Abstract

The new ICT – especially social networks and new ways of distributing entertainment by mega-corporations – are radically transforming the media landscape around the world. On the one hand, it is a scenario in which promises are made to deliver totally diverse content, including those created by users, to satisfy any preference, and, on the other hand, to provide increasing digital access to the entire population of the world. Those who make that promise are not governments but the new Internet mega-platforms like Google and Facebook. Latin American governments are ill prepared both legally and in their ability to provide support to domestic enterprises, which in turn contribute to tax revenues. At the same time, the question arises as to who should provide a seemingly public service, such as the Internet, which is the equivalent of electricity, telephony and water in the 20th century: the public sector (government) or the private sector (corporations)? Or are there other alternatives? What effect does this all have on users? How are public policies designed for this new scenario?