Governance of Information Markets: Elite Interviews for High-Risk Domains & Recommended Policy Regulatory Solutions
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Authors
Smith, Samuel Zaruba
Issue Date
2025
Type
Dissertation
Language
en_US
Keywords
AI Safety , Blockchain , Cybersecurity , Data Governance , Ethical Artificial Intelligence , Open Source
Alternative Title
Abstract
Emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Web3, and other decentralized technologies have become crucial security, economic, and regulatory policy topics in the fields of public policy and politics. Yet, it is well documented that many current technology and economic regulatory policies are outdated and too abstract to properly protect democracy and human rights. This dissertation provides a qualitative empirical content analysis, recommends policy outcomes, and synthesizes expert opinions from 82 specialists on a variety of emerging technology issues, offering recommended solutions for policymakers. The elite interviews and associated content analysis of 42 interview questions explore the interdisciplinary field of emerging technology by identifying which domains face the highest risks, the most common ethical challenges across domains, and potential social and policy solutions to mitigate the ethical and societal risks of emerging technologies. The recommended policy solutions from interviewees are proposed in six categories: open-source software policy, social media, ethical AI, antitrust monopoly regulation, the internet and personal data as public utilities, and healthcare-specific policies. Additionally, I then synthesize these policy recommendations from interviewees highlighting the most practically feasible policies for the USA. The theoretical and legal recommendations in this research are based on the empirical results of elite interview content analysis and inter-rater reliability Likert scale scoring conducted by three researchers trained in qualitative methods. Findings from this research normatively support the motivation to update current U.S. and global technological and economic regulatory policies, including stricter requirements for organizations and users utilizing emerging technology systems, to better protect users, democratic governments, and human rights.