Abstract

«Big Tech»: a combination of technological characteristics and permissive policy framework facilitated the development of a highly concentrated and largely self regulated market, with users free to interact and generate content. Terms of use established by tech giants are the only rules limiting users’ behavior on online platforms, turning these companies into de facto judges of what constitutes legitimate behavior and what gets censored. In this scenario, dangerous behaviors (harassment, incitement to violence, and spreading of disinformation) are justified by the noble principle of freedom of expression. We suggest solutions to re-establish a balance of powers between Big Tech and society