Computational propaganda

Computational propaganda is the use of computational tools (algorithms and automation) to distribute misleading information using social media networks. The advances in digital technologies and social media resulted in enhancement in methods of propaganda. Autonomous agents (internet bots) can analyze big data collected from social media and Internet of things in order to ensure manipulating public opinion in a targeted way, and what is more, to mimic real people in the social media.^[1][2] Digital technology enhance well-established traditional methods of manipulation with public opinion: appeals to people's emotions and biases circumvent rational thinking and promote specific ideas.^[3]

A pioneering work^[4] in identifying and analyzing of the concept has been done by the team of Philip N. Howard at the Oxford Internet Institute who since 2012 have been investigating computational propaganda,^[5] following earlier Howard's research of the effects of social media on general public published, e.g., in his 2005 book New Media Campaigns and the Managed Citizen and earlier articles.

References

1. What is computational propaganda?
2. SAMUEL C. WOOLLEY PHILIP N. HOWARD, "Political Communication, Computational Propaganda, and Autonomous Agents", International Journal of Communication 10 (2016), 4882–4890
3. "Computational propaganda: Concepts, methods, and challenges", (an interview with Philip Howard) Communication and the Public, Volume 8, Issue 2, 2023 doi:10.1177/2057047323118
4. Addressing the Harms of Computational Propaganda on Democracy
5. Computational Propaganda / Overview, OII

Further reading

• 2018: Samuel C. Woolley and Philip N. Howard (eds.) Computational Propaganda. Political Parties, Politicians, and Political Manipulation on Social Media
• 2020: Howard, Philip N., Lie Machines: How to Save Democracy from Troll Armies, Deceitful Robots, Junk News Operations, and Political Operatives