As we see the effect Russian intelligence had on the 2016 election by coopting Google, Youtube, Facebook, and other platforms, it’s clear that digital advertising and media in general has taken primacy in terms of influence over global affairs.
This chart shows how Google and Facebook essentially are the Internet, as evinced by the money spent to affect its message ecosystem.
To date, this ecosystem has avoided major regulation by nation-states. At Competitive Futures, we predict that this will soon change, precisely because of Russia’s attack on Western democracy.