Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, among others, have become the biggest propaganda machines in history. They reach billions of people, and exert more power and influence than any organizations before them. And that is just what makes them so dangerous.

The dream of a peaceful digitized world has vanished. Fear and hatred seem to dominate. But is this algorithm-driven polarization inevitably steering us towards violence? Can our democratic principles of compromise, discussion and transparency survive?

Both the debate over Russian ads in the 2016 U.S. election campaign, and the spread of fake news demonstrate just how much influence these tech giants have over us. Rumours and misinformation generated by Covid-19 have pushed fact-checkers beyond their limits.

In the U.S., this web-based aggression has spilled out onto the streets. There have been deaths at protests in Kenosha and Portland. And U.S. corporations are making all of this possible, because searches for polarizing and divisive content turns a profit.

No one knows better than Facebook how to divide societies, and cash in. A parallel digital universe has emerged. It is a safe space for people once living on the fringes of mainstream society. And here, anything goes. So have we already lost the battle against disinformation? Can we turn the tide of polarization?

#documentary #dwdocumentary #truth #misinformation
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The bits and bytes can serve our interests or be used against us. More than ever before, we have to trust computer systems. In terms of internet usage and social media penetration, Thailand is growing faster than nearly any other nation. How do its startups deal with personal data, privacy settings and cyber security? Our digital data can help or harm us. Without digital trust there can be no digital business. As the digital revolution unfolds, whether we like it or not, we leave behind trails of data. It has become nearly impossible to remain anonymous. Using algorithms, scientists and businesses can now interpret ever larger amounts of information about us. ‘Big Data’ is being utilized in new ways – to make our lives easier and solve our problems, but also to earn money with our personal information. In terms of internet usage and social media penetration, Thailand is growing at an incredible pace. According to a recent survey, Thais spend an average 9.38 hours per day online, but privacy and data protection are not widely discussed in the country. Young people in particular tend to trust more in technology than in political institutions. Our Founders’ Valley host looks at how startups deal with personal data and cyber security. How is social media changing us and the societies we build? And how can we retain control of our digital identity while continuing to reap the benefits?

Part 1 – https://youtu.be/zBQWhOSDykk
Part 2 – https://youtu.be/frTz5hL3z2U
Part 3 – https://youtu.be/-Jn41vwZd94
Part 4 – https://youtu.be/0G4xMWmbGtw
Part 5 – https://youtu.be/nA4_HGE29pI
Watch the first season of Founders Valley here: https://bit.ly/31jGbZW
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