Media War: Dark Tech and Populists are Seizing Power

What if the real battlefield for democracy isn’t in parliaments or streets, but in the algorithms that shape what we see and believe?

Media War is a gripping exposé of the escalating battle for control over digital media and, by extension, democracy itself. Renowned media expert Martin Andree uncovers how a dangerous alliance between tech monopolies and autocratic leaders is reshaping the global public sphere. Including discussions on digital strongholds of Silicon Valley to the political upheavals in the West, this book traces how “Dark Tech” powers the rise of authoritarianism and manipulates public opinion.

Andree paints a stark portrait of a world on the brink; where social division and media manipulation have become tools for seizing power. He asks urgent questions: Can democracy survive in an age of algorithmic control? Is Europe on the verge of collapse under digital populism? And most importantly—can we still fight back? A must-read for those seeking to understand the forces driving our current media crisis, Media War is a wake-up call to reclaim the digital world before it’s too late.

Martin Andree is professor of digital media at the University of Cologne. He is also the founder of AMP Digital Ventures with a focus on AI and digital business model innovation and the author of Atlas of the Digital World.