The Platform Question: Power, Accountability and Global South About the book Name of the Publication: The Platform Question: Power, Accountability, and the Global South This anthology is the result of a global collaboration among scholars, practitioners, and activists who come together to reflect on the expanding role of platforms in an increasingly digitized world. As platformization reshapes economies, politics, and everyday interactions, it brings with it new forms of regulation, control, and accountability that profoundly affect both marginalized communities and society at large. The collection explores these dynamics through diverse lenses, ranging from debates on platform regulation and Big Tech accountability in content moderation, to feminist critiques of algorithmic bias and safety in online dating spaces. It further examines digital resistance and collective action in contexts such as Latin America and Myanmar, where platform governance intersects with broader struggles for democracy and voice. By engaging with experiences of gig workers, platform-mediated labor, and the emerging ethical questions surrounding artificial intelligence, the anthology situates the global platform economy as a site of tension between freedom and control, innovation and exploitation. Together, these contributions reveal how digital infrastructures are not merely technological systems but deeply political spaces that shape the contours of contemporary life. Year of publication: 2025 This work is under a creative common attribution 4.0 international licence Edited by: Dr Raina Ghosh, Maitri Singh, Dr Arpita Kanjilal Design and Illustrated by: Yuvasree Mohan Published by: Centre for Development Policy and Practice ISBN: 978-81-993666-4-0Supported by: ARISE Community and Digital Empowerment Foundation Scan QR Code to Read this Book Acknowledgements We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the creation of this anthology. First and foremost, our sincere thanks to all the writers, illustrators and contributors for bringing this collection to life. We extend our appreciation to ARISE community members, Media Democracy Fund and CREA for supporting research on platform accountability in Global South under Research and Advoacy for Digital Accountability and Rights project. A special thanks to our mentor Mr. Osama Manzar whose guidance helped in shaping this project to its final form. We are also deeply thankful to our readers and supporters, who continue to inspire us to share and celebrate diverse perspectives through literature. The views and opinions expressed in this book are solely those of the authors. The publishers and/ or editors disclaim all liability for them. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers. For permission requests, write to the publisher at the address below. This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published. About the book 5