Using public-interest platforms and free knowledge to combat disinformation

Disinformation is not a new phenomenon. But the digitization of communication has changed the conditions under which it spreads. Its production has been simplified and it can be easily distributed via a few giant platforms. Governments and the European Commission are trying to curb the spread of disinformation and digital propaganda through regulation. But regulation alone is not enough. The digital discourse space requires public infrastructures and platforms that, like a public square, serve the common good and not primarily individual commercial or political interests. We need digital spaces where those who use them negotiate how they are designed and controlled. One example of how this has worked well around the world for twenty years is Wikipedia.