Narayan Prasad Ghimire, Kathmandu, Feb 6: In an internationally acclaimed book, ‘Free Speech: Ten Principles for a Connected World’, author Timothy Garton Ash had written: “What Facebook does has a wider impact than anything France does, and Google than Germany. These are private superpowers.”
The Oxford University Professor had written the seminal book a decade back, while the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) was not felt in the way it is at present. However, the role the digital platforms play was finely signaled by him. It is a brief but clear statement on how mighty tech platforms are. The platforms have become further mightier since then.
Since the publication of his book, the tech platforms have brought forth tremendous progress to wield their influence. With the fierce competition to engage digital consumers, several other platforms emerged like TikTok. Irrespective of their origins, the connectivity and impact of such private superpowers are growing on global public.
AI: A stormy petrel
AI is another stormy petrel, holding sway, especially in the population with meagre capacity to negotiate well the digital realms. As a force multiplier, AI has disrupted every aspect of life. The digital networks have adopted the AI to amplify their business beyond borders.
Although we are enjoying tremendous benefits from the digital services, tech platforms and AI, the concern over the mis/use of these media is alarmingly grown across the globe. Keeping intact the democratic principles, pillars and exercises in the face of AI is therefore a matter of severe concern that we cannot brush aside.It is a global phenomenon but equally a local digital context, where Nepal is all set to hold the House of Representatives (HoR) election, a large democratic exercise, on March 5, less than a month left.
Growing concern
The creation and spread of AI contents- texts, images and videos- are found rife on our digital screens. It is a free and customized entertainment to us. However, it is time to ponder whether such contents serve the real information and contribute to truth at a time when we, Nepalis, are voting soon. Informed choice, protection of individual privacy, respect and security to political leaders, candidates and voters, clean publicity, trust in institutions, and flow of right information are needed utmost at present. These elements create a solid foundation for an electoral integrity.
However, the time is characterized by information disorder where misinformation, disinformation and deepfakes hold sway. Researcher and digital observers have defined the present time as an age of ‘information apocalypse’. The spread of false, ill-intended content via the digital platforms therefore makes it clear that they are not only the medium of communications and connectivity but also the modern frontiers of politics and powers. In political maneuvering, manipulation counts and manipulation goes viral on these platforms. It ultimately comes at the cost of citizen’s informed choice, denting the faculty of reason.
TRP hungry media
Once we swipe the digital screens, we easily find TRP hungry YouTubers asking mandated questions to the citizen, thereby violating their individual privacy. Together, it has breached the journalistic code. As oodles of such contents are prepared and disseminated, the people fall victims of eco-chamber. Here lies the role of AI that amplifies the frequency of such visibility and viewership. Similar contents are served to the viewers through eco-chamber, which forces viewers slide unknowingly and stick to one-sided narratives. Gradually, a false perception gets entrenched among the viewers where candidates of their favour seem prominent and likely winners. It has the role to fuel ignorance, division, distrust and polarization. Eco-chamber spurs sheer absence of comparison and factual analyses. The targeted and loaded information supersedes reason, which ultimately seizes people’s freedom of thought.
Here, mere blame to AI is not solution, because it directly relates to our habit that erodes to splurge once the use of digital platform is given utmost priority. Our digital habit, perpetuating single narrative counts behind polarization. So, our trend of digital information consumption warrants change. All entertaining and funny contents are not safe and true but also addictive.
MoU with TikTok
With the spurt of digital media, it is natural for the political parties, candidates and voters to amplify their campaigns via these convenient media. So, strict monitoring of election code of conduct and journalists’ code of conduct by the respective institutions and practice of healthy digital behaviour by the consumers is imperative. In addition, individual media houses should make their journalists capable of fact-checking the contents to identify and prevent spread of mis- and disinformation that is detrimental to journalism and election.
In this connection, the Election Commission has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with TikTok, one of the pervasive digital platforms to share short videos, in a bid to curb digital pollution of harmful contents. Once the EC’s team responsible for managing digital platform in terms of election code, collaborates well with TikTok and immediately takes down the contents harmful to election, it would be helpful to prevent slur on election. The MoU can be further expected to help in making content moderation inclusive and platform accountable.
Cyber resilience: Everyday practice
Debates, discussions and activities surrounding digital mis- and disinformation are concentrated more during the mega events like election, while it is urgent to make it a constant campaign as an essential part of cyber resilience. It should indeed be an ongoing process for the country like ours where internet expansion is exponential, and digital literacy is in short supply. Importantly, we have badly missed leveraging previous industrial revolutions, and are now engulfed by the current revolution featured with the bewilderment of AI. In absence of the stepping stone, the cyber resilience is further urgent. Although activities of cyber resilience relating to a particular national event works as a patch up, constant campaigning should be adopted as a sustainable measures of reinforcing healthy digital ecosystem.
