2023 Conference on International Cyber Security | 7-8 November 2023
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Panel 2

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AI: Safeguarding or Usurping Democracy?

Kalimah Wasis Lestari

Kalimah Wasis Lestari is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Department of Politics, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Airlangga. Her current research focuses on digital politics, AI, elections and democracy. She teaches bachelor's in several subjects, including Digital Politics, Big Data in Political Science, Democracy Digital, Electoral System and Political Marketing. Her latest publication is about the electoral system, titled "Evaluating electoral reforms and its consequences in Indonesia and Thailand (2000–2023)". Besides she also researched algorithm control in increasing online loans in Indonesia, which was presented in International Conference: Digital Transaction in Asia IV in February, held by The University of Queensland in Vietnam.

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Hari Fitrianto

Abstract

Keynote

AI-Driven Campaign: A shifting sign from democracy to algocracy?

Under the AI platform, algorithms could generate information and strategies for electoral campaigns. One of the leading AI platforms in Indonesia offers AI-driven campaigns, enables the production of priority programs, and determines priority districts based on legislative candidate preference. This article aims to understand the impact of AI-driven campaigns towards democracy. Is it a positive sign of better understanding the constituent or a shifting sign from democracy to algocracy? I utilised case study analysis by conducting in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, including AI platform's founders, governments, and cybersecurity experts, combining archival data to broaden the analysis. This article uncovers how AI-driven campaigns have significant roles in generating programs or policies offered by candidates, which drive the future of democracy. The results indicate the transformation of the election campaign strategy by adopting AI technology. While AI potentially promotes democracy by suggesting campaign management effectiveness, lower budget campaigns, and providing a better understanding of constituent issues, the risk of AI to democracy should be considered. New power will arise, particularly for those who have control of the algorithm and data collected. Secondly, the risk of inequality in decision making, particularly for minority issues, will be hard to portray. Beyond this, the government's shift in accepting AI in policy recommendations could lead to AI-based policy, potentially opening the doors of algocracy. The idea of algocracy, where algorithms take the rule in the decision process, could be the future of politics and threaten democracy. This article contributes to the complementing of future democracy literature, particularly with the appearance of artificial intelligence. We identify in which aspect the use of AI could be accepted and in which aspect AI could be a threat to democratic processes. We also emphasise the urgent need for a law on cybersecurity to prevent the potential danger of AI-driven campaigns to democracy.