Social Media: Friend or Foe?
Whether it’s in France, Belgium or Italy, the protests taking place have one thing in common: Protesters are using social media platforms, particularly TikTok, Snapchat, X and Instagram, to organize rallies. This is the first time that social media has played such a pivotal role. Rioters are also using them to plan their crimes before going on to publicly boast about them. Certain voices, such as that of the mayor of Liège, have called for these platforms to be shut down in such cases. It’s technically feasible, but ideologically questionable.
It’s in places like China or Russia, where there are dictatorships, that social media is clamped down on, censored, regulated or shut down. On the other hand, calls for violence must be stopped immediately by those running these platforms. Here, too, it’s technically feasible, but Meta, TikTok and X turn a deaf ear to requests from the authorities.
The other issue that haunts us is the disinformation spread on these platforms. There are countless fake artificial intelligence videos and all sorts of made-up facts, often with the common goal of stirring up hate. Who is hiding behind these lies? Amid hybrid warfare with Russia and mistrust in the United States — two governments that ardently support Europe’s far right — it seems quite likely, if not certain, that manipulation would be used to sow chaos among us. But to what extent? That remains a mystery. Defense Minister Theo Francken explained that investigations into this matter are underway. It would be interesting to see the results, if they ever see the light of day ...
It’s in places like China or Russia, where there are dictatorships, that social media is clamped down on, censored, regulated or shut down. On the other hand, calls for violence must be stopped immediately by those running these platforms. Here, too, it’s technically feasible, but Meta, TikTok and X turn a deaf ear to requests from the authorities.
The other issue that haunts us is the disinformation spread on these platforms. There are countless fake artificial intelligence videos and all sorts of made-up facts, often with the common goal of stirring up hate. Who is hiding behind these lies? Amid hybrid warfare with Russia and mistrust in the United States — two governments that ardently support Europe’s far right — it seems quite likely, if not certain, that manipulation would be used to sow chaos among us. But to what extent? That remains a mystery. Defense Minister Theo Francken explained that investigations into this matter are underway. It would be interesting to see the results, if they ever see the light of day ...
Previous article![]( "Musk Is Seeking Confrontation with Europe. It’s Time To Set Limits for Him")
