In formulating this essay, it will be beneficial to evaluate the aspects of digital platforms foregrounded in the report of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) recent Digital Platforms Inquiry. In establishing and arguing for your own evaluation of the core issues, it will be useful to pay close attention to the ACCC Final Report, including its analysis and recommendations. Lectures 10 and 11 are provided as references.
1. Demonstrate a sound understanding of digital platforms and their operations. (500 words)
– Identify key areas of public concern regarding the operations of digital platforms
2. Identify the regulatory issues that media platforms raise (whether public, political, economic, or cultural) (500 words)
– Describe the functions or configuration of digital platforms that could or should be subject to regulation (you may choose to discuss them all or to focus on one particular concern, eg data privacy, competition, or public speech)
– Identify any barriers, challenges, or negative effects of platform regulation at the national level (e.g. Intellectual Property and Copyright Infringement, Digital Divide and Accessibility of Information)
3. Outline the specific challenges digital platforms present for regulators. (500 words)
– Identify national bodies, agencies, or business entities that could or should play a role in platform regulation and describe the specific challenges they might face
4. Identify and argue for a set of sound principles for platform regulation in Australia (500 words)
– Formulate principles that could or should guide the formulation of digital policy (e.g. Algorithmic Accountability and Platform Accountability, User education and digital literacy programs etc)
– Present your argument for or against the regulation of platform operations in Australia or another country of your choice.