The Youth Lab

Are Nation States and Big Tech on a Collision Course?

“Everything in moderation, including moderation,” so said Oscar Wilde. When it comes to social media platforms it is exactly that - a moderation of moderation - that is landing tech billionaires in some very hot water.

On both sides of the argument, people see this as a collision course. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Carole Cadwalladr has described it as a “showdown between the pseudo crypto libertarianism and that old-fashioned, resolutely analogue concept known as the nation state.”

Others see this clash in an opposite but equally binary way. Simply that “liberals” and “the woke” seek revenge and state recourse on those they disapprove of – most prominently free speech absolutist tech billionaires - and call to treat them as criminals.

This week’s 52INSIGHTS, by the Social & Digital Innovation team, delves into the debate surrounding the seemingly ethereal actions of tech billionaires and their platforms, along with the tangible impact these platforms have on brands and people that continue to operate within them.

TELEGRAM VS FRANCE

While Musk spent his August fuelling political unrest around the world with impunity, another, entirely different scenario unfolded on a runway in north-east Paris. Tech Billionaire and Chief executive of Telegram Pavel Durov was arrested and indicted on 12 charges, including alleged complicity in the distribution of child exploitation material and drug trafficking.

Telegram is a cloud-based messaging app known for its emphasis on privacy, security, and speed. It offers end-to-end encryption for secret chats, large group capacities, and media-sharing features. It has about 950 million regular users globally. It’s partly a messaging system like WhatsApp, but whereas WhatsApp caps group numbers at 1,024, Telegram allows up to 200,000 and in that sense it’s also a broadcasting system like X. It will come as no surprise that the app is a hotbed of criminal activity including fraud, trading leaked databases, document forgery, and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. However, young people are also using it to connect - creating personal /diaries blogs on the app (35% of European 13-39-year-olds are currently using the platform - some report it’s more popular than Facebook with younger users).

The main issue, despite the serious charges, is whether the platform can be held legally responsible for what happens through its services. Can Durov be liable for illegal content on Telegram without direct evidence of his involvement or knowledge? This raises important questions about platform responsibility under European law, especially with the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires strict content moderation. While Durov's arrest isn't directly linked to DSA breaches, the case might set new standards for platform accountability.

RETHINKING THE ROLE OF DIGITAL PLATFORMS?

While all of this might feel distant, it is less than a year since Musk inserted himself into the Irish political discourse, tweeting about new hate speech legislation in November 2023:

But it’s not just inserting itself into Irish politics that X is interested in, it is also removing itself. Representatives from X were notably absent from an Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media to face questions about its response to the spread of disinformation and hate speech during the riots in Dublin on November 23rd, while representatives of Google, TikTok and Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, attended.

As these confrontations unfold, one thing becomes increasingly clear: the lines between free speech, platform responsibility, and national sovereignty are blurring. Whether it’s Musk’s defiance of Brazilian courts and trolling of Irish and UK political leaders or Durov’s legal troubles in France, the tension between the tech elite and the law is forcing us to rethink the role of digital platforms in society. How far can tech giants go before the state draws a line? And what will be the cost, both for personal liberties and for the accountability of those who control these platforms? As governments struggle to regulate, and billionaires challenge the rules, this battle may shape the very future of democracy in the digital age.

With an Irish general election looming large on the horizon, we certainly have skin in the game.

BRAND TAKEOUTS

Navigating Political Sensitivities: Social media platforms can quickly become arenas for political controversy, as evidenced by Musk’s involvement in global political discussions. For brands, staying neutral or aligning campaigns with socially responsible messaging is crucial to avoid being drawn into political conflicts that may alienate audiences or invite backlash.

Leverage Evolving Digital Legislation: With new laws such as the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) tightening regulations, marketers should see this as an opportunity to prioritise transparent, ethical communication. Brands that are proactive about compliance with content moderation and data privacy standards will be better positioned to gain consumer trust in this shifting digital landscape.

Keep Resetting - Audiences are in a constant state of Flux: Given the fraught nature of politics on X it is no wonder that politicians have been leaving the platform in their droves. And digital bans like those currently taking place in Brazil and Venezuela are significantly boosting new registrations on X alternatives such as Bluesky (Co-founder by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey) - which has seen 1 million new registrations from Brazil alone since the ban. Marketers should constantly evaluate their presence, purpose and audiences on social platforms.

NEWS FROM THINKHOUSE

THINKHOUSE is delighted to work with GOAL to launch the GOAL NextGen X-Change BELONGING Exhibition which will feature: spoken word Nigerian-Irish poet and performer, FeliSpeaks; Dublin-based street artist and activist, Emmalene Blake; and Turkish illustrator and animator, Mert Tugen. The event takes place on Wednesday 18th September in Bootleg, Dublin at 6pm. The evening will explore the theme of Belonging through conversation, creativity and community. Clients and friends of THINKHOUSE are welcome to join us on the evening - RSVP@thinkhousehq.com.