Four Responsibilities of Digital Platforms to Ensure a Safe Online Space

Head of Communications and Media of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Cambodia, Mikel Aguirre Idiaquez, said that to maintain a safe and democratic digital space, digital platforms are responsible for at least four things. First, apply a human rights (HAM)-based perspective to every platform, program, system, and product. Human rights due diligence on a product that the platform intends to introduce is recommended. In this test, the platform conducts product consultations with interested parties, including community groups that are potentially affected.

“So, before launching a product, they need to analyze the impact on society, so that this can be a safeguard for society,” said Mikel at the “AI Readiness Assessment Methodology” discussion event in Jakarta.

The responsibility of both platforms is to provide content moderation systems and curation policies that are democratic, reliable, and effective. In designing a democratic content moderation model, digital platforms are expected to involve local groups to understand the local context.

“Let’s say they develop a policy to address hate speech.” So, involve groups that are exposed to hate speech,” concluded Mikel.

The third responsibility of digital media platforms is transparency. Platforms are required to be transparent about how the algorithms they develop work, how users get content, and how content is distributed to many users.

Another responsibility of digital platforms is to provide an accessible reporting mechanism. It is important that platforms ensure there are easy reporting mechanisms in place, users understand the reporting mechanisms, and are open in the content moderation decision-making process.

Mikel also encouraged digital platforms to establish collaborative relationships with various stakeholders. In an effort to overcome disinformation, for example, a formal and systematic collaboration involving multi-stakeholders can be formed. A joint forum is needed to communicate with each other the efforts that have been made as well as synergize actions.

“There is no need to create a new committee in government to crack down on disinformation. “What is necessary is to create a system where all different stakeholders have a formal and systematic collaboration,” he said. []