Salzburg Global Fellows propose recommendations to reduce political violence and polarization, with a focus on technology, regulatory measures, leadership, and social media
This article proposes a set of potential policies, practices, and new areas of collaboration to reduce political violence and polarization, with a specific focus on the role of technology, regulatory measures, leadership, and social media.
Audience Definition
The group specifically identified its target audience as citizens and political leaders in democratic societies, media influencers, policymakers, civil society members, and technologists who play a role in shaping discourse around polarization and political violence in democratic societies.
Policies and Practices
- Upstream Influence on Tech Design: The group emphasized the need for upstream regulatory influence on the design of technology platforms, such as social media networks, to ensure they promote social cohesion and limit the amplification of harmful rhetoric. This requires collaboration between governments, civil society, and technology companies.
- Advocacy for Cross-Sector Collaboration: There was strong support for collaboration across government, civil society, and private tech sectors. This would involve proactive investments in building digital literacy, narrative creation, and social resilience across divides.
- Investing in Independent Media: Recognizing the importance of independent media in reducing polarization, the group proposed investing in multi-partisan or independent media outlets. These would provide unbiased reporting and offer a counterbalance to sensationalist narratives often seen in polarized environments. This includes Pro-social Media Platforms, and support for digital platforms that foster pro-social behaviors and democratic discourse. These platforms would focus on preventing the spread of divisive or dangerous content, encouraging healthy debate instead of polarization.
- Media Councils: A multi-sectoral approach was recommended, including the establishment of media councils composed of representatives from various sectors to ensure that media outlets uphold standards that prevent the spread of violence-inducing content.
Legal and Regulatory Measures to Address Dangerous Speech on Social Media Platforms
- Tech Regulation and Transparency: There is a need for enhanced regulation of the biggest tech companies, particularly those based in the United States, analogous with consumer protection as opposed to content moderation. This would include requiring transparency around content moderation algorithms, providing clearer information on how content is curated, and placing stricter consumer protections around digital platforms.
- Governmental Expertise: There is a need to ensure that governmental agencies have sufficient expertise to regulate digital platforms effectively. This may require new regulatory bodies or cross-sectoral partnerships that include technologists, policymakers, and civil society.
- Circuit Breakers for Harmful Content: Consideration should be given to how to implement circuit breakers on social media platforms, which would be mechanisms that slow down or halt the spread of harmful content, preventing it from going viral.
- Encryption and Data Protection: While encryption is important for privacy, there is need to balance encryption with oversight in certain cases where violence could be incited. Regulation should protect encrypted data while also allowing for interventions where necessary.
Recommendations and Next Steps
- Convene Philanthropic Networks: It is recommended to convene a group of philanthropic organizations to explore enhancing support for efforts to reduce polarization, promote and help to fund independent media outlets, and support the development of pro-social digital platforms.
- Develop Case Studies of What Works: A recommendation was made to study what has worked in different contexts, particularly in countries where polarization has been effectively managed or reduced. These case studies would provide valuable lessons that could be applied in other settings.
The Salzburg Global Fellows who authored this article attended the Salzburg Global session on “Polarization and Violent Threats to Democratic Systems: Assessing the Threats and What We Can do About Them” from September 16 to 18, 2024.
The Polarization and Violent Threats to Democratic Systems project is developing an international, interdisciplinary network of researchers and stakeholders working on understanding and addressing rising polarization and political violence in a range of mature democratic systems. In addition, the project is defining a set of critical questions and objectives to inform and shape a new research agenda on the rise of polarization and political violence across selected countries.
Salzburg Global is grateful to the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation for their generous support and partnership that made this program possible.
