Potential Impact of Social Media and Data-Driven Campaigning on Democracy: A Perspective from Québec

Philippe R. Dubois (1) , Thierry Giasson (1) , Eric Montigny (1)

1 ULaval - Université Laval [Québec]

Submission to the Inquiry into the Impact of Social Media on Elections and Electoral Administration, Electoral Matters Committee, Parliament of Victoria (Australia). According to Garnett and James (2020), three fundamental principles are requisite in a democracy: deliberative opportunities, equal participation, and electoral management. All three are challenged by digital technologies. We take these principles as the anchor of our submission. Based on the results of our recent research focusing mainly on political actors and their campaigns in Québec and Canada, our objective is to present how social media contributes to changing elections from the perception of electoral organizations – candidates, strategists, and activists. How campaigning on social media using data-driven techniques affect their role and their actions? How can these changes impact elections and democracy? Have the main actions taken by the governments of Québec and Canada been sufficient?

Domaines: Science politique; Sciences de l'information et de la communication; Sociologie; Droit

Philippe R. Dubois, Thierry Giasson, Eric Montigny. Potential Impact of Social Media and Data-Driven Campaigning on Democracy: A Perspective from Québec. [Technical Report] Université Laval (Québec, Canada). 2020. ⟨hal-02967018⟩