Platforms, Powers and Liberty in the 21st Century

Abstract

The rapid expansion of digital platforms in the twenty-first century has transformed not only everyday social and economic practices but also the structure of political authority. Platforms such as Google, Meta, and Amazon increasingly function as powerful intermediaries that shape access to information, communication, and public discourse. This commentary examines the growing influence of digital platforms through the lens of republican political theory, particularly Philip Pettit’s concept of freedom as non-domination. While classical liberal approaches define freedom primarily as the absence of interference, a republican perspective highlights the risks posed by arbitrary and unaccountable power, even when it is not directly exercised. Drawing on insights from Hobbes, Machiavelli, and contemporary scholars of digital governance, the commentary argues that platforms operate as quasi-sovereign actors whose algorithmic systems regulate behaviour, curate visibility, and influence political participation in ways that remain largely opaque to users. The discussion situates platform power within broader debates on surveillance capitalism, algorithmic governance, and democratic accountability, emphasising how data monopolies, behavioural prediction, and content moderation reshape the conditions of freedom in digital societies. By conceptualising platforms as potential sources of domination, the commentary calls for renewed attention to transparency, regulatory oversight, and digital rights as necessary safeguards for preserving democratic autonomy in an era of technologically mediated power.