Geopolitics of communication infrastructures and publics

Digital communication infrastructures - such as undersea cables, data centers, and satellites - alongside digital platforms predominantly owned and operated by global private corporations like Alphabet (Google) and Meta (Facebook), not only enable connectivity but also control and condition access to vast segments of the digital space. These companies have effectively “infrastructuralized” significant portions of the digital landscape. 

But, what are the implications for the welfare state and universal values when the digitalization and datafication of economic, political, and everyday life hinge on private operators motivated by commercial interests? How does this infrastructure influence the distribution of communicative power within Swedish society? How does Sweden's platform landscape shape the national media system, designed to support democratic public discourse and values? 

These are examples of the critical questions we explore at Geomedia.