More Harm Than Good? The Perils of Regulating Online Content

Online communication and sharing of user generated content have become part of everyday life, but have long worried governments, which have sought to monitor and gain access for reasons of security and crime prevention. Digital platforms used to be considered socially beneficial, and legal measures were passed to facilitate the hosting of user generated content, but governments are increasingly worried about what they consider "harmful" content that is widely available through digital platforms. It has been claimed that democratic processes have been subverted by online disinformation and misinformation, and that children and adults are at risk of psychological harm and exploitation from offensive or inappropriate material. Measures are being pursued to counter these perceived harms, including the EU's Code of Practice on Disinformation and the UK government's forthcoming Online Safety Bill. This paper considers the need for such measures and the risks of unintended consequences.