Digital Governance and the Politics of Platforms

What it is about

You learn how digital media have changed political communication, interaction, and information consumption and which challenges arise for the governance of digital spaces. In the end you can analyze central problems (e.g., mis-/disinformation, toxicity, targeted campaigns, adoption of authoritarian methods) and develop policy proposals as well as scenarios for regulation and moderation of platforms.

What you will be able to do

• Understanding the changes in political communication through digital media
• Analysis of governance-related challenges in digital spaces using case studies
• Analysis of political controversies regarding the regulation of social media platforms
• Recognition of the complexity of actor involvement (civil society, companies, governments, citizens, advertisers)
• Insight into the debates on the future of freedom of opinion in social media

What the module consists of

• SeminarLectures by the instructor as well as case studies, group and final presentations by students

Teaching method

• LecturesConveying theoretical and empirical foundations
• Group work (case studies)Independent analysis of real cases for deepening and applying knowledge
• Scenario workshopDevelopment of policy proposals and future scenarios for practical application
• PresentationsPresentation and discussion of results in plenary