Iraqi rights group warns social media algorithms reshaping political agenda

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Sharaka Human Rights Center said Iraq had about 39.6 million internet users and 40.1 million social media identities as of October 2025, warning that platform algorithms have moved beyond content moderation to shape public opinion and set a "digital agenda." A center official cautioned that amplifying misleading or sensational material could undermine democratic debate. Former lawmaker Hussein Arab said political decisions are increasingly shaped by public and party reactions on social media, in some cases leading authorities to reverse course. Hadi Jilo Marai, a member of the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate, described social media as both a channel politicians rely on and a source of concern. Political analyst Ahmed Yousef urged decision-makers not to base judgments solely on social media content and to cross-check information against official and independent sources. The center said it would continue monitoring how algorithmic amplification affects political discourse in Iraq, though no further details were provided.