This text highlights the current precarious state of democracy, which is facing threats from groups proficient in creating and spreading infectious social-media-ready viruses. These groups employ various attack vectors, including structural manipulations, dirty tricks, false information, and attack bots. Additionally, they exploit cognitive biases in humans, which can make individuals susceptible to misinformation and hinder the functioning of a democracy. To ensure the thriving of democracy, the text suggests the development of immunity activators such as public media platforms, new data ownership rules, tech approaches to combat digital deception, early warning systems, social media norms, media literacy strategies, and independent platform review bodies. These measures aim to promote transparency, self-awareness, social cohesion, and pro-social online behaviors.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undermining democracy through infectious viruses | Shift from democratic stability to vulnerability | Improved immunity activators for healthy cognition | Protection of democratic values and stability |
| Exploitation of network dynamics | Manipulation of information dissemination | Development of new tech approaches to fight digital deception | Desire for power and control |
| Various attack vectors employed | Evolving tactics for spreading misinformation | Increased awareness and regulation to counter attack vectors | Desire to maintain information integrity and combat misinformation |
| Exploitation of cognitive biases in humans | Manipulation of public opinion | Improved media literacy strategies and self-awareness | Desire to influence public opinion and maintain power |
| Need for immunity activators for healthy cognition | Foster healthy cognitive processes | Development of public media platforms and tech approaches | Desire to protect democratic values and promote stability |
| Importance of building new data ownership rules | Restructuring data ownership and privacy regulations | New rules treating data as personal or public assets | Protection of individual privacy and data rights |
| Combating digital deception with tech tools | Shift towards effective methods to combat deception | Realistic tech approaches combining computational power with insight | Desire for accurate and trustworthy information |
| Development of early warning systems for intervention | Timely regulatory interventions | Implementation of early warning systems to identify intervention needs | Protection of democratic processes and stability |
| Promotion of prosocial online behaviors | Shift towards positive online interactions | Adoption of new social media norms that encourage prosocial behaviors | Desire for a healthier online environment |
| Importance of media literacy and self-awareness | Enhanced critical thinking and self-awareness | Promotion of media literacy strategies beyond traditional thinking | Desire for informed and discerning citizens |
| Creation of independent platform review bodies | Promoting transparency and accountability | Establishment of review bodies ensuring platform transparency | Desire for fairness and accountability in online platforms |