LMC 2018

Democracy and Digital Misdeeds: Fighting Foreign Manipulation

Authoritarianism, Democracy, Digitalisation, Disinformation

Openness, diversity and tolerance are among the greatest strengths of the world’s liberal democracies. But to autocratic regimes, these same attributes are vulnerabilities ripe for exploitation. Attacks based on deceit, anonymity and the leaking of stolen and distorted information are potent. Without the courage and the tools to face up to the threat posed by the subversive efforts of illiberal countries or interest groups, we are contributing to the erosion of our own values. How do we defend democracies against adversaries who exploit our trust and openness? Can we defend ourselves without sacrificing the principles that make our societies worth defending?