AI has the potential to strengthen democracy, but its misuse poses serious risks, deepening inequalities and weakening institutions in fragile democracies. Authoritarian and non-state actors increasingly exploit AI to manipulate public opinion, spread misinformation, and suppress dissent. China’s AI-driven influence campaigns shape geopolitical narratives, as seen when state-linked social media accounts amplified DeepSeek’s AI launch. Meanwhile, TikTok subtly shifts Taiwanese youth attitudes on independence, and AI-powered surveillance silences activists and journalists, restricting free expression. As digital authoritarianism spreads across Asia, a critical question emerges: can democracy withstand AI-driven repression?
AsiaTech investigates how AI stabilizes autocracies and destabilizes democracies, exploring how state and non-state actors manipulate public opinion, conduct surveillance, and suppress dissent. The central research question is: How does the (mis)use of AI impact democracy, governance, and freedom in Asia?
To answer this, the project examines:
- How China’s AI-driven control model is adopted across Asia and its impact on regional security and democratic resilience (WP1 & 4).
- How Chinese and Western tech firms facilitate digital repression and the ethical and regulatory challenges involved (WP2).
- How civil society, journalists, and activists counter AI-driven repression and the long-term effectiveness of their efforts (WP3).
AsiaTech employs qualitative and quantitative methods, including case studies, expert interviews, discourse analysis, and survey experiments. The findings will inform policy strategies to mitigate AI’s threats to democracy while strengthening digital resilience across the region.
