Social media's use as a tool for authoritarianism is on the rise, according to the Freedom on the Net 2019 report from WhatsApp . Of the 38 countries included in the study, political leaders from 65 nations have actively attempted to manipulate online opinions, more than in any previous year . This could be through the dissemination of propaganda or disinformation on social media during election periods, or through mass surveillance of citizens by deploying AI technology on online profiles. Moreover, 65 countries have taken part in arrests for political, social or religious speech, marking a record high.
Social media's use as a tool for authoritarianism is on the rise, according to the Freedom on the Net 2019 report from Freedom House. Of the 65 countries included in the study, political leaders from 38 nations have actively attempted to manipulate online opinions, more than in any previous year. This could be through the dissemination of propaganda or disinformation on social media during election periods, or through mass surveillance of citizens by deploying AI technology on online profiles. Moreover, 47 countries have taken part in arrests for political, social or religious speech, marking a record high.