Democracy and Technology
The world is becoming a victim of two phenomena that it craved for the past few decades. The cry for democracy has been here for centuries, not even decades. The world’s pursuit to embrace more and more technology has never been attained. We always thirst for more technology. Technology is becoming uncontrollable. Everything is falling apart, not to mention how democracy is being affected most, especially in the guise of freedom of speech and expression. This is precisely what proponents of democracy championed. The two articles are excellent examples of the interaction between technology and democracy and the damage caused.
The first article, “Democracy is losing the arms race,” points out the effect of computationally targeted misinformation. Internet experts are using high-end technological manipulations to help politicians gain undeserved mileages. This is made possible by falsifying information and releasing t to the public sphere, as Rheingold calls it. Tarrow offers an excellent example of how Speaker Pelosi was bullied by manipulation of a stumble in her speech, making her look incapable of delivering a good speech, which discredits her as a think tank. The art of manipulation is getting spicier by the day. It is worrying how the expected machinery, which is the media and legislation are not able to match the speed of the computerized world.
In short, something needs to be done before computerized propaganda takes over the world. The citizens have to be enlightened. However, Rheingold notes that the media is reluctant. Appropriate regulations have to be passed not only to curb such manipulation and bullying but also to revitalize and strengthen responsible departments to get into play. It is high time this problem is looked at.
Reference
Rheingold, H. (2020). Democracy is losing the online arms race. Retrieved 21 March 2020, from https://www.eurozine.com/democracy-is-losing-the-online-arms-race/
Tarrow, S. (2019). Lies, fakes, and deep fakes. Retrieved 21 March 2020, from https://www.eurozine.com/lies-fakes-and-deep-fakes/#