is digital disinformation destroying democracy?
The Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections continues to be an important concern not only in the United States but also in the rest of the world. In Colombia, during the 2018 elections, the newspaper <em>El Tiempo</em> reported that according to Frank Mora, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense, the Russians were influencing social media and “manipulated the electorate” in Latin America. He couldn’t say which candidate they were supporting, but he was sure that they wanted to damage the relationship between the United States and Latin America. This text will discuss the danger that misinformation can create in our society and democracy.
Evidence shows there should be real concern over the interference of Russia in elections. But according to some historians, this situation is not new. During the cold war, Russian and American interference was part of the relationship between these major powers in the world. A dangerous narrative would be to believe that only this intrusion can destroy democracy. This also means society is voting according to the memes and videos published on Facebook; for me, that is the most worrisome fact.
If social media is gaining such enormous power in society, the government has to investigate this new player. The Constitution has to protect society with strong rules against disinformation. That means companies like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter have to be careful with the information they provide.
On balance, the information on social media is the new scenario for public opinion. Democracies are legitimate in such situations. The real question is, by what means are we creating our opinion about what is happening in the world? And how much power does the state have to control the social media, without limiting the right of free expression?