Alternative Business Models for the Web

Right now, the web has a single reigning business model: digital advertising, a $300 billion industry annually.

This business model has upsides, like “free” access to content, tools, and platforms. But there are also steep harms — and consumers bear the brunt of them. Today’s AI-powered targeted advertisements can spread misinformation and disinformation. They can reinforce societal biases and discrimination. They can increase surveillance. And they can even harm the environment.

It may be possible to reform digital advertising to mitigate these harms, but it is also possible to introduce mainstream alternatives?

A webinar for 2020 Mozilla Festival with Nathalie Marechal of Ranking Digital Rights, Akintunde Sultan of DevCareers, and Janice Waite of Mozilla. Listen here.