Living <i>in</i> media and the era of regulation: Policy and Internet during a pandemic

We write this editorial from our homes as the greater Sydney region of Australia experiences an extended lockdown due to increasing risks Delta variant SARS-CoV-2—coronavirus or Covid-19—on relatively isolated population. While we are hopeful that, by time publishing, immediate impacts Covid-19 significantly reduced, confident that several elements, notably within digital space, will remain. In strange and new circumstance, where nonessential businesses have been shut social gathering has curtailed, Australians experienced further intertwining technologies with lifeworld. According Australian Communications Media Authority (ACMA, 2020), nearly entire adult population were logged on (99%). This is a notable increase 2019s 90% 2020). boosted virtual realm, locals shopped, searched, video-streamed and, yes, even gambled comfort their They rejected pre-existing communication channels in favour Facebook messenger Zoom means communicating loved ones, peers work colleagues terms news consumption alone, 78% sourced content online, 60% was undertaken smartphones Instagram WeChat increased sharing capacity 37% 29%, respectively (Newman et al., 2021). The shift towards increasingly lives societies broadly reflective world which find ourselves. Asia, tech giants Bain, Google Temasek Bain & Company (2020) reported Internet usage Southeast Asia (SEA) had 40 million users 2020, 400 now part grid. Food delivery, groceries, education entertainment, led charge emerging trends for media online region. North America joined 18% in-home data average rates exceeding 16.6 gigabytes (Johnson, areas enjoyed highest level interest include gaming education, downloading educational apps 1000% March 2020 alone. As more institutions activities Eurozone 57% volume mobile traffic mid-June 2021, leading congestion concerns (European Commission, p. 2). Among member states, see combination communications technology access spurring small number (8%) but significant digitisation (International Telecommunication Union, 3). A communicable group European Union used predominantly send receive emails, information about goods services, internet messaging (Eurostat, Across African continent, 50-fold spawned hope prosperous future (Allen, welcomed 1.7 jobs contribution (US) 144 billion economy, signalling potential improvement people's livelihoods Yet, do not need list statistics indicate life once knew it changed dramatically dependency networked protocols. These percentages do, however, provide insight into burgeoning growth escalating over wake pandemic rapid growth, change occurring most. also one very broad picture, lacking analysis social, cultural political repercussions digitalisation. space disruption, innovation frontiers, each presenting own challenges opportunities role appropriate regulation. It cultural, revisit Mark Deuze's (2011, 143) adage, ‘we live media, rather than media’. Living state shapes realities identities (Deuze, 2011, pp. 137–138). condition both institution technology, become synonymous act living daily routines dependent steady advancement technologies. ‘living media’ way thinking set narrative focus convenience connectivity realm provided; aspirations harboured young Silicone Valley who ran ideals accessible free, all. But benefits outweigh these digital, connected, commercial, many ways automated today? Digitisation positive impacts, such connectivity, free swift information, blurring lines between consumer producer allowing liberalisation exchanges. Our continue be shaped media—its its content—yet solely based technical affordance. mediatises, doing so, can modify behaviours suit adopted (DellaVigna Gentzkow, 2010). say determinist nature, resulting panopticon sorts. However, considered artefacts such, politics, take characteristics economic environment they embedded (Winner, 1980). factors could determine status quo usages technologies, thus modifying behaviour tacitly. For example, if particular society driven consumerism harbours levels digitisation, may no wonder why individual's first conducted upon waking look at phone. same environments, connections deviated: relationships dating, physical experiences. Now, progressing beyond chatrooms websites promising meet match, singles (and, perhaps, so single) swipe left right dating hook-up (Hobbs 2017). Hook-up especially useful example demonstrates how through adoption That is, consideration media's impact necessitates exploration much afford hamper human agency, what facets should in, when majority impacted brought complimented advancing Within crux academics practitioners have, among other things, focused impede audiences participation (Stromer-Galley Wichowski, 2011). Equally, attention drawn whether continues be, liberating force promised (Iosifidis, some, (ICT) coined ‘liberation technology’ expand political, freedom (Diamond, 2010, 70). Digital touted protagonist communicative aspects well-flourishing democracy because supports audience processes (Laidlaw, 2015). so-called passive opportunity engage Habermasian public sphere, concept well-informed debate, sphere private people engaging discourse issues, sacrosanct operations (Jürgen Habermas, deliberations ‘access all’ later scathingly criticised likes Fraser (1990) others articulated nature inherently exclusive, improved exchange said spiked flow made possible open-access appeared remove shackles one-way-flow elites audiences, unfettered speech (Winseck, 2019). assume democratising functions exaggerated (Carpentier, 2011; Hay Couldry, Iosifidis, once-touted liberations particular, Internet) seen source control 2015) management systems, regulation design erode sense liberty procurement fundamental liberal democracies privacy (Bauman Lyon, 2012, 4–6). Internet, plethora platforms, censorship, blocking, agents' becoming regular fixture engagement. vein, (Schäfer, 2015), elitist iteration, some all silencing few. global fuelled immersive experience users, governments rely interactions replicate everyday lives. Nonetheless, contemplating affordances participation, discussion complete without access. scope individuals engagement technologies; remain outside exception exclusion. up Australia, state's inclusion fallen past 2 years (Australian Inclusion Index, 5). Those low-income households, unemployed, those tertiary impacted, divide widening nots Nguyen al. (2020, 2) detected 46% across United States. Notably, increases derive 44% lacked broadband access, giving rise question inequalities (Nguyen inequality trend parts globe. World Bank (2020), half Central connected impeding ability work, communicate gain telehealth community services pandemic-driven realm. Policymakers focusing countries extensively digitalisation develop regenerate economies (Duarte, noted countries, Rwanda, invested heavily infrastructure—with having 75% using smartphones—the only 28% prevent reaping rewards influx divide, exclusion groups others. Prescribing Organisation Economic Co-Operation Development (OECD) definition ‘the gap individuals, geographic different socioeconomic regard ICTs use wide variety activities’, requires moving defining plug out, user-based statistic. To understand full inequality, must move experiential experienced-based understanding various abuses digitisation. And cyber attacks, wars, unlawful actions safe while so. given contravene rights defined Nations belong OECD nations. Cyberwars waged, bringing them surge cyberattacks—deliberate attempts unauthorised persons systems theft, damage actions—which severity (Fischer Manzano, 2018). Cyber hacking vulnerable breaches. recent Linkedin breach exposed 700 92% total 756 (Lovejoy, addition exposure sensitive data, infrastructure, phone dissidents, journalists politicians, health profiles malware misuse (Centre Strategic International Studies, insecurities vulnerabilities plugged WorldWideWeb, yet overwhelming apparent contemporary web. There course, spread misinformation politically polarised (Gentzkow hate speech, mainstreaming conspiracy theories, dezinformacija potentially impacting outcomes. blame polarisation (Allcott 2017; Chen Stilinovic, indeed does allude notions homogenised being swayed wholeheartedly consume. considering misinformation, neglect explore influenced online. Uscinski Parent (2014) susceptible influence certain degree. Moreover, particularly vaccine hesitancy (Pan American Health Organisation, 2021), exploring democracies, wider societal well-being important, extent play polarity likely grow coming 2017, 12). Furthermore, consider most netizens penetrating life; younger marginalised under autocracies conflict aim harm them. tension permitting agents versus cause lies difficult input push–pull relationship, worth world's citizens issue Policy addresses arena regulation, self-regulation, harmful content, e-rulemaking democratic deliberation, domain disputes. article, Deligiaouri Suiter (2021) tackle epistemic deliberation policy-related dilemmas specific deliberative Impact Tool initiatives. Medzini second article issue, builds literature regulatory intermediation answer rule-makers protection officers shape self-regulation organizations regarding processing personal information. third Salter Richardson argues language multi-stakeholderism technological solutionism obscures administrative commercial practices facilitate widespread distribution abuse material. illustrate point, he describes 2019 intervention Canadian Centre Child Protection ‘Trichan’, three amongst largest purveyors material open web 7 years. Min seek address presence Free Trade Agreement States foreign country affect outcomes name dispute arbitration cases, framework Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy. final Thurman Obster type youth Kingdom. Their survey 16 17 year olds reveals 63% pornography platforms pornographic websites, suggesting UK government target latest proposals. VPN Tor browser materials, adding weight restrictions legal pornography—such age verification checks—imposed single circumvented designed protect. note, uncertain times, important future. Beyond transition 12 months journal, working next journal. plan anything clarity definitiveness, thick pandemic, there smaller steps taken international network scholarship colleagues. close conversation senior Department (MECO) here Sydney, reinvigorating biannual P&I conference, emerge Downunder MECO. moment disruption outlined prompted strong response, feature issues 2021 2022.