Written by April Walker

Politics and Technology: Undeniable Union

In the trendy era, the intersection of politics and technology has change into an undeniable unity, shaping the way in which all societies function and the course of political processes. The rapid advances in technology haven’t only transformed communication and the dissemination of knowledge, but in addition redefined political engagement, campaigning and management. Given the political climate we face today, combined with the sphere of artificial intelligence and the countless communication platforms at our disposal, let’s explore the profound impact of technology on politics, specializing in the digitization of grassroots movements, the threats posed by hackers and deepfakes, the fight social media with traditional media and the long run of post-election politics.

Grassroots has gone digital

Historically, grassroots movements have relied on face-to-face interactions, community meetings, and physical rallies to mobilize support and drive change. However, the appearance of digital technology has revolutionized these movements, enabling them to achieve wider audiences with unprecedented speed and efficiency. Social media platforms, email campaigns and online petitions have change into powerful tools for local organizers. These digital tools enable the rapid dissemination of knowledge, real-time updates, and the flexibility to mobilize supporters across geographic boundaries. An example is that the 2024 presidential election saw unprecedented use of tools like Zoom to unite communities in support of United States Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris to lift multimillion-dollar donations for her campaign. Demonstrating a robust fundraising forum, Zoom calls that began with black women beginning to support “white dudes” and every little thing in between, now we have witnessed how in a really short time frame these communities haven’t only raised an enormous sum of money, but in addition helped empower her message and consistently refuting the disinformation and lies spread by her opponent.

This shouldn’t be the primary time that the facility of social media in organizing protests and gathering international support has been demonstrated, for instance throughout the Arab Spring in 2010–2011. Platforms similar to Twitter (today referred to as X) and Facebook played a key role in coordinating demonstrations and sharing real-time updates, which ultimately contributed to significant political changes within the region. Similarly, contemporary movements similar to Black Lives Matter have harnessed the facility of digital technology to amplify their message, organize protests, and raise awareness on a worldwide scale.

Hackers and Deepfakes

While technology has empowered political movements, it has also introduced latest threats to the integrity of political processes. Hackers and deepfakes pose two significant challenges on this regard. Cyberattacks on political parties, government institutions and electoral infrastructure have gotten more common, posing a threat to the safety and integrity of elections. In 2016, the Russian hack of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) highlighted the vulnerability of political organizations to cyber threats. Our current electoral process poses a fair more direct and immediate threat. Advances in artificial intelligence and the sheer proliferation of its use have created an increasingly sophisticated and complex network of “bad actors”, especially from other countries, who’re using the technology to attempt to influence the end result of the US presidential election.

Deepfakes, manipulated videos or audio recordings that appear authentic, present one other disturbing challenge. These sophisticated falsehoods can spread disinformation, discredit political opponents and manipulate public opinion. Just have a look at the recent use of AI-generated photos of music superstar Taylor Swift, who falsely claimed to support Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump when, in reality, Taylor publicly expressed her support for Kamala Harris. There is growing concern concerning the possibility that deepfakes could undermine trust in political leaders and institutions. As technology continues to advance, the flexibility to detect and address these threats becomes crucial to maintaining the integrity of democratic processes.

Social media versus traditional media

The development of social media has fundamentally modified the landscape of political communication. Traditional media similar to newspapers, television and radio used to have a monopoly on the dissemination of knowledge. However, social media platforms do democratized the flow of knowledge, enabling individuals to share newsFeedback and updates immediately. This change has each positive and negative policy implications.

The positive side of social media is that it allows politicians to speak directly with the general public, promoting transparency and consistent engagement. Politicians can use platforms like Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and others to share their views, reply to voters and mobilize support, and in lots of cases, market-specific demographics which can be critical to closing the gap in areas requiring coordinated focus and attention. However, the unregulated nature of social media also enables the spread of disinformation, fake news and “echo chambers” where individuals are only exposed to information that reinforces their existing beliefs. If you are curious if that is true, take a have a look at the varied messages you read on platforms supporting each political parties – it’s amazing how starkly different these narratives will be.

With unwavering editorial standards and robust fact-checking processes, traditional media continues to play a key role in providing trusted information. However, it faces challenges in competing with the speed and global reach of social media. The coexistence of those two types of media creates a posh information ecosystem that requires critical considering, intentional skepticism and media literacy from society.

What’s next after the elections?

As we approach the upcoming Presidential Election Day, and for that matter even after that day, attention will shift to managing and implementing campaign guarantees. Technology continues to play a key role at this stage, with governments using digital tools to make sure effective administration, transparency and citizen engagement.

In my opinion, the post-election period and current policies could have to face the challenges posed by disinformation and cyber threats. Governments and organizations must comprehensively put money into cybersecurity measures, digital skills programs and regulatory frameworks to guard the integrity of political processes. As technology evolves at an especially rapid pace, the long run of politics will likely see a continued integration of its impact, emphasizing balancing its advantages with the necessity to protect democratic values, institutions and, most significantly, public trust! That said, we can’t be afraid of technology; we must seize this because innovations like artificial intelligence and GenAI are creating competitive opportunities for our country which can be unimaginably powerful and have the potential to positively change the course of humanity. During the Democratic National Convention, Vice President Kamala Harris noted during her ticket acceptance speech: “Once elected, I’ll make certain that we lead the world right into a future powered by space and artificial intelligence, that America, not China, wins elections in a twenty first century competition, and that we strengthen , and we are usually not giving up our global leadership.”