Algorithmic regulation and the global default

Shifting norms in Internet technology

Journal article (2016)

Authors

Ben Wagner European University Viadrina
Affiliation
External organisation
More Info
expand_more

Published Date

01-01-2016

Language

English

Reuse Rights

Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.

Affiliation

External organisation

Abstract

The world we inhabit is surrounded by 'coded objects', from credit cards to airplanes to telephones (Kitchin & Dodge, 2011). Sadly, the governance mechanisms of many of these technologies are only poorly understood, leading to the common premise that such technologies are 'neutral' (Brey, 2005; Winner, 1980), thereby obscuring normative and power-related consequences of their design (Bauman et al., 2014; Denardis, 2012). In order to unpack supposedly neutral technologies, the following paper will look at one key question around the technologies used on the global Internet: how are the algorithms embedded in software governed? The paper will look in detail at the question of algorithmic governance before turning to one specific example: content regulatory regimes. Finally, it will focus on drawing conclusions in understanding the normative frameworks embedded in technological systems.