Definition Computational Politics
Applying computational methods to large datasets derived from online and offline data sources for conducting outreach, persuasion and mobilization
Computational Politics (6 bulletpoints)
- Big Data
- Emerging computational methods
- Modeling
- Behavioral Science
- Experimental science in real-time environments
- Power of algorithmic platforms
Big Data
- increase in amount and variety of data on each individual (microscopes telescope)
- Amount: increase in depth and reach
- Nature: user generated data & latent data (cfr. explicit vs implicit data)
- Added up with data from data brokers
- Databases with large amounts of datapoints per individual
Emerging computational methods
- Developments in storage and database systems
- Extraction of semantic information
- Social network analysis
- Correlation data analysis
Modeling
- Predicting new information through computational data analyisis
- Model individual attributes without asking the voter direct questions (with accuracy)
- Subtle persuasion - the voter has no idea about this modeling
Behavioral science
- Rational voter
- Models and theory on how to persuade & influence
- Psychographic data
Experimental science
- Stepping aside from “good feeling”
- Large, real-time field experiments (became cheap)
- Randomized A/B testing
Power of algorithmic platforms
- News feed algorithm (organic content)
2. Sponsored or promoted algorithm (paid content)
News feed algorithm
- organic content
- proprietary algorithms (undisclosed)
- result: the feed is driven by opaque algorithms (black box)
- users see different political content, but we don’t know why
Sponsored or promoted content
- paid content
- brands (political actors) can tailor a message to specific individuals (more control about who sees what
- political micro targeting
Results study political microtargeting
- Extraverted people will be more persuaded when the ad-voked affect is positive (enthusiasm)
- Introverted people will be more persuaded when the ad-voked affect is negative (fear)
- Message elaboration was the mediator
Promises political microtargeting
Democratic society
- increase political participation
- increase political knowledge
- reach hard-to-reach societal groups
Individual voter
- receive relevant political messages
- easier to get a sense of standpoints of political parties
Threats political micro targeting
Democratic society
- Power transfer towards well funded parties
- fragmented public sphere
- difficult to fact-check or counter (fake news)
Individual voter
- manipulation/bias perception of voters
- privacy threats
- tapping into human weaknesses and vulnerabilities
Higher ranked results generate…
- more fixations in eye-tracking research
- more clicks (91,5% on the first page, 32,5% on the first result)
- more time spent on webpages
Biased candidates had… (study Epstein)
- higher trust
- higher liking
- better overall impression
Conclusion study Epstein
- Biased search rankings can shift the voting preferences of undecided voters by 20% or more
- Without their awareness (covert algorithm) - subtle persuasion
- Ranking algorithms can be a tool influencing elections
Google’s algorithms & politics
- Search results: the set of sites ranked on the first page of search results
- Visual framing: candidates are visually framed in search results as a consequence of the image selections
- In the news: the presentation of news information about each candidate as framed in the “In The News” section
Political bots (what, why, how, who)
What: social media accounts equipped with algorithms that post, tweet, or message of their own accord (mimic human user)
Why: to influence or manipulate the public opinion
How: by spreading propaganda in support of, or against particular issues or people
Who: an increasing amount of political candidates in election campaigns
How work political bots (6 bulletpoints)
- Write or acces a pre-made script for a bot
- Automatically setting up an account
- Mimicking an actual person
- Crawling through content and scanning posts on social network (observe the environment)
- Posting content to engage with human users
- Network of bots act together (botnet)
Tactics of political bots during elections
- Zombie electioneering = gives the appearance of broad support for an issue or candidate
- AstroTurf campaigning = makes an electoral or legislative campaign appear to be a grassroots effort
- Hashtag Hijacking = appropriates an opponents hashtag to distribute spam or otherwise undermine support
- Retweet storm = simultaneous reposts or retweets of a post by hundreds or thousand of bots
