In a democracy, support for social decisions is formed by public consent. Public support relies on public information. Scientific correctness and an interdisciplinary perspective are crucial for this information.
The more nuanced the shared insights on the basis of which public opinion assess social developments, the greater the support for sensible policy decisions. Unfortunately, the reverse is also true, which is why concern for the quality of the media is a public interest. Artificial intelligence today makes it possible to distinguish profiles based on user data, on the basis of which administrators of social networks and large media companies know which groups are sensitive to which type of information. Such knowledge is used for advertising purposes and political campaigns. The problem with this tailor-made private information is that it is hidden from the view of the general public.
It is almost impossible to check the correctness of the information that specific target groups are systematically confronted with. The dissemination of inaccurate and oversimplified information, privately sent to someone based on his or her user profile, undermines the basis of shared insights in function of which wise political decisions can gain authority.
Participants in this project:
The intention is to gather scientific insights about major societal challenges in LIAS on the basis of international and interdisciplinary consultation.