Can Trade Agreements Help Solve the Wicked Problem of Disinformation?

Abstract

Disinformation is a wicked problem. Increasingly, disinformation comes from overseas. Many nations have adopted a wide range of strategies to mitigate disinformation. This patchwork may not be effective in mitigating cross-border disinformation. Moreover, the lack of coherent approaches could also lead to trade distortions and spillover effects upon internet openness and generativity. This paper shows how policymakers might use trade agreements to govern the cross-border data flows that at times fuel disinformation.

Keywords: trust, disinformation, spam, trade, trade agreements

JEL Classification: 038, 039, F68, F53