|  ElCiudadano.cl |  Noticias

El Ciudadano

Original article: El real impacto de la desinformación y la vigilancia digital en Chile

Expert analyzes how manipulation campaigns operate on social media and the risks of the new intelligence law.

Pedro Santander, an academic and director of the DEEP (Electronic Demoscopy of Public Space) project, examined the mechanics of digital manipulation campaigns during a recent episode of the political program «Sentido Común!» hosted by Javier Pineda, director of El Ciudadano. In the discussion, Santander, a full professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso, explained that false news can spread from automated accounts on social media to traditional media outlets, directly influencing critical electoral processes in the country.

Santander warned that in the Western world, there is «a strong correlation between the rapid rise of these major technologies» and the emergence of populist far-right movements. He emphasized that these phenomena are not isolated but operate together, taking advantage of social crisis contexts or election campaigns, detailing that the most successful circulation of a lie occurs when it transitions from platforms like X to the WhatsApp of citizens.

A central point of the interview was the analysis of the recently approved legislation on the National Intelligence System, where the expert urged special attention to the powers granted to the State. «The intelligence service can request the database of students, and you will not be able to refuse,» Santander warned while reviewing Article 5 of the regulation, expressing his concern over the risks of intrusion into individuals’ privacy.

In light of the proliferation of these control tools, the researcher proposed that citizens and legislators must demand greater public transparency through algorithmic auditing, stating, «We need to know what algorithms are being used, how they were trained, and what biases these algorithms have,» he argued.

He also acknowledged that despite the tight control exerted by tech corporations, there are communicational counteroffensive alternatives that successfully break through the informational blockade. As an example, he highlighted the use of LEGO-style animations by Iran to circumvent automated blocking of Western social media, demonstrating that a technical understanding of platforms allows for the exploration of topics outside the dominant agenda.

Finally, the academic urged independent media and social movements to not neglect grassroots work or rigorous understanding of their audiences to confront media concentration. Santander reminded that various regional leaders have achieved surprising electoral results while having almost no presence in the digital sphere, showing that the non-virtual landscape remains an important space.

We invite you to watch the full interview of Sentido Común!:

El Ciudadano.

La entrada The Real Impact of Misinformation and Digital Surveillance in Chile se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.