Digital Enclosures: Big Tech’s Control and the Need for AI Governance

Between the 18th and 19th centuries, England implemented the Enclosure Acts, which converted common lands into private property, stripping communities of their rights while granting landowners control without responsibility. Drawing a parallel, the digital era is experiencing a similar transformation. Big tech companies now control vast digital spaces, holding power over content, data, and AI systems without being accountable for the societal consequences. The Grok controversy, where an AI generated sexualised images of women, highlights the risks of this unregulated power. Historically, platforms such as Facebook engaged in negotiated governance with civil society organisations to moderate harmful content. Today, new models shift moderation responsibilities onto users while the platforms retain full control, mirroring the enclosure of common resources without corresponding obligations. The article argues for a framework of “authority awareness” to map and regulate the power of digital landlords, akin to historical enclosure maps used to limit landowner excesses. This would provide regulators and auditing authorities with clear oversight, ensuring accountability in AI governance and preventing digital monopolies from exploiting communities. In essence, the author urges careful planning and regulation to prevent modern digital commons from being dominated by unaccountable corporate interests.