New Book: Digital Authoritarianism in the Middle East

I am very excited to announce the publication of my new book, Digital Authoritarianism in the Middle East: Deception, Disinformation and Social Media – published by Hurst & Co. in the UK and Oxford University Press in the United States.

Description

You are being lied to by people who don’t even exist.

Digital deception is the new face of information warfare. Social media has been weaponised by states and commercial entities alike, as bots and trolls proliferate and users are left to navigate an infodemic of fake news and disinformation. In the Persian Gulf and the wider Middle East, where authoritarian regimes continue to innovate and adapt in the face of changing technology, online deception has reached new levels of audacity.

From pro-Saudi entities that manipulate the tweets of the US president, to the activities of fake journalists and Western PR companies that whitewash human rights abuses, Marc Owen Jones’ meticulous investigative research uncovers the full gamut of tactics used by Gulf regimes and their allies to deceive domestic and international audiences. In an age of global deception, this book charts the lengths bad actors will go to when seeking to impose their ideology and views on citizens around the world.

Reviews
‘Jones’s knowledge of media manipulation in the Middle East is unrivalled. Pioneering, surprising and entertaining, this book will be the central reference text for years to come.’ — Alexei Abrahams, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Citizen Lab, University of Toronto

‘With its flowing, engaging and catchy style, and its rich and timely content, Digital Authoritarianism in the Middle East appeals to a wide audience. A welcome contribution to the growing literature on social and digital media, and their paradoxical implications.’ — Sahar Khamis, Associate Professor of Communication, University of Maryland, College Park, and co-author of Egyptian Revolution 2.0: Political Blogging, Civic Engagement, and Citizen Journalism

‘An insightful and entertaining tour of disinformation in the Middle East and beyond. Jones combines deep regional knowledge, sophisticated theoretical analysis and sometimes surreal personal experience to unpick a global web of shadowy actors in the service of digital authoritarianism.’ — James Shires, Assistant Professor in Cybersecurity Governance, Institute for Security and Global Affairs, Leiden University, and author of The Politics of Cybersecurity in the Middle East

‘Meticulously researched and engagingly written, Digital Authoritarianism in the Middle East is a very timely and extremely accessible account of an emerging set of issues that have become such a feature of the regional and international landscape in recent years.’ — Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Fellow for the Middle East, Rice University

You can buy can pick up a copy here, and there’s a Kindle version available.

Amazon https://amzn.to/3o7j29u

Waterstones https://bit.ly/3u7lWyO

Blackwells https://bit.ly/3rbRVMG

Book Depo https://bit.ly/3zbyWpk

Hurst https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/digital-authoritarianism-in-the-middle-east/