Alghero forum discusses technology's challenge to democracy

During the Festa dell’Unità della Sardegna in Alghero, experts gathered for a discussion titled ‘Democracy Challenged by Technology.’ The panel addressed the impact of digital transformation, the influence of major tech platforms, and the rise of artificial intelligence on democratic values, pluralism, and individual freedoms.

Author Antonio Nicita noted that social networks have evolved from connection tools into systems driven by algorithms designed to maximize user engagement. He argued that these algorithms often prioritize high-emotion content, which can polarize public opinion and compromise the quality of public discourse. Nicita emphasized that because platform mediation is not neutral, regulation regarding monopolies, markets, and algorithms is necessary to protect freedom.

Pierluigi Adami and Renato Soru also contributed to the debate, focusing on the future of society in the age of AI and the implications of how these systems are trained.