FREEDOM ON THE NET 2021 The Global Drive to Control Big Tech INTERNET REGULATION SWEEPS THE GLOBE Internet Regulation Sweeps the Globe Governments in at least 48 countries pursued new rules for tech companies on content, data, and competition over Governments in at least 48 countries pursued new rules for tech companies the past year. on content, data, and competition over the past year. 24 countries initiated measures governing how platforms treat content 38 countries pursued reforms affecting companies’ management of data 21 countries proposed action to defend competition Argentina Egypt Japan Pakistan Ukraine Australia France Jordan Russia United Arab Emirates Bangladesh The Gambia Kazakhstan Rwanda United Kingdom Belarus Germany Kenya Saudi Arabia United States Brazil Ghana Kyrgyzstan South Africa Uzbekistan Canada Hungary Malaysia South Korea Venezuela China India Mexico Taiwan Vietnam Colombia Indonesia Myanmar Thailand Zambia Cuba Iran Nicaragua Turkey Ecuador Italy Nigeria Uganda This infographic is from the Freedom on the Net 2021 report, as seen on www.freedomhouse.org. mock Xi Jinping and testimony from Uyghurs about arbitrary detentions in Xinjiang. It is undeniable that the unregulated growth of the tech industry has given a small number of firms an astounding ability to monitor and influence the behavior of billions of people. On January 6, 2021, this power was in full view as Facebook, Twitter, and several other platforms took the dramatic decision to deactivate the accounts of outgoing US president Donald Trump. The president’s rhetoric had plainly contributed to the violent insurrection at the US Capitol, leading many to welcome the bans and suspensions in Trump’s case. The tech companies, however, were not clear or consistent about how they 12 @freedomonthenet treated speech by influential politicians. In fact, they had long been dogged by accusations of arbitrary takedowns in other contexts, affecting journalists, human rights defenders, and members of marginalized communities around the world. Such incidents have strengthened the argument that major platforms cannot be relied upon to moderate content without some sort of oversight. Yet as companies respond to public criticism by stepping up enforcement of their own community standards against false and violent rhetoric, they face increasingly tense showdowns with illiberal and authoritarian governments. Where democratic checks and balances are lacking, government officials will exploit regulation to punish any #FreedomOnTheNet