Techno-authoritarianism

Techno-authoritarianism, also known as Automatechnocracy, IT-backed authoritarianism, digital authoritarianism, or digital dictatorship, is the use of information technology by states in order to control or manipulate both foreign and domestic populations. The tactics employed in the context of digital authoritarianism may include mass surveillance, including through biometric identification such as facial recognition, the implementation of internet firewalls and censorship, internet blackouts, the dissemination of disinformation campaigns, and the establishment of digital social credit systems. Although some institutions assert that this term should only be used to refer to authoritarian governments, others argue that the tools of digital authoritarianism are being adopted and implemented by governments with "authoritarian tendencies", including democracies.

Notably, the Brookings Institution has accused China and Russia of leveraging the Internet and information technology to repress domestic opposition and undermine foreign democracies.

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