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Transnational Digital Authoritarianism and Democratic Backsliding: Threats and Countermeasures

Democracy
Political Regime
Technology
P556
Isti Marta Sukma
University of Warsaw
Tetsuro Kobayashi
Waseda University

Building: Faculty of International and Political Studies, Floor: 1, Room: 141

Thursday 16:15 - 18:00 CEST (10/09/2026)

Abstract

Research on digital authoritarianism has continuously highlighted how digital technologies extend authoritarian regimes’ outreach beyond their territorial borders. Yet several other phenomena relate closely to digitally-assisted transnational authoritarianism; for instance, anti-democratic actors in democracies rely on, and sometimes imitate, authoritarian regimes in employing digital technologies in ways detrimental to democratic health. Authoritarian threats also affect regulatory approaches in democracies. This panel discusses the multifaceted nexus among digitally assisted transnational authoritarian practices, democratic backsliding, and measures to counter digital authoritarianism.

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