Digital distrust and polarisation: 'We need to get back to engaging with one another as a society'
Summary
A technology expert reviewed claims that Russian attacks on data centers caused less online activity from supporters of President Trump and Germany's far-right party AfD. The expert found no clear drop in social media interactions after the attacks and warned that mistrust caused by misinformation could weaken democracy.Key Facts
- Valdemar Osted is a technology leader at a Danish digital consultancy called Common Consultancy.
- He studied social media activity related to supporters of President Donald Trump and Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
- Osted did not see a meaningful decline in Facebook interactions after attacks on Russian data centers.
- He confirmed that Russian influence and disinformation campaigns do exist.
- Osted said finding bots (automated accounts) is not the same as proving they change election results.
- He highlighted that even small amounts of misinformation can reduce trust in democracy over time.
- The expert warned that fear of being manipulated may pose a bigger threat to democratic stability than the misinformation itself.
- This raises questions about how democracies can handle widespread suspicion and protect public confidence.
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