https://www.technologyreview.com/
While tech has played a major role in campaigns and political discourse over the past 15 years or so, and candidates and political parties have long tried toย make use of big dataย to learn about and target voters, the past offers limited insight into where we are now. The ground is shifting incredibly quickly at technologyโs intersection with business, information, and media.ย
Generative AIwonโt just spread disinformation in election campaigns; we might also see the tech used in unexpected ways, such as hyperrealistic robocall programs.
But researchers Iโve spoken with over the past few months say the 2024 US presidential election will be the first with widespread use of micro-influencerswho donโt typically post about politics and have built small, specific, highly engaged audiences, often composed primarily of one particular demographic.
Digital censorship
Crackdowns on speech by political actors are of course not new, but this activity is on the rise, and its increased precision and frequency is a result of technology-enabled surveillance, online targeting, and state control of online domains. The latest internet freedom report from Freedom House showed that generative AI is now aiding censorship, and authoritarian governments are increasing their control of internet infrastructure. Blackouts too are on the rise.
