This blog discusses some solutions to the problems discussed in the blog titled Systematic Analysis of How Technology Kills Democracy
. The format of this blog is slightly different from Part 1 as I want to encourage new start-ups and entrepreneurs to pick some of the ideas.
Here’s how we can start fixing this crisis, step by step and in a practical way:
1. Combat Misinformation with Stronger Regulation and Accountability
Governments and institutions must impose stricter social media platform regulations to curb the spread of misinformation. Yes, this raises an interesting question:
Why will the governments combat misinformation if they greatly benefit from its chaos?
We will deal with this question in another blog.
Returning to tackling misinformation, this can be achieved in three ways.
- Transparency Laws: Platforms must disclose to a select committee how their algorithms work and how content is prioritised. To protect intellectual property, this can be done in a closed room. The appointment process for such a committee can be discussed separately.
- Misinformation Penalties: Enforce fines for platforms that allow fake news and deep fakes to spread unchecked.
- Verified Information Systems: Promote fact-checking organisations and integrate them into social media algorithms, quickly flagging or removing misleading content. Note: These should be for-profit organisations.
- Water-marking systems: There should be a certified industrial/national-level water-marking solution that the social media companies should enforce. There is an urgent need for all the governments to do it.
2. Reform Social Media Algorithms to Prioritize Truth and Quality
The current algorithms prioritise engagement rather than accuracy. Platforms must shift toward algorithms that:
- Promote Credible Sources: Elevate content from verified, trustworthy sources rather than sensational clickbait using watermarking and validation solutions.
- Diverse Perspectives: Respectfully encourage and incorporate mechanisms that present users with diverse viewpoints instead of reinforcing echo chambers.
- Reduce Manipulation: Develop AI systems that detect and down-rank disinformation and propaganda campaigns, preventing them from going viral.
3. Invest in Critical Thinking
Citizens need to be better equipped to navigate the digital world. Educational systems and programs must prioritise:
- Critical Media Literacy: Teach people to identify fake news, recognise deep fakes, and verify information sources.
- Digital Responsibility: Educate users about the risks of unquestioningly trusting social media content and the importance of questioning what they see online.
- Community-Based Initiatives: Support local groups and organisations in promoting discussions that build understanding and reduce polarization. This is left to poorly funded charities or NGOs. A change in the mindset is necessary.
4. Rebuild Trust in Democratic Institutions Through Transparency and Accountability
This is a really tough one to address, but democratic institutions must actively restore public trust by:
- Holding Social Media Platforms (Beneficiaries) and Their Leaders Accountable: Establish stricter penalties for politicians, influencers, and platform operators who spread lies about elections, courts, and the media.
- Engaging Citizens Directly: Foster public participation in decision-making processes to show that the system is responsive and fair.
- Improving Transparency: Make government processes, election procedures, and judicial decisions more transparent and easily accessible to the public.
5. Support Ethical AI Development and Use
AI is a double-edged sword. To ensure it serves democracy, we need:
- Ethical AI Standards: Implement industry-wide standards prioritising public good, transparency, and fairness in AI systems. Policymakers must negotiate tough challenges as numerous belief systems and espoused values must be considered when setting these standards.
- Bias Mitigation: Ensure AI models are trained to minimise bias, reducing the risk of algorithms deepening social divides or perpetuating harmful stereotypes. While tools are available, the most significant challenge here is that it is difficult to identify the decision-making process in complex multidimensional models. Secondly, the data that the models train on need to be bias-free. A few more conditions will need to be placed on the models used that impact citizens.
- AI Oversight Bodies: Create transnational and independent oversight bodies to monitor and audit AI systems and ensure they are not used to manipulate public opinion or disrupt elections. These bodies should be led by ethical, technical experts who consider the public interest. They must be incentivised to ensure that they have a long-term tenure and vision.
Who will pay for this, or who should pay for this? Though increasing taxes is an option, it is NOT the solution here.
6. Push for Global Collaboration and Regulation
The impact of AI and social media is global, so our response must also be.
The world is now becoming one single unit, and therefore, the democracies must unite to:
- Develop Global Norms: Establish international agreements on AI use in political campaigns, data privacy, and digital rights.
- Counter Digital Authoritarianism: Work together to oppose regimes that use technology to undermine democracy at home and abroad.
- Share Best Practices: Coordinate digital literacy initiatives, fact-checking resources, and policy frameworks that can be applied across different countries.
If this is not done, an AI non-proliferation treaty will become necessary.
7. Promote Responsible Leadership and Civic Engagement
Digital Leaders and politicians must prioritise unity, transparency, and truth over short-term political gain. This requires:
- Ethical Campaigning: Politicians and political parties must commit to rejecting disinformation and harmful algorithms during campaigns.
- Civic Empowerment: Encourage grassroots movements, town halls, and civic education programs that empower citizens to engage in meaningful discussions and counteract polarisation.
- Promoting Civil Discourse: Incentivize platforms and media outlets to highlight constructive, respectful debates and conversations rather than conflict-driven narratives.
It is disgusting to watch political personalities shouting on top of their voices just to be heard on TV shows and the anchors disrespectfully asking loaded and biased questions to support a narrative.
The future of democracy hinges on our ability to act swiftly and decisively. The forces at play—misinformation, polarization, erosion of trust—are powerful but not insurmountable. We can turn the tide with the right mix of regulation, education, ethical AI, and responsible leadership.
This problem will not fix itself. Governments, tech companies, civil society, and individuals must work together urgently. The longer we wait, the deeper the damage will be.
The time to act is now—before it’s too late to save the democratic systems we rely on. Part 3 will examine how democracy will possibly morph to accommodate technological advancements.
It has been a long post, but stay tuned as it impacts YOU.
