Social Media Increasingly Used for Electoral Manipulation and Mass Surveillance

In a troubling trend that threatens global democracy, governments are increasingly wielding social media as a tool for election manipulation and citizen surveillance, according to a comprehensive report released today by Freedom House. The organization’s annual “Freedom on the Net” assessment reveals that internet freedom has declined for the ninth consecutive year, pointing to a concerning shift toward digital authoritarianism.

The 2019 report, which examined 65 countries representing 87 percent of global internet users, found that domestic election interference has become alarmingly commonplace. In 26 of 30 countries that held national elections during the assessment period, authorities and political actors employed various digital tactics to influence outcomes. Disinformation campaigns emerged as the preferred strategy, while some regimes resorted to blocking websites or shutting down internet access entirely to maintain control.

“Many governments are finding that on social media, propaganda works better than censorship,” said Mike Abramowitz, president of Freedom House. “Authoritarians and populists around the globe are exploiting both human nature and computer algorithms to conquer the ballot box, running roughshod over rules designed to ensure free and fair elections.”

The surveillance landscape has also grown more sophisticated, with governments across the political spectrum monitoring citizens’ online behavior to identify perceived threats or silence opposition. The report uncovered evidence of advanced social media surveillance programs in at least 40 of the countries analyzed. These sophisticated systems can map relationships between users, interpret social media content, and track locations with alarming precision.

Adrian Shahbaz, Freedom House’s research director for technology and democracy, warned that “advances in AI are driving a booming, unregulated market for social media surveillance. Even in countries with considerable safeguards for fundamental freedoms, there are already reports of abuse.”

The chilling effect of this surveillance is evident in the record 47 countries where users faced arrest for political, social, or religious speech online. In at least 31 countries, individuals suffered physical violence in retaliation for their online activities.

China retained its position as the world’s worst abuser of internet freedom for the fourth consecutive year. The Chinese government intensified its information controls ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre and in response to persistent protests in Hong Kong.

Even the United States saw a decline in internet freedom. Law enforcement and immigration agencies increasingly monitored social media and conducted warrantless searches of travelers’ electronic devices with minimal oversight. Some monitoring targeted constitutionally protected activities like peaceful protests and newsgathering. Domestic actors also spread disinformation around major political events.

The report highlighted several other concerning trends. Social media and communication applications were blocked in at least 20 countries, while telecommunications networks were suspended in 17, often before elections or during periods of civil unrest. Additionally, political leaders in 38 countries employed individuals to covertly shape online opinions and harass opponents.

“The future of internet freedom rests on our ability to fix social media,” said Shahbaz. “Since these are mainly American platforms, the United States must be a leader in promoting transparency and accountability in the digital age. This is the only way to stop the internet from becoming a Trojan horse for tyranny and oppression.”

The findings paint a stark picture of the global digital landscape, where the promise of an open internet is increasingly compromised by both authoritarian regimes and ostensibly democratic governments. As social media platforms have become the new battleground for democracy, the report serves as a crucial warning about the urgent need to protect online freedoms and establish stronger safeguards against digital manipulation.