The Network and the Demos: Big Data and the Epistemic Justifications of Democracy

Abstract

In this chapter, Kinkead and Douglas draw on the history of democracies to see how big data and its use with social media sites introduces new challenges to the contemporary marketplace of ideas. They note that traditionally one could narrowcast a tailored message with some impunity, but limited effect, while broadcasts (with larger impact) were open to examination by the public. Microtargeted political advertising now allows for the narrowcast message to be tweaked and directed on a scale never before seen.