Home > 2.5 Election campaign > Principles for a Fundamental Rights-Complaint use of Digital Technologies in Electoral Processes
 
 
 
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There are valid concerns about the proliferation of illegal or abusive content online such as spread of disinformation campaigns; about (domestic or foreign) governments or powerful corporations sponsoring groups to influence elections; powerful corporations or actors sponsoring attacks on opponents in elections; or non-state actors exploiting the political discourse. The internet is, like the global market, much more difficult to handle, oversee, control than any domestic entity. On the one hand, unaccountable content regulation and overbroad censorship by tech companies – which would turn them into semi-tribunals (leaving network users without any judicial oversight or right to appeal) – must be avoided. On the other hand, social media companies and ISPs do have human rights responsibilities towards their users.