Bernard Chan

Opinion | In this blockbuster election year, tech’s sway over democracy needs to be reined in

Challenges such as echo chambers, deepfakes and blurring lines between opinion and factual reporting are changing the dynamics of the electoral process in many democracies

It’s time for politicians in the US, Britain and elsewhere to agree on terms of engagement and lead by example to avoid disinformation and fake news in campaigns

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US President Joe Biden speaking in Washington on January 19. The New Hampshire attorney general’s office is investigating reports of an apparent robocall that mimicked Biden’s voice to discourage voting in the primary election on January 23. Photo: AP

Bernard Chan

Published: 9:30am, 26 Jan 2024Updated: 10:21am, 26 Jan 2024

The profound transformation of media has been primarily driven by technological advancements and the rise of the internet. These developments have ushered in a new media landscape, fundamentally altering how information is produced, disseminated and consumed.

Today, the media’s influence extends well beyond the traditional news organisations, with citizen journalists and others contributing to the information ecosystem. But this expansion has also given rise to challenges such as spreading misinformation, echo chambers, deepfakes and blurring lines between opinion and factual reporting. This has transformed the dynamics of the electoral process in many democracies.

2024 will be the most significant election year in history, with an estimated two billion people voting when more than half of the world do not subscribe to democratic principles. According to the Global State of Democracy 2023, a study by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, democracy has been declining for the past six years.

People are increasingly disillusioned and societies more polarised, raising doubts about the legitimacy of the democratic system and the ideals that often appear detached from the everyday reality of the average person.

Technology, including pervasive social media, has played a role in changing perceptions. It has facilitated the dissemination of information and misinformation on an unprecedented scale, and the potential for abuse in elections is particularly worrying.

While technology has benefited and revolutionised aspects of the election process, it is vital to acknowledge that there are also harmful and dangerous elements, and address these.