New challenges in Internet governance: Power shifts and contestation from “within”

Abstract

Digital transformation has received widespread academic, policy and media attention in the last few years, amid rapid technological developments, geopolitical tensions and an aggressive media strategy launched by a number of Silicon Valley CEOs. Post-pandemic, the task of tracing the relevant scenarios for technological change and evaluating their social consequences has become more difficult, partly due to the rise of artificial intelligence. This special issue explores novel lines of inquiry in the study of Internet governance at a critical juncture in its evolution, zooming in on three important trends: (1) the public attempts to refocus on infrastructure (control); (2) the stricter regulation of social media, partly in response to the push from civil society to address violent behaviour online; and (3) the renewed contestation over representation in Internet governance, where youth and other historically underrepresented groups are struggling to achieve better visibility for their interests. The articles in this special issue underline that new forms of contention by a variety of actors are emerging from “within” the existing governance mechanisms. However, the most successful initiatives are mainly from governments.