Key Takeaways:
– The majority of American voters are open to effects from third-party sources due to limited direct exposure to election candidates.
– Social media platforms like TikTok and American tech giants are implicated in spreading disinformation, impacting the U.S. elections.
– The American public has downloaded numerous foreign-based apps, which may open up possibilities of misinformation abuse.
– Facebook, despite its large user base, has been criticized due to its inconsistent suspension policy and for withholding significant data.
– Many imply that without decisive actions, the 2024 elections may once again be susceptible to foreign influence.
The Power of Third-party Influences
In today’s digital age, most Americans never meet their political candidates and often perceive them strictly through media outlets and advertisements. This dependence on mediated information paves the way for third parties to potentially manipulate the public’s understanding of these politicians. Interestingly, the major player accused of tampering with U.S. elections is not only the foreign-based TikTok but also American social media companies.
The Questionable Role of TikTok
TikTok, despite its evident connections to the Chinese Communist Party and allegations of spreading disinformation, enjoys a massive American user base. This includes both presidential candidates and over 170 million Americans. It was also allegedly responsible for propagating inaccurate information about the 2020 elections to thousands of voters. As an app operated by a global competitor, common sense dictates its potential use against the interests of the U.S.
American Social Media Giants: An Insider Threat?
American social media companies, in pursuit of profit, have permitted countless apps associated with Russia, China, or Iran to infiltrate the American public. FaceApp, a Russian-owned app, has had about over 80 million American downloads. Its terms and conditions allow the company not only to use users’ images “in perpetuity” but also cause concerns about possible use in election disinformation cycles.
Another instance is Grindr, a gay dating app sold to a Chinese tech firm in 2018. The app collected private user information, sparking fears of potential blackmail attempts against U.S. leaders.
The Controversy Surrounding Facebook
Reports suggest that Facebook granted access to user data to over 150 companies, primarily Yandex, making the user-private information accessible to entities like the Kremlin. Despite allegations, Facebook remains on the defensive, citing a lack of abuse evidence by its partners. Further criticism arises from Facebook’s refusal to disclose data relevant to uncovering any political biases.
Impending Threats to the 2024 Elections
The uncertain aspect of the upcoming elections is not the question of will foreign rivals attempt to disrupt it, but whether we will permit them to do so. The 2016 and 2020 elections witnessed such interferences, and without appropriate measures, 2024 might not be an exception.
The discourse surrounding social media’s role in the U.S. election serves as a grim reminder of the potential threats to democracies in the digital age. With U.S. voters increasingly reliant on online platforms for information, preserving the integrity of these sources is presenting a steep and essential challenge.