Tyrants on Twitter: Protecting Democracies from Information Warfare

Social media was designed to connect people, but it can also be manipulated by authoritarian states to interfere with democratic governance. Tyrants on Twitter explores how Chinese and Russian agents use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to subvert the liberal international order. Author David L. Sloss calls for cooperation among democratic governments to create a new transnational system for regulating social media to protect Western democracies from information warfare.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 22 March 2022
Publisher: Stanford University Press

Social media, initially intended to foster connections, has evolved into a powerful tool that can be easily manipulated. The 2016 U.S. presidential election serves as a stark example of how authoritarian states can exploit social media to interfere with democratic governance. Tyrants on Twitter, the first comprehensive analysis of this weaponization, delves into how Chinese and Russian agents use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to undermine the liberal international order. Authoritarian states have also employed foreign influence operations to threaten democracies in Europe and meddle in Western democracies, supported by China's use of social media and other digital tools.

To address this threat, David L. Sloss proposes a novel transnational system for regulating social media to protect Western democracies from information warfare. Drawing on his experience as an arms control negotiator, he outlines a system of transnational governance that Western democracies can enforce by harmonizing their domestic regulations. This system would involve creating a new international organization to oversee social media platforms and developing a set of international standards for content moderation.

Despite potential First Amendment objections, Sloss argues that this system would be constitutionally defensible. He emphasizes that the right to free speech is not absolute and can be limited in certain circumstances, such as when it poses a threat to national security or public safety. The proposed system would strike a balance between protecting democratic values and ensuring the safety and security of Western societies.

In conclusion, the weaponization of social media poses a significant threat to Western democracies. Tyrants on Twitter provides a valuable insight into how Chinese and Russian agents exploit these platforms to undermine democratic governance. By implementing a novel transnational system for regulating social media, Western democracies can better protect themselves from information warfare and ensure the continued stability and prosperity of their societies.

Weight: 690g
Dimension: 162 x 236 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781503628441