The Internet was once considered the most democratic platform in the world. A global space where every citizen could express his views. Could organize people and influence. But this optimism has now been shattered. Today the battle for expression is not on who can speak but on whose voice will be heard. This decision is no longer in the hands of courts or parliaments, but is taken by algorithms running in closed rooms of global tech companies.
What is the real weapon of censorship?
The first truth of the digital age is clear. Free speech and free reach are not the same thing. Even if a post is not removed, it may be slowed down, pushed down, or made invisible altogether. A video remains online, but does not reach the audience. The real weapon of censorship today is visibility, not deletion. Every citizen is speaking in a system which decides how far his words will go.
This power lies with those platforms that claim to be neutral, while they are no longer neutral. The moderation system, which was initially created to stop spam, has now started working like an ideological filter. Three forces are controlling this new digital environment – moderation, manipulation, and the decline of platform neutrality.
Moderation has now become less a technical decision and more a political decision. Reactive moderation (action after complaint), pre-active moderation (scanning of every post by AI) and algorithmic moderation (upgrading content) can all take away a creator’s income or change the course of public debate with a single click. Most users have no idea how engineered their online world is.
The second power is manipulation. Anger sells, controversy drives clicks, and confrontation drives engagement. The feed is not a mirror of the public. This is such an effective machine that has been created to monetize the platform. Governments, political parties and interest groups take advantage of this structure to influence elections or suppress criticism. AI-based personalized feeds create a different political reality for every citizen.
The third force is the end of neutrality. Big tech companies have now become not just a medium of information but also the most powerful editor in the world. Without accountability, without transparency and without public rights.
India at the center of global battle
India is at the center of this global fight. The Intermediary Rules (2021/2023) require platforms to comply with immediate removal orders and disclose the source of messages. The DPDP law creates a privacy framework, but also gives the government wide latitude. Deepfakes are increasing rapidly during elections and there is currently no separate law against it.
On the other hand, courts are hearing decisions on online speech and account suspension almost every week. India’s decisions will affect the digital rules of the entire world.
It is clear that today the battle of expression is not being fought on the public platform, but within the recommendation algorithm. If democracy is to be sustainable in the digital age, the world needs a new social contract. Based on platform transparency, accountability and citizen power. Unless this happens, algorithms will decide the truth and democracy will suffer the consequences.
हिमांशु शेखर, ग्रुप एडिटर, यूपी, उत्तराखण्ड, दैनिक भास्कर
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