From data to trust, democracy in the age of artificial intelligence
From data to trust, democracy in the age of artificial intelligence
Publish Date: 2026-05-25 13:08:00
Source Domain: www.biometricupdate.com
By Prof.dr. Almir Badnjević, Director of Agency for Identification Documents, Register and Data Exchange of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Processing data produces information. Understanding information creates knowledge. Applying knowledge enables decisions. This simple yet decisive relationship is the foundation of modern society, public administration, the economy, and democracy. When data is accurate, information is reliable, and knowledge is applied responsibly, institutions function with stability, citizens make rational decisions, and society progresses. When this chain is disrupted, space emerges for manipulation, insecurity, and loss of trust.
In the past, this process was slower and more transparent. Information passed through editorial procedures, the number of communication channels was limited, and the time between events and public reaction was long enough to allow fact-checking, expert analysis, and institutional response. Traditional media carried clear responsibility, while society had recognizable points of reference. Manipulation existed then as well, but it required more time, more resources, and significantly more complex organization.
Today, we live in a time of radically accelerated change. Digital platforms, social networks, algorithmic content distribution systems, automated communication patterns, and tools based on artificial intelligence have transformed not only the speed of information flows, but the very nature of the public sphere. Content is created in seconds, multiplied in minutes, crosses borders without barriers, and shapes perception before facts have the opportunity to be explained. What once required teams of people, production houses, and serious budgets can now be produced by a single individual with a laptop and publicly available software.
This is why disinformation is no longer merely a media issue. It is a matter of institutional security, social cohesion, economic stability, and the protection of…
