Generative AI vs. Democracy - Broken News (5/5) Ep5
Generative AI is being used to cause increased political polarization in global democracies through the widespread and rapid dissemination of fake news by malicious actors. In this episode of “Broken News” learn how Taiwan successfully navigated democratic elections, even reducing political polarization amongst the electorate despite exceptional Chinese disinformation efforts. Taiwan’s political landscape is deeply polarized making it ripe for disinformation chaos. One key case that represents the dire effects of disinformation in Taiwan is the death of Taiwan’s consul to Japan Su Chii-cherng. However, when China employed generative AI during Taiwan’s elections, it didn’t have the intended polarizing effect. This episode dives into the work behind Taiwan’s successful protection of its democratic elections, despite being the perfect target to seed disinformation. An aspect that is highlighted is Taiwan’s strong sense of identity amongst its population, which is difficult to shake, despite clear interference attempts from Chinese disinformation. Experts also emphasize that the protection of public institutions is foundational to the successful protection of democracy. In this vein, core to the discussion are Taiwan’s robust civil society and community-engaged groups that work tirelessly to highlight, debunk and educate the population on disinformation and fake news. This vibrant civil society flourishes thanks to strong government support for digital literacy programs, creating a highly aware and educated public. In this investigation into Taiwan’s role as a democracy on the frontline of disinformation, discover how it’s possible to combat aggressive disinformation campaigns. Through interviews with politicians, activists and academics, gain insight into Taiwan’s extraordinary success in protecting its democracy and the work that must be done to preserve democracy worldwide.
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