AI-propagated disinformation and democracies

Written SH on 2024-01-12.

In future tp . Tagged democracy exrisk

In examining global risks, it’s crucial to recognize the interconnected nature of challenges that transcend borders. From environmental threats to economic vulnerabilities, understanding and addressing these issues is imperative for fostering a resilient and sustainable global community.

Given the evolving geopolitical landscape and the upcoming democratic elections in 2024, there’s a heightened awareness of global dynamics. The democratic processes unfolding this year add another layer of significance to our understanding of global risks and their potential impact on international relations.

Emerging as the most severe global risk anticipated over the next two years, foreign and domestic actors alike will leverage misinformation and disinformation to further widen societal and political divides.
World Economic Forum., 2024. Global Risks Report 2024. online.

In 2024, democracies face a pivotal moment as they grapple with the challenge of effectively countering AI-propagated disinformation. The year will serve as a critical test, determining whether these political systems can adapt and withstand the evolving threats posed by technologically driven misinformation.

Looking beyond 2024, it becomes evident that the risks associated with AI-propagated disinformation will evolve and manifest differently in the longer term. Anticipating and addressing these future challenges requires a proactive and adaptive approach to safeguard the integrity of democratic processes on a sustained basis.

However other risks are anticipated to come to the fore in the long term.

Environmental and technological risks are among those expected to deteriorate the most in severity over this period and dominate the longer-term global risks landscape.
World Economic Forum., 2024. Global Risks Report 2024. online.

Tenth Person

Manipulating voters may offer short-term gains, but such tactics invariably sow seeds of disruption and potential unrest, eroding the foundations of a stable democratic process. The fleeting benefits of voter manipulation tend to be overshadowed by the long-term consequences, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the integrity of electoral systems.

Future Imagining

Investing in education and advancing supportive technologies can enhance the resilience of secure democracies against disinformation and misinformation, offering a promising avenue to safeguard the integrity of democratic processes. This could however also imapct misleading sales tactics.

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References

World Economic Forum., 2024. Global Risks Report 2024.URL.

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