Online communication and sharing of user generated content have become part of everyday life, but have long worried governments, which have sought to monitor and gain access for reasons of security and crime prevention.

Until recently, digitalplatformswereconsideredtobesociallybeneficial, and legal measures were passed in jurisdictions including the EU and the United States to facilitate the hosting of user generated content.

 Governments are increasingly worried about what they consider to be the ‘harmful’ content that is widely available through digital platforms. It has been claimed that democratic processes have been subverted by online disinformation and misinformation, and that children and even adults are at risk of psychological harm and exploitation from offensive or inappropriate material.

 Measures are being pursued to counter these perceived harms, including the EU’s Code of Practice on Disinformation and the UK government’s forthcoming Online Safety Bill.

 This paper considers the need for such measures and the risks of unintended consequences.