TED Talks Daily

Facebook's role in Brexit -- and the threat to democracy | Carole Cadwalladr

Apr 16, 2019

Journalist Carole Cadwalladr, known for her deep dive into the influence of social media on democracy, addresses the unsettling role of Facebook in the Brexit referendum. She explores how targeted misinformation swayed critical votes and critiques the tech giants for their lack of accountability. Cadwalladr discusses chilling parallels between Brexit and the US elections, raising questions about the integrity of democratic processes in the digital age. Her insights challenge listeners to reconsider the future of free and fair elections in a media-saturated world.

15:03

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Episode guests

Carole Cadwalladr

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Examining Misinformation and Community Sentiment Post-Brexit

5min

The Dark Side of Digital Campaigning in Brexit

6min

The Threat of Technology to Democracy

6min

In an unmissable talk, journalist Carole Cadwalladr digs into one of the most perplexing events in recent times: the UK's super-close 2016 vote to leave the European Union. Tracking the result to a barrage of misleading Facebook ads targeted at vulnerable Brexit swing voters -- and linking the same players and tactics to the 2016 US presidential election -- Cadwalladr calls out the "gods of Silicon Valley" for being on the wrong side of history and asks: Are free and fair elections a thing of the past?

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