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The time has come to recognize that OTTs are a global phenomenon and that they can be appropriately governed only by concerted global action. There is a need for global rules, which should take the form of an international legal framework. The time has come to start creating that framework, which should include a Digital Geneva Convention.
OTTs bring benefits, but they bring benefits only if people are connected. Thus, as stated in our previous contributions, there is an urgent need to reduce the cost of connectivity in developing countries. This can be achieved by fostering competition (which may include functional separation), funding infrastructure, taking steps to reduce the cost of international connectivity, supporting the development of local content, capacity building, and a proper governance system.
In order to foster the continuing use of OTTs, it is necessary to improve trust and security. It is urgent to recognize that market failures are partly the cause of the current lack of security of OTTs. Steps must be taken to address the externalities arising from lack of security (entities that do not secure their systems sufficiently do not bear all the costs of security breaches), and to address information asymmetries (consumers have no way of knowing which services are sufficiently secure). At the same time, it is imperative to protect human rights, protect data privacy, protect consumers and workers (in particular against abuse by dominant platforms), curtail unnecessary and disproportionate mass surveillance, address the issue of job destruction and wealth concentration engendered by OTTs, address the ethical issues arising from automation and artificial intelligence, and deal with OTT platform dominance.
The body of the paper contains specific recommendations for each of these issues.
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