Question

QUESTION 2
The internet and online social media in particular are giving people unprecedented ability to express their views and share information with others. On the other hand the truth of what people say online and the sheer volume of information are hard for most people to handle. In Germany the government has introduced the Net Enforcement Law which prohibits certain kinds of online speech (e.g. incitement to hatred). Social media firms have 24 hours to check and remove suspect posts reported by users or face huge fines. Use the theories of market failure and government intervention to explain the reasons for Germany’s new law. Critically discuss potential problems with this intervention.

Answer 1

Market failure occurs when there is a social loss incurred because of inefficiency. Government tries to remove this inefficiency by regulating the market and ensures that citizens are not discomforted and have all genuine answers to their queries.

Potential problems with this type of intervention is that the government can easily control its people by making them see what the government wants them to see, it can lead to over the skin surveillance by seeing what all information different individuals are processing and using. This might also lead to discrimination of certain class of people and them getting jailed for their misdemeanor even on a mild case scenario, when there was no inciting speech. It can be used to target people who have used incitement previously and were left alone.