@article{GibsonBonRoemmele, author = {Gibson, Rachel and Bon, Esmeralda and R{\"o}mmele, Andrea}, title = {Operationalizing data-driven campaigning: designing a new tool for mapping and guiding regulatory intervention}, series = {Policy Studies}, journal = {Policy Studies}, doi = {10.1080/01442872.2023.2259333}, abstract = {Since the Cambridge Analytica scandal, governments are increasingly concerned about the way in which citizens' personal data are collected, processed and used during election campaigns To develop the appropriate tools for monitoring and controlling this new mode of "data-driven campaigning" (DDC) regulators require a clear understanding of the practices involved. This paper provides a first step toward that goal by proposing a new organizational and process-centred operational definition of DDC from which we derive a set of empirical indicators. The indicators are applied to the policy environment of a leading government in this domain - the European Union (EU) - to generate a descriptive "heat map" of current regulatory activity toward DDC. Based on the results of this exercise, we argue that regulation is likely to intensify on existing practices and extend to cover current "cold spots". Drawing on models of internet governance, we argue that this expansion is likely to occur in one of two ways. A "kaleidoscopic" approach, in which current legislation extends to absorb DDC practices and a more "designed" approach that involves more active intervention by elites, and ultimately the generation of a new regulatory regime.}, language = {en} } @article{GibsonBonDariusetal., author = {Gibson, Rachel and Bon, Esmeralda and Darius, Philipp and Smyth, Peter}, title = {Are Online Political Influencers Accelerating Democratic Deconsolidation?}, series = {Media and Communication}, volume = {11}, journal = {Media and Communication}, number = {3}, issn = {2183-2439}, doi = {10.17645/mac.v11i3.6813}, abstract = {Social media campaigning is increasingly linked with anti-democratic outcomes, with concerns to date centring on paid adverts, rather than organic content produced by a new set of online political influencers. This study systematically compares voter exposure to these new campaign actors with candidate-sponsored ads, as well as established and alternative news sources during the US 2020 presidential election. Specifically, we examine how far higher exposure to these sources is linked with key trends identified in the democratic deconsolidation thesis. We use data from a national YouGov survey designed to measure digital campaign exposure to test our hypotheses. Findings show that while higher exposure to online political influencers is linked to more extremist opinions, followers are not disengaging from conventional politics. Exposure to paid political ads, however, is confirmed as a potential source of growing distrust in political institutions.}, language = {en} }