BY DAVIT BEGLARYAN
In today’s world, we often hear about so-called “digital dictators.” Who are these people, and how do they compare to traditional dictators?
Today, authoritarian regimes largely no longer rely on brute force or mass purges to assert dominance. Instead, they leverage the tools of the digital age—advanced technologies, social media platforms, and data-driven management methods that enable them to discreetly yet effectively control society. These modern autocrats have evolved, distancing themselves from their overtly tyrannical predecessors.
The new generation of autocrats no longer marches onto the world stage in military regalia. Instead, they appear at official events dressed in sleek business suits.
This shift in appearance reflects a deeper transformation in how they govern. Almost all have abandoned the violent excesses of classical dictators—no more public executions, no more poisoning or physically eliminating political opponents.
Yet, the absence of overt violence does not equate to a softening of control. These leaders have discovered a new, more sophisticated method of repression: they’ve digitized fear and control.1
Unlike the dictatorships of the past, today’s regimes harness the power of digital surveillance, data collection, and cyber technologies to manipulate public opinion, suppress dissent, and tighten their grip on power. The following are key characteristics that define these “Wi-Fi era dictatorships”:
- Digital Control:
Modern dictatorships rely on pervasive digital surveillance. Governments now monitor citizens not only through physical observation but also through online tracking, camera networks, and mobile device monitoring. In Armenia, for instance, the government proposed requiring organizations and commercial enterprises with premises larger than 100 square meters to install video surveillance at their entrances and other key areas. Alarmingly, these recordings would be accessible to law enforcement agencies 24/7, effectively placing the entire country under constant surveillance. Although the adoption of this law is currently frozen, it serves as a clear warning sign of a growing dictatorial approach.2 - Information Warfare:
Information has become a battlefield for modern dictators. Instead of outright silencing opposition voices, these regimes flood the public sphere with disinformation, fake news, and trolling, creating a confusing and hostile environment for independent thinkers. By manipulating the media, these regimes distort facts, promote false narratives, and maintain a veneer of legitimacy. In Armenia, this is evident during daily hearings in the National Assembly, where members of the ruling party consistently distort truths to suit their agenda. Their so-called “experts” reinforce these narratives on evening talk shows. For example, the ruling political force has promoted false theses about the real and historical Armenia, shaping public discourse to its advantage.3 - Data Collection and Analysis:
One of the most powerful tools in the arsenal of Wi-Fi era dictators is data. By collecting and analyzing massive amounts of personal information, governments can predict and influence citizen behavior. In Yerevan, for instance, the modernization of the city’s transport infrastructure has been outsourced to a company that collects passport data and tracks individual movements through public transportation. This level of surveillance enables regimes to monitor and control even the most routine daily activities.4 - Autocracy with a Democratic Facade:
While classical dictatorships dispensed with the pretense of democracy, modern authoritarian regimes maintain a façade of democratic processes—elections, political parties, and a free press. Beneath this superficial layer, however, real power is concentrated in the hands of a single group or individual. A stark example is the Armenian government’s actions in Alaverdi, where a legitimately elected community leader was forcibly removed from office with the backing of massive police forces.5 Similarly, in Vanadzor, an elected mayor spent over two years in prison, highlighting how those in power can easily dismantle the appearance of democracy.6
A New Kind of Tyranny
These modern regimes are more resilient and harder to detect than their predecessors. They rely on covert methods of repression that are difficult to expose or combat. The fear they instill is subtle but omnipresent. Surveillance and data collection ensure that citizens are constantly aware of being watched, while misinformation campaigns erode trust in public institutions, the media, and the opposition.
In this new era of digital authoritarianism, control is no longer exerted through force alone. It is digitized, embedded in the technologies that have become essential to daily life. These regimes have perfected the art of ruling through fear and confusion, redefining what it means to be a dictator in the 21st century.
Wi-Fi era dictators don’t need to rule through violence; they govern through the click of a button, the collection of data, and the constant manipulation of information.
Sources:
1) Spin Dictators: The Changing Face of Tyranny in the 21st Century, Sergei Guriev and Daniel Treisman, 2022
2) https://www.instagram.com/p/C8SKGpaq24J/
3) https://arm.sputniknews.ru/20240410/patmakan-ev-irakan-hajastannery-hamategheli-chen-pashinjan-74387766.html
4) https://www.facebook.com/share/p/NxxDi1dWkzeWQixk/
5) https://hetq.am/hy/article/162579
6) https://www.aravot.am/2024/07/31/1435707/
