Countering Subversion Online: What Role for Public Policy?
Countering Subversion Online: What Role for Public Policy?

Author(s): Edward Christie
Subject(s): Political Sciences, Communication studies, Social psychology and group interaction, Policy, planning, forecast and speculation, ICT Information and Communications Technologies
Published by: NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence
Keywords: individualized political messaging; group dynamics and political polarization; platform algorithms and self-radicalization; falsehood dissemination dynamics; political subversion;
Summary/Abstract: This final chapter aims to offer a synthesis of the main vulnerabilities that liberal democracies contend with, as they encounter contemporary forms of political subversion, and to propose a set of policy principles to guide ongoing reflections on how to best respond to that challenge. Four areas of vulnerability are identified, namely individualized political messaging; group dynamics and political polarization; platform algorithms and self-radicalization; and falsehood dissemination dynamics. In discussing each of these areas, insights are drawn from both very recent and more established academic research, at the crossroads of psychology, social psychology, communication studies, and political science. This leads to framing elements for the formulation of proposed policy principles, followed by examples of recent measures in selected countries.

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