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APA

Larsson, S. (2018). Algorithmic governance and the need for consumer empowerment in data-driven markets. Internet Policy Review, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.14763/2018.2.791

American Psychological Association. For more info, see https://www.apastyle.org

Chicago

Larsson, Stefan. 2018. "Algorithmic governance and the need for consumer empowerment in data-driven markets". Internet Policy Review 7 (2). DOI: 10.14763/2018.2.791. https://policyreview.info/articles/analysis/algorithmic-governance-and-need-consumer-empowerment-data-driven-markets.

Chicago Referencing Style. For more info, see https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org

Harvard

Larsson, Stefan (2018). Algorithmic governance and the need for consumer empowerment in data-driven markets. Internet Policy Review,[online] 7(2). Available at: https://policyreview.info/articles/analysis/algorithmic-governance-and-need-consumer-empowerment-data-driven-markets [Accessed: 21 Aug. 2026].

Harvard Referencing Style

MLA

Larsson, Stefan. "Algorithmic governance and the need for consumer empowerment in data-driven markets". Internet Policy Review 7.2 (2018). Web. 21 Aug. 2026.

Modern Language Association, 7th Ed. For more info, see https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/index.html

Vancouver

Larsson S. Algorithmic governance and the need for consumer empowerment in data-driven markets. Internet Policy Review [Internet]. 2018 [21 August 2026];7(2). Available from: https://policyreview.info/articles/analysis/algorithmic-governance-and-need-consumer-empowerment-data-driven-markets

Vancouver Style. For more info, see https://library.vcc.ca/media/vcc-library/content-assets/documents/VancouverStyleGuide.pdf

Given the ubiquity of fairness as a normative criterion in tech policy, this op-ed warns of particular risks to its legitimising potential which may, in the long term, damage the standing of fairness as crowd-pleaser.

While transparency is often championed as the key to addressing the risks of automated decision-making (ADM) in public governance, this op-ed argues that a narrow focus on explainability overlooks deeper systemic issues such as power imbalances, commercial influence, and weakened accountability. To address these issues, mechanisms that promote transparency must operate alongside efforts to enhance citizen engagement and other methods of oversight and accountability to better protect democratic values.

Legal AI is full of talk about 'explainability', but most of it is smoke and mirrors. If these systems are to be useful in law, they need more than plausible stories; they need legally sound reasoning and real-world rigour.

This op-ed defends the Universal Inscrutability Argument by clarifying what legal explainability actually requires: justifying reasons for institutional decisions, not access to individual motivations. The argument holds that legal standards for explainability should be based on the latter, not the former.

Mennatullah Hendawy critically examines how AI systems often perpetuate societal inequities by prioritising majority perspectives, marginalising underrepresented groups. Drawing from examples like predictive policing and agricultural tools in the Global South, she underscores the importance of considering the positionality of AI creators.

Internet Policy Review is an open access and peer-reviewed journal on internet regulation.

Scholars, regulators, journalists, activists, and other stakeholders publish in the journal in a variety of formats

Research articles: In-depth scholarly research papers and essays
Concepts: Critical reflections on emerging core concepts of the digital society
Editorials: Contextual or thematic introductions to special issues
Essays: Free-form yet in-depth contentions with issues of academic or social relevance
News: Journalistic reports on events of interest to the Internet Policy Review community
Opinions: Opinion pieces commenting on developments in the realm of internet policy
Open Abstract: Extended abstracts for works in progress that receive public peer review

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Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society Center for Advanced Internet Studies in cooperation with additional partners

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Inclusive by design? Participatory governance and the future of digital public spaces

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