DEMOCRACY is not only about elections, parliaments or written constitutions. Its strength lies in truth, trust and accountability. But in today鈥檚 digital world, the values are under a serious threat. The fast spread of false information, driven by social media, online echo chambers and artificial intelligence, has made it hard to know what true is. This raises an urgent question: can truth survive in a world ruled by algorithms?
In the 21st century, social media platforms, search engines and online news feeds have become principal gateways to information. The platforms are guided by algorithms designed not to educate, but to maximise attention and advertising revenue. Sensationalism, outrage and misinformation are often rewarded with greater visibility. In such an environment, truth is not the benchmark, but engagement is. This dynamic provides a fertile ground for disinformation.
Research consistently demonstrates that falsehood travels more swiftly and broadly online than verified facts, largely because they tap into emotions such as anger and fear. For democracies, where informed citizens are the lifeblood of governance, this distortion of the information space weakens the public sphere. When societies lose agreement on basic facts, rational debate and collective decision-making become near impossible.
Rapid advances in artificial intelligence have deepened this challenge. Deepfake videos, synthetic images and artificial intelligence-generated texts are now sophisticated enough to manufacture realities that are virtually indistinguishable from truth. While artificial intelligence holds vast potential for improving life, it has also reduced the cost of deception and magnified its scale. The consequences for democracy are sobering. Elections can be skewed by orchestrated campaigns of falsehoods. Reputations can be irreparably damaged within hours. And, confidence in institutions can be steadily eroded. In fragile democracies, such tactics threaten political stability. Even in established democracies, they accelerate polarisation, undermine electoral legitimacy and corrode civic trust.
Trust lies at the heart of any democracy 鈥� trust in institutions, in processes and in fellow citizens. Disinformation corrodes this trust at an alarming speed. Faced with a barrage of conflicting narratives, many people become cynical, concluding that no one tells the truth. This climate of suspicion plays directly into the hands of authoritarian actors, who benefit from confusion and disengagement. The problem is compounded by the political weaponisation of the term 鈥榝ake news.鈥� Increasingly, leaders dismiss inconvenient journalism as disinformation to avoid accountability or delegitimise critics. In such a climate, citizens find it hard to distinguish between deliberate deception, partisan exaggeration and legitimate critique.
Technology companies occupy a contradictory space. On the one hand, digital platforms have expanded avenues for participation, activism and civic mobilisation. On the other, their profit-driven models have enabled a rapid amplification of harmful content. Algorithms remain opaque while the enforcement of content moderation rules is inconsistent and, often, inadequate. Policy responses have been uneven across the world. The European Union鈥檚 Digital Services Act represents a significant attempt to hold platforms accountable, but its application is complex. Elsewhere, legislation is either absent or at risk of being misused to suppress dissent under the guise of combating disinformation. Striking a balance between curbing harmful content and protecting freedom of expression remains a difficult, but essential, task.
Defending democracy cannot be the duty of institutions alone. Citizens must play an active role. Media literacy and critical thinking are no longer optional. They are democratic necessities. Citizens must learn to question sources, verify information and resist manipulation. Education systems have a vital part to play. Schools and universities should integrate media literacy into their curriculums while civil society groups can help create awareness across communities. Independent journalism also has a pivotal role. Investigative reporting, rigorous fact-checking and transparent editorial practices are critical defences against disinformation. Collaboration between journalists, fact-checkers and technology platforms can ensure that damaging falsehoods are exposed before they cause lasting harm.
Safeguarding democracy in an age of disinformation demands a multi-layered response: Technology firms must be held responsible for the consequences of their algorithms. Independent audits, greater transparency and stronger moderation mechanisms are essential. Governments should design legislation that targets harmful content while protecting free speech. International cooperation is key, given that disinformation campaigns often cross borders. As artificial intelligence becomes more powerful, global standards are urgently needed to ensure ethical use. Tools for detecting and labelling artificial intelligence-generated content must be prioritised. A digitally literate public is the strongest long-term safeguard. Societies that equip citizens with critical thinking skills are more resilient to manipulation. Democracies must invest in protecting press freedom and supporting credible, independent media. Journalists must be shielded from intimidation and harassment.
Democracy offers hope and participation, but it also faces growing vulnerabilities. Disinformation, driven by algorithms and accelerated by artificial intelligence, has become one of the greatest threats of our time. If left unchecked, it can distort elections, weaken institutions and destroy the trust and truth that democracy depends on. The survival of truth in the digital age is no longer guaranteed. It demands vigilance and responsibility from policymakers, technology companies, journalists and, above all, ordinary citizens. Democracy cannot thrive in a world where lies travel faster than facts. To protect its future, we must reclaim the digital space as one where truth shapes our collective decisions. Only then can democracy remain strong in the age of disinformation.
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Md Mominur Rahman ([email protected]) is an assistant professor at the Bangladesh Institute of Governance and Management and associate editor of the BIGM Journal of Policy Analysis.
