Jonah Patel
The internet has disrupted the world of public diplomacy, presenting new challenges and opportunities. With the rise of disinformation, echo chambers, and computational propaganda, the internet has become a strategic tool for manipulating public opinion and competing for attention. Public diplomacy professionals must now navigate a crowded and flooded information space, where credible information is scarce but in high demand. The question is no longer whether public diplomacy can survive the internet but how the internet can save it. This involves embracing two-way communication, addressing contentious issues, and creating shared narratives with foreign populations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Focus on creating shared narratives with foreign populations | Crucial |
| Re-embracing the notions of two-way public diplomacy and ongoing conversations | Crucial |
| Better understand how social platforms are used and manipulated in specific contexts | Crucial |
| Ensure reliability of analytics | Crucial |
| Maintain human and institutional relationships | Crucial |
| Establish norms of conduct for the information space | Crucial |
| Computational propaganda refers to the coordinated use of social media platforms, autonomous agents, and big data directed towards the manipulation of public opinion | High |
| Social media bots are the primary tools used in the dissemination of computational propaganda | High |
| Political bots aim to automate political engagement in an attempt to manipulate public opinions | High |
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What You'll Learn
Computational propaganda and the role of bots
The internet has become a potent tool for various actors to distribute information and multimedia content. However, it has also led to the rise of computational propaganda and the use of bots to manipulate public opinion and influence online conversations. Computational propaganda refers to the use of algorithms, automation, and human curation to distribute misleading information over social media networks deliberately. This form of propaganda has evolved from traditional propaganda, leveraging digital media platforms to disseminate information and blur the lines between different forms of propaganda.
Bots, in particular, have become a significant tool in the arsenal of those employing computational propaganda. Political bots are automated scripts designed to manipulate public opinion and conversations on social media platforms. They are often used to generate false support, demobilize opposition, and promote the interests of a particular government or cause. For example, coordinated Russian bots and human trolls have been employed to manipulate the vaccine debate online, amplifying anti-vaccine content. The use of bots in this manner can lead to online polarization and the spread of misinformation, disinformation, trolling, and propaganda.
The detection and mitigation of computational propaganda and bots are complex tasks. While there have been advancements in bot-detection systems, most of these systems rely on machine learning algorithms and can only identify single accounts, not the coordinated activities of botnets. Additionally, current detection systems primarily focus on Twitter, leaving other social media platforms relatively uncharted. To address this challenge, longitudinal research is being conducted to establish more solid metrics for tracking information flows and effects related to the use of political bots and computational propaganda. This research aims to provide quantitative insights into the roles of automation, network structure, temporal markers, and message semantics to understand better and measure the flow of political manipulation over social media.
To survive and thrive in this evolving landscape, public diplomacy professionals need to focus on several key areas. Firstly, they need to develop a deeper understanding of how social media platforms are used and manipulated in specific contexts to prepare for computational propaganda campaigns. This involves moving beyond "folk theories" of social media and focusing on their actual use and impact in different communities. Secondly, ensuring the reliability of analytics and maintaining human and institutional relationships is crucial. Finally, establishing norms of conduct for the information space can help mitigate the impact of computational propaganda and bots. By addressing these challenges, public diplomacy can adapt to the changing communications space and effectively engage with audiences worldwide.
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Echo chambers and disinformation
The internet has enabled diplomats to interact with foreign populations, establish global virtual embassies, and overcome traditional gatekeepers such as the newsroom elite. However, digitalization has also led to the rise of an opinionated online public that is clamouring to be heard. Social media platforms have become competitive framing arenas where multiple actors vie for public attention and support.
Bots, trolls, and hackers have mastered the art of competing in this crowded marketplace for attention. However, they cannot offer meaningful, credible information in a sustainable way. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for public diplomacy to thrive on the internet.
The US Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy published a report, "Can Public Diplomacy Survive the Internet: Bots, Echo Chambers, and Disinformation," which offers four recommendations for public diplomacy professionals to survive these changes:
- Better understand how social platforms are used and manipulated in specific contexts to prepare for computational propaganda campaigns: Computational propaganda refers to the coordinated use of social media platforms, autonomous agents, and big data to manipulate public opinion. Political bots, for example, can automate political engagement and massively amplify certain views. Understanding these tools means moving beyond "folk theories" of social media and focusing on their actual use and impact in specific communities.
- Ensure the reliability of analytics: This involves double-downing on fact-checking and evidence-based news and information programming to combat disinformation campaigns.
- Maintain human and institutional relationships: This includes re-embracing the notion of two-way public diplomacy and ongoing conversations. US diplomats, for instance, should be willing to talk about contentious aspects of American foreign policy.
- Establish norms of conduct for the information space: This includes creating shared narratives with foreign populations. Narratives are central to human relations as they shape one's understanding of the world.
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Credible information in a flooded information space
The internet has disrupted the world of public diplomacy, with its impact on international relations and global connectivity. The digital revolution has enabled diplomats to interact with foreign populations, establish global virtual embassies, and bypass traditional gatekeepers such as the news media. However, it has also given rise to an opinionated online public that clamours for attention and transformed social media platforms into competitive arenas where multiple actors vie for public attention and support.
In this crowded and noisy information landscape, credible information remains scarce but is in high demand. Bots, trolls, and hackers have mastered the art of competing for attention, but they cannot offer meaningful, credible information. This presents a challenge for public diplomacy, but also an opportunity to thrive in the digital space by focusing on providing reliable and trustworthy content.
To navigate this complex environment, public diplomacy professionals need to understand how social media platforms are used and manipulated in specific contexts to prepare for computational propaganda campaigns. This includes recognizing the role of bots in disseminating computational propaganda and manipulating public opinion. By focusing on the actual use and impact of these tools in specific communities, diplomats can move beyond "folk theories" of social media, which place too much emphasis on concepts like the "echo chamber."
To ensure the reliability of information, public diplomacy practitioners should double down on fact-checking and evidence-based news and information programming. This approach will help combat disinformation campaigns and ensure that meaningful, credible information reaches the intended audiences.
Additionally, creating shared narratives with foreign populations is essential for effective public diplomacy in the digital age. Narratives shape our understanding of the world and can help tie multiple events into a cohesive plot line. By embracing two-way public diplomacy and ongoing conversations, diplomats can effectively engage with foreign audiences and address contentious issues.
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Creating shared narratives with foreign populations
The internet has disrupted the world of public diplomacy, with the spread of misinformation and disinformation, the rise of an opinionated online public, and the use of computational propaganda. However, it has also created new opportunities for engagement and interaction with foreign populations.
To create shared narratives with foreign populations, public diplomacy professionals need to understand the actual uses and impacts of social media platforms in specific communities. This means moving beyond "folk theories" of social media, such as the echo chamber, and focusing on how these platforms are used and manipulated in different contexts. For example, social media bots are primary tools in the dissemination of computational propaganda, and understanding their role is crucial for developing effective counter strategies.
Public diplomacy practitioners should also explore how to productively engage with audiences around the world, even as communication patterns continue to shift. This includes finding ways to synchronize American interests with the interests of citizens and governments globally. By embracing two-way public diplomacy and ongoing conversations, diplomats can address contentious issues and effectively communicate online.
In conclusion, creating shared narratives with foreign populations requires understanding the role of social media in shaping narratives, moving beyond "folk theories," and embracing two-way communication and engagement with foreign audiences. By doing so, public diplomacy can not just survive but thrive in the digital age.
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Strategic use of misinformation and disinformation
The strategic use of misinformation and disinformation has become a significant concern in the realm of public diplomacy. The internet and digitalisation have transformed the way information is shared and consumed, creating new challenges for diplomats and policymakers.
One of the key issues is the spread of disinformation and misinformation through social media platforms. Social media bots, also known as "web robots", are commonly used to disseminate computational propaganda and manipulate public opinion. These bots can have a disproportionate impact due to their ability to post high-volume content at a high frequency. Political bots, in particular, aim to amplify political views and enable a small group of people to set the online conversation agenda. As a result, public diplomacy professionals need to better understand how social media platforms are used and manipulated to prepare for and counter these propaganda campaigns.
Another concern is the use of the internet by non-state actors, such as jihadists, to distribute information and content that aligns with their ideologies. This leaderless yet networked organisational structure allows them to reach a global audience and spread their message effectively. Additionally, the internet has enabled the rise of an opinionated online public that clamours to be heard, further complicating the information landscape.
To address these challenges, public diplomacy practitioners must focus on several key areas. Firstly, they need to move beyond "folk theories" of social media and develop a deeper understanding of how these tools are actually used and manipulated in specific contexts. This includes recognising the impact of bots, echo chambers, and disinformation campaigns. Secondly, public diplomacy should focus on creating shared narratives with foreign populations, as suggested by Professor Laura Roselle. These narratives can shape understanding and tie multiple events into a single plotline, helping to build relationships and foster understanding.
In conclusion, the strategic use of misinformation and disinformation is a significant challenge for public diplomacy in the digital age. By understanding the tools and tactics used to spread disinformation, and by focusing on creating shared narratives, public diplomacy professionals can better navigate this complex and rapidly changing communications space.
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Frequently asked questions
The internet has enabled diplomats to interact with foreign populations, establish global virtual embassies, and overcome traditional gatekeepers such as the newsroom elite. However, it has also led to the rise of an opinionated online public that is clamouring to be heard, the transformation of social media into competitive framing arenas, and the strategic use of disinformation and misinformation.
Social media bots are the primary tools used in the dissemination of computational propaganda. In their most basic form, bots provide basic answers to simple questions, publish content on a schedule, or disseminate stories in response to triggers (e.g. breaking news). They can have a disproportionate impact due to their ability to post a high volume of content at a high frequency.
Public diplomacy professionals need to focus on four main lines of effort: better understand how social platforms are used and manipulated in specific contexts, ensure the reliability of analytics, maintain human and institutional relationships, and work to establish norms of conduct for the information space.
