In today’s international context, power means having the ability to influence the outcomes of various situations. Digital power has fundamentally transformed how influence is exerted and the ability of citizens to influence. Its strength lies in its precision, interconnectedness, and capacity to shape and mobilize public opinion. In a world where much of the data produced is digital, the least tangible information is the most able to condition individual daily choices. Today, digital power is central to international relations and economic, cultural, and military issues, so much so that, in 2017, Denmark appointed a digital ambassador specifically to engage with tech companies. It’s crucial to acknowledge the dual nature of digital power when it comes to influencing public opinion. The technological revolution has reshaped globalization, shrinking distances between individuals and turning them into an immense instrument of power capable of having more and more voice. As a result, the public is often able to influence the outcomes of decisions that once belonged only to a limited elite of people. However, public opinion is often fueled by misinformation, and it is easy to see attempts to manipulate public sentiment daily. The rapid spread of false information and the anonymity of the internet can foster misguided opinions and harmful behaviors. Digital power is complex and unpredictable, but its study remains critical in order to understand changes in public orientation. The ability to influence and be influenced has become a powerful tool in modern society, and those who are able to juggle this terrain will be able to wield it for multiple purposes, both honest and dishonest.
