Epistemic Rights in the Era of Digital Disruption (Global Transformations in Media and Communication Research - A Palgrave and IAMCR Series)

This open-access volume argues that in a functioning democracy, citizens should be equally capable of making informed choices about matters of social importance. This includes citizens accessing all relevant information and knowledge necessary for informed will formation. In today's complex era of digital disruption, it is not enough to simply speak about communication or even digital rights. The starting point for this volume is the need for 'epistemic equality'. The contributors seek to showcase the history and diversity of current debates around communication and digital rights, as precursors for the need for epistemic rights; both as a theoretical concept and an empirically assessed benchmark. The book highlights scholarship via academic case studies from around the world to feature different issues and methodological approaches, as well as similarities in academic and policy challenges across the globe. The goal is to provide an overview of issues that depict challenges to epistemic rights, extract both academic and applied policy implications of different approaches, and end with a set of recommendations for advancing policy-relevant scholarship on epistemic rights. This volume is intended as the first holistic response to an urgent need to address epistemic rights of communication as a central public policy issue, as an academic analytical concept, as well as a central theme for informed public debate. This book is open-access, meaning you have free and unlimited access. Foreword Contents Notes on Contributors List of Tables Part I: Foundations Chapter 1: Introduction: The Epistemic Turn References Chapter 2: Why We Need Epistemic Rights Why We Need Epistemic Rights Epistemic Rights: The Concept From Communication Rights to Epistemic Rights Three Phases of the Communication Rights Movement The New World Information and Communication Order Towards the World Summit on Information Society After the Geneva and Tunis Conferences Digital Rights? Lessons Learned from Past Movements Conclusion References Part II: Concepts and Issues Chapter 3: On the Need to Revalue Old Radical Imaginaries to Assert Epistemic Media and Communication Rights Today Introduction Liberal and Socialist Radical Social Imaginaries The Liberal Radical Imaginary The Socialist Radical Imaginary Public Interventions in Media and Communication Inspired by Radical Imaginaries Ownership Access Media Content Communication Infrastructures Conclusion References Chapter 4: Epistemic Rights, Information Inequalities, and Public Policy Introduction Advertiser Valuations of Audiences Media Ownership Digital Divides Journalism Divides Disinformation Divides Algorithmic Bias Conclusion References Chapter 5: (Re-)casting Epistemic Rights as Human Rights: Conceptual Conundrums for the Council of Europe Introduction The Council of Europe’s System for Freedom of Expression A Central Emphasis on Democracy and Participation in Public Debate The Epistemic Underpinnings of Participation in Public Debate The Court’s Incidental Appreciation of Epistemic Rights An Informed Public Facts and Value Judgements Historical Facts Duties and Responsibilities Specific Epistemic Rights as Human Rights? Equality in Access to and Availability of All Relevant and Truthful Information That Concerns Issues Under Will Formation and Decision-Making Equality in Obtaining Competence in Critically Assessing and Applying Knowledge for Their Good as well as for the Public Good Equality in Public Deliberation About Will Formation and Decision-Making in Matters of Public Interest Equal Freedom from External Influence and Pressure When Making Choices Conclusion References Council of Europe (CoE) European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR): Primary Sources Chapter 6: Epistemic Rights and Digital Communications Policies: Collective Rights and Digital Citizenship Introduction: Communication and Citizenship Revisited The ‘Double Movement’ of Platforms and Power Technocracy and Populism in Tech Policy Epistemic Rights and the Return of the Collective References Chapter 7: Public Service Media: From Epistemic Rights to Epistemic Justice Introduction What Are PSM For? PSM: From Epistemic Rights to Epistemic Justice Conclusion References Part III: National and Regional Cases Chapter 8: Towards Feminist Futures in the Platform Economy: Four Stories from India Introduction: Gender Narratives in the Platform Economy Damini and the Urban Company Sushila, Yamuna, and Uber Jayashree and Amazon Mechanical Turk Sakhi, Diya, and the Self-Employed Women’s Association Discussion: The Social Power of Platforms—A Feminist Analysis Conclusion References Chapter 9: Epistemic Rights and Right to Information in Brazil and Mexico Introduction Key Historical Events in the Introduction of the Right to Access to Information: A Comparative View Between Mexico and Brazil Challenges in the Right to Access to Information in Mexico and Brazil Conclusion References Chapter 10: Digital Authoritarianism and Epistemic Rights in the Global South: Unpacking Internet Shutdowns in Zimbabwe Introduction Digital Rights as Epistemic Rights Political Weaponisation Human Rights Violations Erosion of Public Trust Conclusion References Chapter 11: Epistemic Violators: Disinformation in Central and Eastern Europe Introduction Focus: Epistemic Rights and Their Violation by Journalism Context: CEE, Media Capture, and Epistemic Erosion Actors: Typology of Violators of Epistemic Rights State-Controlled and Captured Public Media Privately Owned, Oligarch-Controlled Media Other Sources of Disinformation Conclusion References Chapter 12: Nordic Illusion and Challenges for Epistemic Rights in the Era of Digital Media Introduction The Nordic Media Model A Long-Shared History From Enmity to Cooperation Nordic Constitutions and Freedom of Speech Analysing the Transition of Media Welfare States The Roles of National Path Dependence and Supranational Decision-Making The Transition from Welfare States to Competition States The Digital Era and Epistemic Rights in the Nordic Countries Three Illustrative Cases Case 1: Path Dependence and Supranational Decision-Making, the Regulation of Online Audiovisual Media Case 2: The Public’s Dialogical Rights Versus the Press’s Private Interests Case 3: Hate Speech as a Threat to Free Expression and Dialogue and Policy Solutions Conclusion References Chapter 13: Right to Data Access in the Digital Era: The Case of China Introduction Epistemic Rights and Right to Data Access Right to Access Data Academic Debate on the Right to Access Digital Data in China Rules Governing Access to Digital Data in China Conclusion References Part IV: Implications Chapter 14: Conclusion: Ubiquitous Need for Epistemic Rights and the Way Forward Fundamental Issues Why Epistemic Rights Now? Key Institutions The Role of the Media Human Rights and Global Dimensions Similarities and Differences Around the Globe Epistemic Rights as Human Rights Future Prospects Need for New Foci The Role of Research References Index The International Association for Media and Communications Research (IAMCR) has been, for over 50 years, a focal point and unique platform for academic debate and discussion on a variety of topics and issues generated by its many thematic Sections and Working groups (see http://iamcr. org/). This series specifically links to the intellectual capital of the IAMCR and offers more systematic and comprehensive opportunities for the publication of key research and debates. It provides a forum for collective knowledge production and exchange through trans-disciplinary contributions. In the current phase of globalizing processes and increasing interactions, the series provides a space to rethink those very categories of space and place, time and geography through which communication studies has evolved, thus contributing to identifying and refining concepts, theories and methods with which to explore the diverse realities of communication in a changing world. Its central aim is to provide a platform for knowledge exchange from different geo-cultural contexts. Books in the series contribute diverse and plural perspectives on communication developments including from outside the Anglo-speaking world which is much needed in today's globalized world in order to make sense of the complexities and intercultural challenges communication studies are facing.