The Threat Online Disinformation Poses to Democracy

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary terms and concepts related to the impact of online disinformation on democracy, focusing on the effects on deliberative democracy and systemic vulnerabilities.

Disinformation

Intentionally false or deceptive communication used to advance the aims of its creators at the expense of others.

Deliberative Democracy

A normative theory of democratic legitimacy based on the idea that those affected by a collective decision have the right to participate in deliberation about the content of decisions.

Epistemic Function

The role of a deliberative system to produce preferences, opinions, and decisions informed by facts and logic.

Corrosive Falsehoods

False claims that undermine the credibility of legitimate sources of information.

Techno-affective Polarization

A process where disinformation campaigns exploit existing emotional divisions between political partisans, leading to increased hostility and division.

Unjustified Inclusion

When actors without legitimate normative entitlements insert themselves into democratic discussions, undermining authentic dialogue.

Pervasive Inauthenticity

A widespread perception that many participants in online discourse lack genuine identities, affecting the legitimacy of communication.

Algorithmic Curation

The process by which algorithms determine content visibility and dissemination patterns in social media.

Meta-deliberation

The ability of a deliberative system to identify its own shortcomings and reform itself.

Russian Internet Research Agency (IRA)

An organization involved in disinformation campaigns, particularly during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, utilizing fake identities and false narratives.

Echo Chambers

Social media environments where people are only exposed to information that reinforces their existing beliefs, leading to increased political polarization.