KRAC Public Lecture | Government Communication & the Politics of Media Technologies

 

On August 30, 2024, Knowledge hub for Regional Anti-corruption and good governance Collaboration (KRAC), Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University, held a special lecture titled “Government Communication & the Politics of Media Technologies,” under the class “Economics of Good Governance.” featured Dr. Muira McCammon, an Assistant Professor at Tulane University’s Department of Communication. She shared her insights as a leading scholar studying government communication in the digital era.

 

Asst. Prof. Dr. Muira McCammon delved into the intricacies of government communication on social media, highlighting the challenges and implications of what she terms “tweet and delete” practices. As government agencies increasingly rely on corporate social media platforms like Twitter (or X, as it’s now known), the dynamics of public communication and transparency are undergoing significant transformations, raising important questions about democratic accountability.

 

the phenomenon of “tweet and delete”, refers to where government agencies post content on social media platforms only to later remove it. These deletions can occur for various reasons, ranging from errors and aesthetic issues to more complex political considerations. For example, the U.S. Strategic Command once tweeted a message that was perceived as threatening and aggressive, leading to its swift removal and an official apology. Such actions illustrate the delicate balance government agencies must maintain between engaging with the public and managing the potential fallout from controversial posts.

 

However, the phenomenon of “tweet and delete” was the broader democratic risks posed by these deletion practices. When government agencies remove content from public view, it raises concerns about transparency and the preservation of public records. In democratic societies, the ability of citizens to access and scrutinize government communications is crucial for holding public officials accountable. Deletion undermines this process by potentially erasing important information that could reveal government intentions, errors, or malfeasance.

 

Asst. Prof. Dr. McCammon highlighted the role of the U.S. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in addressing these challenges. FOIA allows citizens to request access to government records, including those related to deleted social media posts. Yet, the government’s reliance on corporate social media platforms to communicate with the public. These platforms, controlled by private companies, dictate the rules of engagement, including policies on deletion and data retention.

 

This reliance poses significant risks for public memory and the integrity of government archives. When government communications are hosted on platforms like Twitter, the government loses control over how that information is managed, archived, or even erased. Moreover, the reliance on private platforms means that decisions about what constitutes appropriate government communication are increasingly influenced by corporate policies rather than public interest, although some government agencies have developed protocols to limit deletion, many still lack clear guidelines. This absence of standardized policies can lead to inconsistent practices and the potential loss of important public records.

 

The lecture also touched on Studying government deletion practices presents unique methodological challenges. Asst. Prof. Dr. McCammon emphasized the difficulty of researching content that has been removed, particularly when there is no public record of its existence. While FOIA requests can help uncover some of this information, they are often time-consuming and may not always yield comprehensive results. Dr. McCammon’s work underscores the importance of developing new methods and tools to study government communication in the digital age. She advocates for a more nuanced understanding of deletion, recognizing that not all deletions are equally harmful to democratic processes. Instead, she suggests focusing on the broader context of government communication, including the power dynamics and institutional practices.

 

Asst. Prof. Dr. Muira McCammon’s lecture offered a thought-provoking exploration of the complexities of government communication in the digital age. As government agencies continue to navigate the challenges of engaging with the public on corporate social media platforms, the risks associated with deletion and the loss of public records cannot be ignored.

 

Asst. Prof. Dr. McCammon’s research highlights the need for greater transparency, stronger institutional guidelines, and a critical examination of the role private platforms play in shaping government communication. In a world where digital content is increasingly ephemeral, safeguarding the integrity of public records is more important than ever for maintaining democratic accountability.

 

This special lecture was part of KRAC’s knowledge service provided to the public, students, and interested parties on anti-corruption topics. It featured insights from an international expert and created a platform for learning and exchanging resources to promote anti-corruption studies and good governance in Thailand, aligning with global trends.

 

Though the public lecture has ended, you can continue following anti-corruption updates on Facebook KRAC Corruption

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