Regulating misinformation online: permissible content moderation
Abstract
This paper addresses the following question: under what conditions is online content moderation permissible? Often stringent content moderation policies are invoked when online misinformation is linked to serious harm. Here I show the complexities involved in allowing for this kind of content moderation. The conclusion will be that, when a clear link between misinformation and serious harm cannot be established, social media companies may instead adopt lighter forms of content moderation, such as accuracy nudging, to curb misinformation.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Misinformation and Its Impacts
Hate Speech and Cyberbullying Detection
Spam and Phishing Detection
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Inquiry
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Pages
- 1–23
- Publication date
- 14 February 2026
- Language
- EN