This opinion piece argues that Europe should “shut down recommender algorithms” of the big US social media platforms - Facebook, X, Instagram, etc. - because the author believes that these algorithms are undermining European democracy.
The most obvious example of such an algorithm is on X, where Musk can manipulate the algorithm to boost European far-right parties, like AfD. But the author argues that other social media CEOs, like Zuck, are beholden to Trump’s anti-liberal agenda - for example, Trump “openly threatened to throw Mark Zuckerberg in jail for the rest of his life”. Therefore: “It is reasonable to assume that tech oligarchs will do what [Trump] tells them”, which may include the Trump administration pressuring US social media companies to recommend more right-wing content.
So the author says: “The EU must immediately switch off the tech companies’ algorithms on its soil, at least until they are proven safe for democracy”. Do you agree with that?
Social media algorithms are bad, but quick reminder that Hitler and Mussolini didn’t need algorithms to overthrow democracy. The root problem here is either capitalism or neoliberalism depending on how radical you wanna get, and at the very least the latter has to go yesterday.
The Nazis owned and operated their own newspapers, nearly from the start, to get their propaganda out.
They took over existing publications as well. Still, I’m all for reigning in the social media networks, because they’re basically editorialising through their moderation (like that time Musk decided to boost his own posts so much he ended up on everyone’s ‘for you’ page).
If your moderation is basically taking on the role of an editor, you should be held responsible for any libellous content/ hate speech you boost in this fashion.
Yes absolutely. Also how does Fox ‘News’ keep getting by dumping out lies and bullshit nonstop poisoning people’s minds.
The old time fascists used the new media of their day to the utmost. Their propaganda was so effective, it still echoes today. Fascism itself is focused on aesthetics, appearance, and performance. All of these are forms of propaganda.
could you elaborate about facism being focused on aesthetics, appearance, and performance?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aestheticization_of_politics
https://studenttheses.universiteitleiden.nl/access/item%3A3248848/view
It’s an established idea.
Umberto Ecco‘s famous article on ur-fascism is worth reading as well, if you don’t know it. It touches on these themes as well.
The Nazi party conventions at Nuremberg were a huge choreographed spectacle for example.