Technology & Society

The Reality Game: How the Next Wave of Technology Will Break the Truth

Name: The Reality Game: How the Next Wave of Technology Will Break the Truth
Author: Samuel C. Woolley

Samuel C. Woolley

27 minAudio9 insights

What you'll learn

•The history and evolution of computational propaganda and its impact on democracy.
•How artificial intelligence is both a tool for spreading and combating misinformation.
•The rise and implications of fake videos and deepfakes in political and social contexts.
•The potential and risks of extended reality media like VR and AR in shaping public opinion.
•How humanlike technology influences perception and the ethical concerns it raises.
•The importance of designing technology with human rights and democratic values in mind.
•Practical policy and social solutions for addressing digital disinformation and propaganda.

Who should read this

✓Technology policymakers and regulators
✓Social media platform developers and executives
✓Researchers and students of political communication
✓Journalists covering technology and misinformation

About this book

An insightful analysis of how emerging technologies threaten truth and democracy, offering pathways to ethical design and societal resilience.

Did You Know?

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The term 'computational propaganda' was coined by Samuel Woolley and his colleagues to describe automated digital manipulation.

2 more facts available in the app

Audio Summary

Section 1

The Digital Battlefield: How Technology Shapes Our Reality

3:45

9 Sections

Preview: The Digital Battlefield: How Technology Shapes Our Reality

In today's world, the line between reality and fabrication is increasingly blurred. Imagine a digital battlefield where truth is not just challenged but reshaped by unseen forces wielding armies of automated accounts and sophisticated algorithms. Social media, once hailed as a revolutionary tool for connection and democracy, has become a playground for manipulation. Social media platforms serve as the new arenas where political battles are fought not with ballots alone, but with bots, misinformation, and viral campaigns designed to confuse and divide.

Consider the story of a political campaign in Massachusetts in 2010 where automated Twitter accounts flooded the platform with false allegations aimed at a candidate, creating an illusion of widespread public sentiment. This was not just a prank but a strategic use of technology to influence real-world outcomes. This early use of computational propaganda set the stage for the more complex and global manipulations that followed in later years.

But the challenge extends beyond social media posts and tweets. Emerging technologies like virtual reality are already being harnessed by governments to 'train' citizens in loyalty and ideology. Immersive environments can shape perceptions and beliefs in ways that traditional media cannot. Imagine a young person donning a VR headset, not just for a game, but to experience a curated reality designed to indoctrinate.

At the heart of this transformation is a crucial truth: technology itself is neutral, but its use is deeply human. Bots do not act on their own; they are tools crafted and deployed by people with agendas. The problem is not the machines but the motivations behind them. Understanding this human-technology interplay is essential to addressing the challenges of our digital age.

As we explore this complex landscape, we begin to see that the next chapters will reveal how these manipulations have evolved, how artificial intelligence amplifies these effects, and what we might do to reclaim truth in a rapidly changing world. Let us move forward to uncover the origins and present realities of computational propaganda.