ABSTRACT
It is often assumed that the Internet as a medium produces democracy on its own, simply by using it. This is a mistake. The democratic nature of this ever-changing communication network depends on its use and the context in which it is used. The Internet can be used to benefit democracy and to harm it. However, being a network, the contemporary Internet has both properties that enable democracy and those that damage it.
In this chapter these properties are described and explained, linking them to the following network layers. In the basic layer of hardware, properties such as physical access and inclusiveness, connectivity, size, density and centralization are discussed. In the layer of software (‘code’), properties such as the peer-to-peer principle, datification, the link structure of ‘Googlearchy’ and other power laws producing concentration stand out.
Finally, in the content layer (applications), properties such as user-generated content and the limits of attention and of simultaneous input define the opportunities of democracy.
