The Phantom Campaign - Digital oligarchy vs. democratic future: Timothy Snyder

Article shared by Robert Cohen

I don't buy all of this, but wow, wow, wow! Much to ponder here. What do you make of this?
Robert

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Summary
Timothy Snyder's "The Phantom Campaign" explores the manipulation of democratic processes through targeted disinformation, particularly in the context of recent elections in the U.S. and Ukraine. Snyder recounts how digital strategies, initially employed by Russia to undermine support for Ukraine in 2014, evolved into sophisticated campaigns against political figures like Kamala Harris. Using oligarchical resources and psychographic data, these campaigns disseminated contradictory messages to demotivate specific voter groups, effectively suppressing turnout. Snyder highlights the role of social media platforms, particularly under Elon Musk's influence, in amplifying this disinformation while questioning the implications for democracy. He warns that the intersection of wealth, technology, and malicious intent poses a significant threat to electoral integrity, urging voters to recognize and combat this "phantom" manipulation.

Quotes

"The ancient Greeks knew that oligarchs from various countries will always have more in common with one another than they will with people in their own country. And that one thing they have in common is the use of lies to undo democracy. "

"The phantom is an old one, bedecked in the stealthy technology of our time. The phantom needs darkness. We can get ourselves out of the phantom world, but first we need that spark of recognition that tells us where we are.