A higher prevalence of disinformation and propaganda via social media has increasingly caused concern about the integrity of elections. Therefore, internet governance has become a core issue of the democratic process, since conducting free and fair elections now requires a new set of policies and the implementation of cutting-edge technologies.
As a result, governments have started monitoring social media with the help of AI systems in order to counter electoral interference and protect electoral integrity. This recent development has heightened the need to identify the potentials and pitfalls that arise from governments’ use of AI systems in social media monitoring, since it has several ethical, social, and political implications.
This project analyses the challenges and opportunities created by governments’ use of AI systems in social media monitoring during elections. Furthermore, it explores which AI-led monitoring strategies should be chosen to protect the public interest, propose principles for developing ethical, transparent, and accountable AI systems and suggest possible check mechanisms.
The logo features a digital eye in its centre, representing monitoring by AI. It is combined with shapes that remind us of government buildings, which symbolise democracy and the government’s responsibility of monitoring. Additionally, the logo incorporates symbols for social media, such as network icons and circuit patterns, highlighting its social media aspect.
Governments’ use of AI systems in social media monitoring during elections 