Hostile Social Manipulation: Living in a Changing Information Environment

In 2024, the world is grappling with the challenges of a rapidly evolving information environment. Technologies like social media and artificial intelligence have connected people globally but also exposed societies to new risks, such as disinformation and manipulation. Hostile actors, both state and non-state, exploit these tools to spread false narratives, polarize societies, and undermine democratic processes. Examples range from Russia’s interference in U.S. elections to Myanmar’s anti-Rohingya campaigns, showing how manipulation can divide societies and incite real-world harm. In Bangladesh, during the Monsoon Revolution, attempts by the former regime to control narratives through propaganda and internet blackouts failed, ultimately strengthening the people’s resolve to restore democracy.

BIPSS Research Assistant Mohosina Mostofa Mity has urged in this commentary that by rejecting hatred and fostering mutual support, we can protect ourselves from manipulation and build a future defined by peace, progress, and shared values.