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The platform governance triangle: conceptualising the informal regulation of online content

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  • Gorwa, Robert

Abstract

From the new Facebook 'Oversight Body' for content moderation to the 'Christchurch Call to eliminate terrorism and violent extremism online,' a growing number of voluntary and non-binding informal governance initiatives have recently been proposed as attractive ways to rein in Facebook, Google, and other platform companies hosting user-generated content. Drawing on the literature on transnational corporate governance, this article reviews a number of informal arrangements governing online content on platforms in Europe, mapping them onto Abbott and Snidal's (2009) 'governance triangle' model. I discuss three key dynamics shaping the success of informal governance arrangements: actor competencies, 'legitimation politics,' and inter-actor relationships of power and coercion.

Suggested Citation

  • Gorwa, Robert, 2019. "The platform governance triangle: conceptualising the informal regulation of online content," Internet Policy Review: Journal on Internet Regulation, Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG), Berlin, vol. 8(2), pages 1-22.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:iprjir:214074
    DOI: 10.14763/2019.2.1407
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gorwa, Robert, 2019. "What is Platform Governance?," SocArXiv fbu27, Center for Open Science.
    2. Malhotra, Neil & Monin, Benoît & Tomz, Michael, 2019. "Does Private Regulation Preempt Public Regulation?," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 113(1), pages 19-37, February.
    3. Abbott, Kenneth W. & Snidal, Duncan, 2010. "1. Strengthening International Regulation Through Transnational New Governance: Overcoming the Orchestration Deficit. 2. International Regulation without International Government: Improving IO Perform," TranState Working Papers 127, University of Bremen, Collaborative Research Center 597: Transformations of the State.
    4. Kenneth Abbott & Duncan Snidal, 2010. "International regulation without international government: Improving IO performance through orchestration," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 5(3), pages 315-344, September.
    5. Gorwa, Robert, 2019. "What is Platform Governance?," SocArXiv fbu27_v1, Center for Open Science.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Gorwa, Robert, 2024. "The Politics of Platform Regulation: How Governments Shape Online Content Moderation," EconStor Books, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, number 299876, August.
    2. Haggart, Blayne & Iglesias Keller, Clara, 2021. "Democratic legitimacy in global platform governance," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 45(6), pages 1-1.
    3. Trithara, Dakoda, 2024. "Agents of platform governance: Analyzing U.S. civil society's role in contesting online content moderation," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(4).
    4. Veale, Michael & Matus, Kira & Gorwa, Robert, 2023. "AI and Global Governance: Modalities, Rationales, Tensions," SocArXiv ubxgk_v1, Center for Open Science.
    5. Jiang, Guoyin & Yang, Wanqiang, 2023. "Signal effect of government regulations on ride-hailing drivers’ intention to mobile-based transportation platform governance: Evidence from China," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 63-78.
    6. Kemal Veli Açar, 2023. "On a global child protection fund financed by international tech companies," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 14(1), pages 162-172, February.
    7. Griffin, Rachel, 2022. "New school speech regulation as a regulatory strategy against hate speech on social media: The case of Germany's NetzDG," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(9).
    8. Gillespie, Tarleton & Aufderheide, Patricia & Carmi, Elinor & Gerrard, Ysabel & Gorwa, Robert & Matamoros-Fernández, Ariadna & Roberts, Sarah T. & Sinnreich, Aram & Myers West, Sarah, 2020. "Expanding the debate about content moderation: Scholarly research agendas for the coming policy debates," Internet Policy Review: Journal on Internet Regulation, Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG), Berlin, vol. 9(4), pages 1-29.
    9. Jiménez Durán, Rafael & Muller, Karsten & Schwarz, Carlo, 2024. "The Effect of Content Moderation on Online and Offline Hate: Evidence from Germany’s NetzDG," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 701, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).
    10. Gorwa, Robert, 2021. "Elections, Institutions, and the Regulatory Politics of Platform Governance: The Case of the German NetzDG," SocArXiv 2exrw_v1, Center for Open Science.
    11. Haggart, Blayne & Keller, Clara Iglesias, 2021. "Democratic legitimacy in global platform governance," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(6).
    12. Dvoskin, Brenda, 2023. "Expertise and Participation in the Facebook Oversight Board: From Reason to Will," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(5).
    13. Gorwa, Robert, 2021. "Elections, institutions, and the regulatory politics of platform governance: The case of the German NetzDG," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(6).
    14. Gorwa, Robert, 2021. "Elections, Institutions, and the Regulatory Politics of Platform Governance: The Case of the German NetzDG," SocArXiv 2exrw, Center for Open Science.
    15. Michal Kaššaj & Tomáš Peráček, 2024. "Sustainable Connectivity—Integration of Mobile Roaming, WiFi4EU and Smart City Concept in the European Union," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-37, January.

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