What we are witnessing right now is the age of technology where every human behavior is centered around the tech. Today tech entrepreneurs are bigger and more impactful than anyone else be it politician, actor or any other professional. Everyone is hugely dependent on the tech. Our daily thoughts, ideologies and choices all are being shaped and determined by technologies and tech platforms.
Democracy is the system from the people, by the people and for the people. The main idea of democracy is that control is in the hand of people and their representatives. But with the advancement of Technology and AI, is it still the case?
Data is said to be the new oil (who controls data controls the world). It is fascinating that large chunks of data are controlled by private tech firms owned by individual people rather than by a governmental entity. Billions of people round the world are connected to Facebook, YouTube and other social platforms. Even the politicians now make a connection to public through same platforms. The data that these tech firms hold is immense. From what you search in Internet to how much transaction you do in a month, they know everything about you. Time has arrived when you will start asking internet about yourself and it is not exaggeration.
But what troubles me is the reliability of the tech firms and accountability from their side. Technology has evolved in such a rapid pace that there are not many concrete institutions to regulate these tech firms. They are directed by their board which is obviously not elected (as we know it is a free market).
Then how much can these data and platforms affect the politics of the country? Now comes the giant in the room, algorithms. Tech firms are private, and their aim is to attract user to their platform and retain as much screentime as possible so that they can display ads; earn more money. It was just a month ago, I had to buy a new laptop. So, I watched video recommendation for the laptop in the YouTube. Then, when I scrolled through the Facebook it was filled with laptop advertisements. Algorithms have become this strong.
Now, let’s assume a scenario where a person just inclining slightly right in the political spectrum watches some glorifying videos about right wing. He will surely engage with the video and algorithm will detect it. Then algorithm starts recommending more glorifying videos about the right and ultimately turn the person to the extreme right; same goes for the left. In this way, Algorithm is dividing the society and making population more extreme and nationalist too.
Targeted advertisements have also been actively used in order to influence political alinements. Data are used to determine your preferences and ads are made specially targeting you in the events like election. Another major challenge of the tech has been populist campaign. we all have to accept one thing politics is not always entertaining and good looking. Hard decisions have to be made to correct certain circumstances and they are not attractive at all. In this age of Internet, Politics has been driven by populist agendas; so, called “Gen-Z” are being capable of overturning the politics with mere a click of button. This may lead to rise of radicals in politics or at least the one who are not competent enough to take major political decisions.
The rise of such leadership in the countries like US, UK and other first world nations can be countered as there are enough check and balance in these countries. But it is not the case with nascent democracy; rise of such radical personality in those countries will be in rapid pace due to desperation of the public and lack of check and balance. American system has always been proud to project itself as the promoter of democracy, but it is saddening that now it also has become the promoter of the tech that can give ground to grow radical voices, divide the society and ultimately crumble the democracy.
Advancement of technology has helped authoritarian regime to maintain its power. Cities are crowded with cameras in the countries like China. People are regularly being monitored and there is a social credit system in place to keep the people in check. They are running a surveillance state in name of smart city. Propagandas are being spread in favor of the ruling class and Internet is censored seriously violating the fundamental right to freedom of speech as well as freedom of press. It is saddening how a revolutionary developments like Internet and technologies are being used as a political tool. But it is not only in autocratic states, even the so-called democratic world uses these technologies to constantly monitor the citizen.
Here, I am not attempting to discredit the revolutionary change that tech firms and social media has been able to bring to the society. But we all know, with great power comes the great responsibility. Furthermore, in democratic norms, individual or institution having great power are always regulated with check and balance. They should have both transparency and accountability towards the society. In tech field too, we need such policies and regulation to check and balance the existing tech giants.