Digital Authoritarianism and the Erosion of Democratic Norms: A Comparative Study of State Surveillance in Hybrid Regimes

Abstract

This article examines the growing phenomenon of digital authoritarianism and its impact on the erosion of democratic norms in hybrid political regimes. By comparing state surveillance practices in countries such as Turkey, Hungary, and India, the study identifies how digital technologies are manipulated by governments to monitor, control, and suppress dissent while maintaining a façade of democratic legitimacy. Using a qualitative comparative case study method, data were gathered from official documents, human rights reports, and expert interviews. The findings reveal that digital authoritarian strategies are not only increasingly sophisticated but are also normalized through legal frameworks and nationalist rhetoric. This research contributes to the understanding of how digital governance tools are weaponized in the service of political control, raising critical questions about the future of democracy in the digital age.