Kyra Jasper, Josh Simons and Alina Utrata discuss the global dimensions of tech regulation. In this episode, they examine three case studies: Google and Facebook’s reaction to Australia’s new media law, and whether these tech corporations really “faced down a nation-state”. Facebook’s role in Myanmar, where the platform is the de facto internet, and whether the new military junta can shut down Facebook, if Facebook can ban the new rulers, and why Facebook only took action after a coup, and not during the ongoing genocide against the Rohingya. Finally, Twitter and Facebook in India, where the platforms have struggled with how to respond to India’s censorship laws. What can these case studies tell us about the nexus between states, corporations and people across the world?

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Mentioned in this podcast

Australia shows the way. It’s the job of governments not big tech to run democracies

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/feb/21/australia-shows-the-way-its-the-job-of-governments-not-big-tech-to-run-democracies

Google threatens to shut down search in Australia

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/22/tech/google-threatens-australia-search-news-intl-hnk/index.html

Myanmar Blocks Facebook Access After Online Protests of Military Coup

https://www.wsj.com/articles/myanmar-blocks-facebook-access-after-coup-11612436184?reflink=desktopwebshare_twitter

Myanmar’s Military Deploys Digital Arsenal of Repression in Crackdown

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/01/world/asia/myanmar-coup-military-surveillance.html

'It's digital colonialism': how Facebook's free internet service has failed its users

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jul/27/facebook-free-basics-developing-markets

What a Facebook experiment did to news in Cambodia

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-41801071

Twitter Unblocked Accounts That Criticized India’s Government. Now, Its Employees Are Being Threatened With Jail Time Unless It Blocks Them Again.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/india-threatens-twitter-jail

In India, Facebook Fears Crackdown on Hate Groups Could Backfire on Its Staff

https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-india-facebook-fears-crackdown-on-hate-groups-could-backfire-on-its-staff-11607871600

India imposes new rules on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/25/tech/india-twitter-facebook-social-media-guidelines/index.html

Nowhere Land by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4148-nowhere-land

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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