From Pirated Signals to Platform Sovereignty: Lessons from Fifty Years of Media Disruption

This paper explores transformative moments in media history when technological and cultural disruptions significantly reshaped the field of Media and Communication. Focusing on events ranging from the rise of pirate radio in the 1970s to current debates around digital sovereignty and platform regulation, it investigates how such disruptions have influenced media practices, regulatory frameworks, and scholarly discourse. Employing a historical-comparative methodology that combines archival research, discourse analysis, and case studies, the study examines key examples such as the effect of pirate broadcasting on UK media law, the role of social media in the Arab Spring, and contemporary calls for decentralised digital infrastructures. Through these cases, the research highlights how marginalised groups have used emerging technologies to contest institutional authority and amplify their voices. The findings point to a persistent tension between media innovation and institutional control, illustrating how media has functioned as a dynamic arena for political, social, and cultural negotiation. The study also emphasises the essential role of academia in identifying and analysing these disruptive moments, which enrich our understanding of the evolving media landscape. Ultimately, the paper argues for a future-oriented, engaged approach to Media and Communication studies. It calls on scholars to learn from historical disruptions in order to confront pressing contemporary issues such as platform monopolisation and unequal access to digital technologies. By doing so, the discipline can contribute to a more inclusive and responsive media scholarship that addresses global inequalities and supports democratic media practices.