How We Accidentally Built a Propaganda Machine

The internet wasn’t built to spread fascism. But its business model may be helping it do exactly that.

Why are far-right movements thriving online across Europe and beyond? This video explores how attention-driven social media algorithms, smartphones and modern media incentives are reshaping politics in ways that favour outrage over truth.

This video argues that democracies are failing to respond to a growing digital threat with the urgency it demands.

Topics covered include:

• The rise of algorithmic feeds and engagement-driven platforms
• Elon Musk, X (formerly Twitter), and online political influence
• How social media can normalise and radicalise political beliefs
• Why populist politicians dominate online attention
• The concept of “stochastic propaganda”
• Whether liberal democracies should regulate social media algorithms
• Possible reforms to protect democratic debate

Whether you agree or disagree, this is intended as a contribution to the debate about technology, democracy and the future of political discourse.

Script and sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12PFnfRoyTicjRVsdKMdEsChvb0AsPRkILFdSdB6bYW4