Democracy is not a simple equation as it appears in the form of the electoral procedures only; it is the complex appraisal of democratic procedures which is dependent on the popular will and the information that builds the electoral choices in the democratic elections. In the 21st century with the integration of technology and big data in electoral procedures and administrative functions, it has become difficult to conduct democracy efficiently. In their book, How Democracies Die, Harvard Professors Daniel Ziblatt and Steven Levitsky argued that mutual forbearance and mutual coexistence are the essences of democracies, but the development of the echo chamber and filter-bubble affects the political processes in the form of polarisation and democratic emasculation with the manipulative tools of big data, algorithms, and AI.
Jerome Duberry in his new book, Artificial Intelligence and Democracy, formulated that AI can filtrate the enormous consumption of information that allows instant and invisible reactions. In such circumstances, automated content which is manufactured through stakeholders can influence the formation of the political will and politicisation of the views in stakeholders’ favourable conditions. In Post-Truth era, the Cambridge Analytica Scandal echoes as a classic example of reshaping the ‘general will’ of the people through private enterprises. This is the existential threat of Algocracy (Government and Democracy by algorithm) where big data and AI are used to analyse and predict voter behaviours before franchises to manipulate and politicise their views on basis of their whims and wishes.
Manipulability of public political spheres and data-driven elections in post-truth societies have undermined the conduct of free and fair elections and the expression of free will. Big data-driven AI discredits political opponents through mechanical propaganda which further deteriorates democratic procedures. Deepfakes and social bots operationalise under the autocratic setup for discrediting the smooth democratic process and microtargeting those things that constituencies want to hear and adhere to.
Algorithm-based decision-making (ADM) in democratic governments only sets the fragile connection between the outcomes and preceding decisions. ADM replaces human decision-making and surfaces such decisions which are based on selective data and AI. Democracy which is based on procedural mechanisms where open debate, human involvement in legislation, and decision-making are involved can exist in the right direction. The techno chauvinism in which robots and big data are preferred will not deduct solutions for public policies.
Yuval Noah Harari, in Homo Deus, postulated that in the coming age of the ‘Big Data Revolution’ the dynamics of the democracies will tectonically shift. Those who own data will own the world. If the data is concentrated among the potentially narrow autocratic rulers like Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping the democracies will backslide into erosion and depression. Computer scientist Kai-Fu Lee argues that data is the new oil in the 21st century, and China is the new OPEC. It manifests that the data will be used to consolidate the ideology of authoritarianism which is the feature of Chinese polity while democracies as the system of the Western Peninsula will face the threat to surrender. Algocracy will erode the democracies in true spirit.
Political engineering by utilising big data through disinformation is also rampant which is threatening democracies. Democracies function on the principle of feedback (voices and votes) but technologies facilitate misinformation and prejudices with incorrect assertions. Bias is an issue for democracies. Finally, the constant engagement of the audience through the loops of data on Facebook, YouTube and other social media apps reinforces and reflects the conspiracies and extreme political views in their psychologies. Algocracy turns democracies into authoritarianism through political engineering, bots and extreme political ideologies. It is time to reconsider the technical choices for protecting democracies.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 17th, 2022.
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