Digital Actants and Computational Propaganda as Tools of Influence on Mass Consciousness under Conditions of Global Technological Transformations

The main goal of this article was to identify the potential and features of the use of digital actors and technologies of computational propaganda in modern processes of digital socio-political communication. Current digital technological transformations and the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence technologies are powerful factors and drivers of the development of digital actors—software and hardware systems operating on the basis of neural network algorithms, taking an active part in the processes of digital socio-political communication. In this regard, such new type of actants require careful study by specialists and scientists. In the framework of this work, the methodological basis of the research included the methods of discourse analysis and case studies and the method of expert survey, which made it possible to confirm the results we obtained on the basis of a combination of expert assessments. This paper substantiates that digital actants have significant potential to influence mass consciousness and behavior, which is due to the high efficiency of targeted information and communication impact from such smart communication actants on the consciousness of target audiences based on algorithmic analysis of digital traces of users and identification of subjective features and characteristics of the latter. Based on the results of this work, it is concluded that modern digital technological transformations create significant potential for computational propaganda wars in the digital environment between global political actors. This circumstance leads us to the thesis about the need to ensure state technological sovereignty in the digital space.