An FP Analytics issue brief, supported by Google

The aftermath of the Cold War saw the unprecedented advancement of democracy worldwide, but troubling trends of democratic backsliding have shaped the past decade globally. Myanmar, Hungary, Brazil, and the Philippines are just a few examples of countries where authoritarianism has flourished at the expense of democracy. Most recently, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine presented a stark reminder that democratic progress and the rules-based international order are by no means guaranteed. This reversal is being reflected in the digital realm as well. As the internet became widely accessible globally throughout the 1990s, it brought with it unprecedented opportunities for connection and interaction across borders. The advent of social media in the early 2000s further accelerated this trend. However, in recent years, authoritarian regimes have increasingly misused digital spaces to entrench their control and undermine core democratic values, including freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and election integrity. Continue leyendo →