DEMOCRATIZING THE ALGORITHM: ETHICAL GOVERNANCE OF AI IN ELECTORAL MEDIA SYSTEMS

Abstract

This study explores the ethical governance of artificial intelligence (AI) in electoral media systems, emphasizing how algorithmic design and decision-making processes can either strengthen or weaken democratic integrity. As AI technologies increasingly shape voter behavior through content personalization, automated fact-checking, and sentiment prediction, their governance becomes a crucial dimension of digital democracy. By analyzing global best practices and emerging ethical frameworks, the study identifies the challenges of algorithmic opacity, political manipulation, and accountability gaps in AI-driven electoral communication. The findings propose a multi-layered governance model that integrates human oversight, algorithmic transparency, and civic participation to democratize AI systems in electoral contexts. This conceptual framework contributes to rethinking media ethics and political communication in the era of algorithmic decision-making