

Brazil, Democracy, dictatorship, Latin America, Social media, Twitter

Bibtex

Article{Bastian2013, title = {An unfulfilled promise. Twitter and the dictatorial past in Brazil}, author = {Bastian, M. and Trilling, D.}, year = {0101}, date = {2013-01-01}, journal = {Revista Brasileira de Políticas de Comunicação}, volume = {4}, pages = {51-68}, keywords = {Brazil, Democracy, dictatorship, Latin America, Social media, Twitter}, }

Online Political Microtargeting: Promises and Threats for Democracy external link

Zuiderveen Borgesius, F., Möller, J., Kruikemeier, S., Fahy, R., Irion, K., Dobber, T., Bodó, B. & Vreese, C.H. de
Utrecht Law Review, vol. 14, num: 1, pp: 82-96, 2018

Abstract

Online political microtargeting involves monitoring people’s online behaviour, and using the collected data, sometimes enriched with other data, to show people-targeted political advertisements. Online political microtargeting is widely used in the US; Europe may not be far behind. This paper maps microtargeting’s promises and threats to democracy. For example, microtargeting promises to optimise the match between the electorate’s concerns and political campaigns, and to boost campaign engagement and political participation. But online microtargeting could also threaten democracy. For instance, a political party could, misleadingly, present itself as a different one-issue party to different individuals. And data collection for microtargeting raises privacy concerns. We sketch possibilities for policymakers if they seek to regulate online political microtargeting. We discuss which measures would be possible, while complying with the right to freedom of expression under the European Convention on Human Rights.

Democracy, elections, frontpage, microtargeting, political campaigns, Privacy, profiling

Bibtex

Article{Borgesius2018, title = {Online Political Microtargeting: Promises and Threats for Democracy}, author = {Zuiderveen Borgesius, F. and Möller, J. and Kruikemeier, S. and Fahy, R. and Irion, K. and Dobber, T. and Bodó, B. and Vreese, C.H. de}, url = {https://www.ivir.nl/publicaties/download/UtrechtLawReview.pdf}, year = {0213}, date = {2018-02-13}, journal = {Utrecht Law Review}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {82-96}, abstract = {Online political microtargeting involves monitoring people’s online behaviour, and using the collected data, sometimes enriched with other data, to show people-targeted political advertisements. Online political microtargeting is widely used in the US; Europe may not be far behind. This paper maps microtargeting’s promises and threats to democracy. For example, microtargeting promises to optimise the match between the electorate’s concerns and political campaigns, and to boost campaign engagement and political participation. But online microtargeting could also threaten democracy. For instance, a political party could, misleadingly, present itself as a different one-issue party to different individuals. And data collection for microtargeting raises privacy concerns. We sketch possibilities for policymakers if they seek to regulate online political microtargeting. We discuss which measures would be possible, while complying with the right to freedom of expression under the European Convention on Human Rights.}, keywords = {Democracy, elections, frontpage, microtargeting, political campaigns, Privacy, profiling}, }

The role of regional media as a tool for building participatory democracy external link

McGonagle, T. & van Eijk, N.
2014

Abstract

This study will first briefly give a theoretical framework for the relationship between regional media and participation in democratic society. It will then provide a comprehensive overview and analysis of Council of Europe standards that are of relevance to the regional media and therefore shape the environment in which they operate. Against that backdrop it will select and comment on different (national) regulatory, policy approaches to regional media and best or interesting practices. The study will identify and examine a range of challenges facing regional media – legal, political, cultural, linguistic and economic. These different dimensions will factor into the selection of best and interesting practices. The study will be theoretically-informed, politically-aware and solution-oriented.

Council of Europe, Democracy, Media law, Policy, regional media

Bibtex

Report{McGonagle2014, title = {The role of regional media as a tool for building participatory democracy}, author = {McGonagle, T. and van Eijk, N.}, url = {http://www.ivir.nl/publicaties/download/regional-media-and-participatory-democracy.pdf}, year = {1014}, date = {2014-10-14}, abstract = {This study will first briefly give a theoretical framework for the relationship between regional media and participation in democratic society. It will then provide a comprehensive overview and analysis of Council of Europe standards that are of relevance to the regional media and therefore shape the environment in which they operate. Against that backdrop it will select and comment on different (national) regulatory, policy approaches to regional media and best or interesting practices. The study will identify and examine a range of challenges facing regional media – legal, political, cultural, linguistic and economic. These different dimensions will factor into the selection of best and interesting practices. The study will be theoretically-informed, politically-aware and solution-oriented.}, keywords = {Council of Europe, Democracy, Media law, Policy, regional media}, }

Accountability unchained: Bulk Data Retention, Preemptive Surveillance, and Transatlantic Data Protection external link

Irion, K.
2014

Abstract

The innovations on which today’s Internet proliferated have been a major gift from its founders and the US government to the world. Ever since the rise of the Internet it has attracted utopian ideas of a free and borderless cyberspace, a men-made global commons that serves an international community of users. First commercialization and now the prevalence of state surveillance have significantly depreciated the utopist patina. Internet’s borderless nature which was once heralded to rise above the nation state has actually enabled some states to rise above their borders when engaging in mass surveillance that affects users on a global scale. International human rights law and emerging Internet governance principles have not been authoritative enough to protect users’ privacy and the confidentiality of communications. More or less openly, Western democracies embarked on the path of mass surveillance with the aim to fight crime and defend national security. This chapter’s focus is on the safeguards and accountability of mass surveillance in Europe and the US and how this affects transatlantic relations. It queries whether national systems of checks and balances are still adequate in relation to the growth and the globalization of surveillance capabilities. Lacking safeguards and accountability at the national level can exacerbate in the context of transnational surveillance. It can lead to asymmetries between countries which are precisely at the core of the transatlantic rift over mass surveillance. The chapter concludes with a brief review of proposals how to reduce them.

accountability, Democracy, electronic communications, Grondrechten, Privacy, Surveillance

Bibtex

Other{Irion2014, title = {Accountability unchained: Bulk Data Retention, Preemptive Surveillance, and Transatlantic Data Protection}, author = {Irion, K.}, url = {https://www.ivir.nl/accountability-unchained-kristina-irion_final/}, year = {1121}, date = {2014-11-21}, abstract = {The innovations on which today’s Internet proliferated have been a major gift from its founders and the US government to the world. Ever since the rise of the Internet it has attracted utopian ideas of a free and borderless cyberspace, a men-made global commons that serves an international community of users. First commercialization and now the prevalence of state surveillance have significantly depreciated the utopist patina. Internet’s borderless nature which was once heralded to rise above the nation state has actually enabled some states to rise above their borders when engaging in mass surveillance that affects users on a global scale. International human rights law and emerging Internet governance principles have not been authoritative enough to protect users’ privacy and the confidentiality of communications. More or less openly, Western democracies embarked on the path of mass surveillance with the aim to fight crime and defend national security. This chapter’s focus is on the safeguards and accountability of mass surveillance in Europe and the US and how this affects transatlantic relations. It queries whether national systems of checks and balances are still adequate in relation to the growth and the globalization of surveillance capabilities. Lacking safeguards and accountability at the national level can exacerbate in the context of transnational surveillance. It can lead to asymmetries between countries which are precisely at the core of the transatlantic rift over mass surveillance. The chapter concludes with a brief review of proposals how to reduce them.}, keywords = {accountability, Democracy, electronic communications, Grondrechten, Privacy, Surveillance}, }