Transnational Digital Authoritarianism and Democratic Backsliding: Threats and Countermeasures

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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