Media concentration 2.0: Regulating platform opinion power in a concentrated digital media ecosystem external link
Abstract
This dissertation examines how regulation addresses the evolving challenges of opinion power and media concentration, with platforms becoming increasingly dominant actors in the media. Through an interdisciplinary approach, it explores regulatory strategies aimed at tackling media concentration, focusing on the central research question: How should and could platform opinion power and digital media concentration be regulated in Europe? The research identifies a shift in opinion power from legacy media to platforms across three levels—individual citizens, institutional newsrooms, and the broader media ecosystem—each impacted by platforms' economic, technological, and political power. Based on a thorough normative assessment of the constitutional foundations of media concentration laws, the dissertation analyses the legal challenges related to such power shifts in the media. At the individual level, platforms' algorithmic control over content raises concerns about autonomy, privacy, and freedom of expression. At the institutional level, platforms’ influence within news organisations—particularly through the provision of technologies and digital infrastructure—affects editorial independence and the economic sustainability of journalism. Finally, at the ecosystem level, platforms exert systemic opinion power, enabling the creation of dependencies and influence over other democratic actors. This poses significant risks to media pluralism and the democratic distribution power. The dissertation finds that traditional media concentration laws inadequately address these shifts. While the new EU regulatory framework offers valuable provisions in filling these gaps, it falls short of addressing the root causes of digital media concentration. The dissertation calls for a rethinking of regulatory strategies to better align with public interest values, media pluralism, and the evolving role of platforms in the digital landscape, providing insights for future policy development.
media concentration, Media law, platform regulation
Bibtex
PhD Thesis{nokey,
title = {Media concentration 2.0: Regulating platform opinion power in a concentrated digital media ecosystem},
author = {Seipp, T.},
url = {https://pure.uva.nl/ws/files/205784222/Thesis.pdf},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-12-20},
abstract = {This dissertation examines how regulation addresses the evolving challenges of opinion power and media concentration, with platforms becoming increasingly dominant actors in the media. Through an interdisciplinary approach, it explores regulatory strategies aimed at tackling media concentration, focusing on the central research question: How should and could platform opinion power and digital media concentration be regulated in Europe? The research identifies a shift in opinion power from legacy media to platforms across three levels—individual citizens, institutional newsrooms, and the broader media ecosystem—each impacted by platforms\' economic, technological, and political power. Based on a thorough normative assessment of the constitutional foundations of media concentration laws, the dissertation analyses the legal challenges related to such power shifts in the media. At the individual level, platforms\' algorithmic control over content raises concerns about autonomy, privacy, and freedom of expression. At the institutional level, platforms’ influence within news organisations—particularly through the provision of technologies and digital infrastructure—affects editorial independence and the economic sustainability of journalism. Finally, at the ecosystem level, platforms exert systemic opinion power, enabling the creation of dependencies and influence over other democratic actors. This poses significant risks to media pluralism and the democratic distribution power. The dissertation finds that traditional media concentration laws inadequately address these shifts. While the new EU regulatory framework offers valuable provisions in filling these gaps, it falls short of addressing the root causes of digital media concentration. The dissertation calls for a rethinking of regulatory strategies to better align with public interest values, media pluralism, and the evolving role of platforms in the digital landscape, providing insights for future policy development.},
keywords = {media concentration, Media law, platform regulation},
}