Barack Obama gave a speech on ” the challenges of democracy in the field of digital information during an event at the Stanford Cyber Policy Center. According to the former president of the United States, democracy is weakening because, among other things, of the economic model put in place by social networks.
Misinformation is a real danger to democracy
” One of the main reasons for the weakening of democracy is the profound change that has taken place in the way we communicate and consume information “says Obama. The former White House occupant specifically targets the dangers of misinformation circulating on these platforms, and admits he didn’t notice how serious the problem was until 2016, when Russia used social media to influence the US presidential election and the Cambridge Analytica scandal has come to light.
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Since then, numerous disinformation campaigns have withered democracy, with millions of people influenced in relation to vaccines, but also to the legitimacy of the election of President Joe Biden. For Barack Obama, the tech world kickstarts some of humanity’s worst impulses “.
Obama thanks the internet for his election
” I might never have been elected president if it hadn’t been for websites like – and I’m out of the ordinary – MySpace, Meetup and Facebook, which enabled an army of young volunteers to s to organize, to raise funds, to spread our message. That’s what got me elected “Admits the former president, who praises the benefits that social networks can have. In 2008, his campaign team was much more active online than his opponent, John McCain, which helped him win the election.
From now on, Barack Obama believes that the economic model of social networks, which seek user engagement at all costs, even if it means sharing false information and polarizing debates, needs to be reviewed. ” In the competition between truth and lies, the very design of these platforms seems to be tipping us in the wrong direction. And now we see the results “, he explains.
According to him, social media platforms have not directly led to more divisions and anxieties in society, but they have helped to amplify them, with users in all parts of the world now exposed to more news and reports from around the world, with the worst examples inadvertently or not amplified by social media algorithms that were designed to maximize user engagement.
Because of misinformation, many Americans believe the election of Joe Biden is illegal. Photography: Dyana Wing So / Unsplash
Social networks need to be more transparent
With this in mind, Obama calls for more transparency in the design of technology platforms: “ Tech companies should be able to protect their intellectual property while adhering to certain security standards that we as a country, not just them, have deemed necessary for the common good. “.
He further listed several principles that these platforms should consider when making decisions; for example, whether they strengthen or weaken prospects for a healthy and inclusive democracy, or whether they encourage vigorous debate and respect for differences. These decisions must also be chosen taking into account whether they strengthen the rule of law and self-governance, whether they help us make collective decisions based on the best available information and finally, whether they recognize the rights, freedoms and the dignity of all citizens.
” It’s a chance for companies to do the right thing. You’ll still make money, but you’ll feel better. It is a chance for the employees of these companies to push them to make the right choice. ‘Cause you’ve seen what’s going on and you want to feel better “, he says.
Obama gives advice on regulating Big Tech
The former president also believes that improving these platforms also requires regulation. He has also countered the opinion of many Republicans on this subject, who castigate social networks by ensuring that they flout the first amendment (freedom of expression).
” The First Amendment is a check on the power of the state. It does not apply to private companies like Facebook or Twitter, nor does it apply to editorial decisions made by The New York Times or Fox News. He never did. Social media companies already make choices about what is or is not allowed on their platforms and how that content appears. Explicitly, through content moderation, and implicitly, through algorithms. The problem is that we often ignore the principles that govern these decisions. “, he explains.
In addition, Barack Obama calls for the reform of Section 230, which protects technological platforms for all the content they host. He said Congress should consider reforms to the law and platforms should “ be required to apply higher standards of care in relation to advertising on their site “.
” If properly structured, regulation can promote competition and prevent incumbents from freezing out new innovators “, he continues. The speech of the former president is notable: during his eight years in the White House, Obama and his administration have maintained excellent relations with Silicon Valley, so his words are not to be taken lightly. Separately, he supports the Platform Accountability and Transparency Act, a bill that would require social media companies to share certain platform-related data and allow monitoring by independent researchers.
” Social media is a tool. Ultimately, the tools don’t control us, we control them. It is up to each of us to decide what we value and then use the tools we have been given to advance those values. “, he concludes.