Think about how often you’ve checked your phone today. How many times did you go on Twitter to look at a friend’s post? On Facebook to check the news? On Amazon to see if your package was delivered? On Google to, well, google a question?

Digital platforms connect people to information, products, services, and to other people. As platforms become increasingly prevalent, how we govern them becomes increasingly important. Regulatory choices—made by the government and by platforms themselves—play a crucial role in shaping what we see, hear, and experience online. Such choices also shape the costs and benefits of platforms to society.

Our symposium on digital platform governance covers two evolving areas of platform regulation. First, it considers ways to manage content moderation on platforms, with a focus on striking a balance between freedom of speech and the risk of misinformation. Second, our symposium examines how platform governance intersects with privacy and surveillance.

In discussing the topics above, our symposium focuses on two key questions. First, what type of governance is needed in each sphere? Second, who should be in charge of implementing that governance? In essence, we ask what needs to be done and who should decide.

11:30am: Content Moderation, Free Speech and Misinformation panel

Panelists: Dr. Pawel Popiel, Professor Eric Goldman, Professor Kyle Langvardt

1:00pm: Privacy and Surveillance panel

Panelists: Riana Pfefferkorn, Todd Hinnen, Stevie DeGroff, and Professor Neil Richards

Zoom link: https://stanford.zoom.us/j/91923168638?pwd=dXJhaFo2WnhyUVlaQnNTZU1rVzFrUT09

Passcode: 365243