Abstract
This paper analyses how Facebook and Google’s innovative business models might be posing a threat to democracy. Their economic concentration has made them powerful enough to enforce a technological determinism: all technology that happens must happen as it does and could not have happened any other way. This determinism actively violates the principle of representative government because it gives regulatory power to non-elected private companies. Furthermore, the individual autonomy of citizens is violated by requiring consent to unfair user agreements which incorporate indiscriminate surveillance and data-mining which is able to predict and modify behaviour. This paper aims to generate public debate about Facebook and Google’s challenges to democracy.
Highlights
This paper aims to analyse whether the disruptions Facebook and Google have made in law and technology are affecting democratic principles
There may be other tech companies that are subverting the law and the principles of democracy, this paper focuses on Facebook and Google due to their uniquely
The second part of this paper will look at how the uncontrolled behaviour of Facebook and Google may pose a threat to the autonomy of individuals
Summary
This paper aims to analyse whether the disruptions Facebook and Google have made in law and technology are affecting democratic principles. This paper will examine whether these companies pose a threat to democracy by looking at the applicable law and its history; analysing existing case law and the current economic environment; and drawing up empirical evidence. The second part of this paper will look at how the uncontrolled behaviour of Facebook and Google may pose a threat to the autonomy of individuals Since these two companies have almost monopolised the search engine and social media markets, they are the only ones who provide a service that is essential in the 21st century.[7] The first interference lays, in the little choice citizens have in contracting with Facebook and Google and the lack of free will in what the contract stipulates. The second interference with the right of autonomy or freedom of the individual is the innovative business model that Facebook and Google have introduced This business model functions by extracting and analysing the data of its users to predict their behaviour. By providing a review of the implications of modern technology this paper desires to provide a more thought-through future that is in conformity with the principles of democracy and protects the rights and freedoms of its citizens
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