Food For Thought: ‘’Technology is
neither good nor bad; nor is it neutral’’
-
Laws of
Technology By Professor Melvin Kranzberg (1917-1995)
Introduction:
Social media, big data and artificial intelligence
(AI) can be likened to the 21st
century arms race. These innovations have disrupted the way we communicate, predict
patterns/the stock market, national security (electronic intelligence and
cyber-defence), and democracy, amongst others. Evidence abound of States, rogue
states, non-state actors or ‘’lone wolves’’
(cyber troops) weaponizing information or launching information warfare (IW),
psychological warfare (PSYWAR) or psychological operations (PSYOPs), and in some cases, manipulating
social media with a bid to influencing the outcome of an election.
