Back up: can users sue platforms to reinstate deleted content?

A private order of public communication has emerged. Today, social network services fulfill important communicative functions. A lot has been written about the failings of companies in deleting problematic content. This paper flips the question and asks under which conditions users can sue to reinst...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Matthias C. Kettemann, Anna Sophia Tiedeke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society 2020-06-01
Series:Internet Policy Review
Subjects:
Online Access:https://policyreview.info/node/1484
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850073835828674560
author Matthias C. Kettemann
Anna Sophia Tiedeke
author_facet Matthias C. Kettemann
Anna Sophia Tiedeke
author_sort Matthias C. Kettemann
collection DOAJ
description A private order of public communication has emerged. Today, social network services fulfill important communicative functions. A lot has been written about the failings of companies in deleting problematic content. This paper flips the question and asks under which conditions users can sue to reinstate content and under which circumstances courts have recognised ‘must carry’ obligations for social network services. Our analysis, an initial comparative analysis of case law on the reinstatement of user-generated content, will point to a larger issue of systemic relevance, namely the differences in treatment of states and private companies as threats to and/or guarantors of fundamental rights in the United States and in Germany. It is a contribution to the important debate on the interaction of states and platforms in governing online content.
format Article
id doaj-art-0290b2b9f8174af681c45007b44e734d
institution DOAJ
issn 2197-6775
language English
publishDate 2020-06-01
publisher Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society
record_format Article
series Internet Policy Review
spelling doaj-art-0290b2b9f8174af681c45007b44e734d2025-08-20T02:46:43ZengAlexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and SocietyInternet Policy Review2197-67752020-06-019210.14763/2020.2.1484Back up: can users sue platforms to reinstate deleted content?Matthias C. Kettemann0Anna Sophia Tiedeke1Leibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans-Bredow-InstitutLeibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans-Bredow-InstitutA private order of public communication has emerged. Today, social network services fulfill important communicative functions. A lot has been written about the failings of companies in deleting problematic content. This paper flips the question and asks under which conditions users can sue to reinstate content and under which circumstances courts have recognised ‘must carry’ obligations for social network services. Our analysis, an initial comparative analysis of case law on the reinstatement of user-generated content, will point to a larger issue of systemic relevance, namely the differences in treatment of states and private companies as threats to and/or guarantors of fundamental rights in the United States and in Germany. It is a contribution to the important debate on the interaction of states and platforms in governing online content.https://policyreview.info/node/1484PlatformsIntermediariesPrivate spacesCourtsIndirect application of human rights
spellingShingle Matthias C. Kettemann
Anna Sophia Tiedeke
Back up: can users sue platforms to reinstate deleted content?
Internet Policy Review
Platforms
Intermediaries
Private spaces
Courts
Indirect application of human rights
title Back up: can users sue platforms to reinstate deleted content?
title_full Back up: can users sue platforms to reinstate deleted content?
title_fullStr Back up: can users sue platforms to reinstate deleted content?
title_full_unstemmed Back up: can users sue platforms to reinstate deleted content?
title_short Back up: can users sue platforms to reinstate deleted content?
title_sort back up can users sue platforms to reinstate deleted content
topic Platforms
Intermediaries
Private spaces
Courts
Indirect application of human rights
url https://policyreview.info/node/1484
work_keys_str_mv AT matthiasckettemann backupcanuserssueplatformstoreinstatedeletedcontent
AT annasophiatiedeke backupcanuserssueplatformstoreinstatedeletedcontent