Democracy: a Harvard Law School Lecture Series | Session 3: Social Media and Democracy

A Nov. 15 panel on Social Media and Democracy featuring Nate Persily (Stanford Law), Jamal Greene (Columbia Law), and Tristan Harris (Center for Humane Technology), moderated by Harvard Law School Professor Lawrence Lessig.

In the last few years, politicians, activists, academics, among many others, have become increasingly concerned about the role of social media in American democracy. The concerns are myriad. They include dis- and misinformation, increased polarization, the absence of a shared epistemic framework, and hate speech — amplified by business models that benefit from this pathologies. For lawyers and legal academics, an important inquiry is whether law can be at all useful in addressing the threats that social media pose to democracy. Are social media companies capable of effective self-regulation? What role should governments play in regulating social media companies? What role — given the constraints of the First Amendment — can governments play? Is this the new normal or can we expect a new and better equilibrium as we adjust to the promise and peril of social media’s ubiquitous and arguably necessary role in our politics?

[snarkyboots]

Thank you for making this talk public.

[robertwnorrisii]

@16:49 “Tyranny spawns base cowards.”

Thank you for allowing me to listen.

-R.W.N II

[snarkyboots]

The internet also is the reason we had the Covid vaccine so quickly, since researchers all over the world got together to accomplish this. Of course the pharmaceutical companies were able to grind out the product quickly, too.

[eliashe]

Its kinda something how few views this vid has.

There's an old 'internet law', the worst rises to the top.

[eileenmulhall]

Tristan you have valid points, and concerns. However, during a crisis, power will reverts back to the presidential authority.

[alikhan.]

hi.. i missed the earlier sessions.. will watch later..😊