Mainstream Ideological Security in the Digital-Intelligent Era: Challenges and Countermeasures

With the rapid development of digital-intelligent technologies, the scope of human activity has gradually expanded and extended into the network virtual space shaped by technology. In this space, the mode of information generation and dissemination has undergone tremendous transformation, the media landscape and public opinion ecology have been profoundly reshaped, and mainstream ideology faces entirely new circumstances. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC emphasized that "national security is an important foundation for the steady and sustained progress of Chinese-path modernization." [1]1 The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, held in July 2024, focused on further deepening reform and advancing Chinese modernization. Mainstream ideological security is a vital component of national security. In the digital-intelligent era, deeply analyzing the circumstances and challenges faced by mainstream ideology, and then seeking countermeasures, is an inherent requirement for safeguarding national security and advancing Chinese-path modernization.

伴随着数智技术的迅猛发展，人类的活动范围逐渐扩展延伸至由技术所形塑的网络虚拟空间。在这个空间中，信息的生成、传播方式发生巨大转变，媒体形态、舆论生态深刻重塑，主流意识形态面临全新境遇。党的二十届三中全会强调，“国家安全是中国式现代化行稳致远的重要基础”。主流意识形态安全是国家安全的重要组成部分，在数智时代，深入分析主流意识形态面临的境遇与挑战，进而寻求应对之策，是维护国家安全、推进中国式现代化的题中应有之义。

New Circumstances Facing Mainstream Ideological Security in the Digital-Intelligent Era

数智时代主流意识形态安全面临新境遇

"Decentralization" of information subjects. In the continuous development of digital-intelligent media, platform media have gradually become a key window through which the public perceives the external world. The public relies on various digital-intelligent media platforms to participate in the collection, analysis, and production of information. They are both information disseminators and information recipients, exhibiting the characteristic of "decentralization" of information subjects. Under these circumstances, the era when mainstream media or authoritative institutions held the "microphone" is gone forever, which to a certain extent weakens the authoritative status of traditional communication subjects and increases the difficulty of their effective dissemination.

信息主体“去中心化”。在数智媒介不断发展过程中，平台媒介逐渐成为公众感知外在世界的关键窗口。公众依托各类数智媒介平台参与信息的收集、分析、生产等，他们既是信息传播者，也是信息接收者，呈现出信息主体“去中心化”的特点。在此情形下，主流媒体或权威机构掌握“话筒”的时代一去不返，这在一定程度上会削弱传统传播主体的权威地位，增加其有效传播难度。

"Fragmentation" of information content. The widespread application of virtual reality technology and artificial intelligence technology has caused ideological content to be presented in forms such as digital products and generative artificial intelligence integrated products. To make the disseminated content more attractive, digital-intelligent media platforms tend to choose a "fragmented" mode of dissemination that is convenient for public acceptance. The disseminated content exhibits characteristics such as superficiality and entertainment. People's attention is torn into fragments by various kinds of information, and they become immersed in sensory entertainment. This makes it difficult for some groups to go beyond superficial appearances when facing problems, lacking the ability to conduct in-depth inquiry from a holistic and comprehensive perspective.

信息内容“碎片化”。虚拟现实技术、人工智能技术的普遍运用，使得意识形态内容以数字产品、生成式人工智能整合产品等形态呈现。数智媒介平台为了让传播的内容更有吸引力，往往倾向于选择便于公众接受的“碎片化”方式进行传播，传播内容呈现出浅层化、娱乐化等特征，人们的注意力被各种各样的信息撕成碎片，沉浸于感官娱乐，这使得一些群体面对问题时认知容易局限于浅层表象，缺乏从全局性、整体性视角对问题展开深入探究的能力。

"Diversification" of information carriers. Compared with traditional media such as newspapers, film and television, radio, books, and audio-visual products, digital-intelligent technology has triggered a revolutionary change in the narrative form of media. By breaking down barriers between different media, the presentation space of language and form has been optimized and reshaped. Previously singular carriers such as text and images have achieved multimodal integration, enabling individuals to enjoy multiple sensory experiences. For example, AI voice cloning technology can present text in a vivid and expressive manner, and AI emotion recognition technology can observe content effects through data such as changes in an individual's facial expressions and viewing duration.

信息载体“多样化”。与报刊、影视、广播、书籍、音像制品等传统的传播媒介相比，数智技术引发了媒介叙事形式的革命性变化。其通过打破不同传播媒介之间的壁垒，语言与形式的呈现空间得以优化重塑，以往单一的文本、影像等载体实现多模态融合，个体能够享有多重感官体验。例如，人工智能语音克隆技术能够将文本以声情并茂的方式予以展现，人工智能情绪识别技术能够通过个体面部表情变化、观看时长等数据观测内容效果。

"Maximization" of information effects. The widespread application of digital-intelligent technology has placed people in an ocean of information, constantly surrounded by various kinds of information. On the one hand, digital-intelligent technology is embedded in daily life through media platforms, and people's initiative in obtaining information through communication carriers is continuously enhanced. Many information communication carriers integrate multiple functions into one, becoming necessities in the daily lives of the masses. On the other hand, digital-intelligent technology drives profound changes in the communication landscape. This communication matrix inevitably involves people, who actively or passively receive and discuss disseminated content. Information dissemination continuously enhances stickiness through technologies such as recommendation algorithms, causing individuals to gradually remain in an "information cocoon" without realizing it, making it difficult to receive information inconsistent with their subjective will.

信息效果“最大化”。数智技术的广泛运用使人们处在信息的海洋之中，无时无刻不被各种信息包围。一方面，数智技术通过媒介平台嵌入生活，人们借助传播载体获取信息的主动性不断增强。诸多信息传播载体集多方面功能于一体，成为大众日常生活中的必需品。另一方面，数智技术推动传播格局深刻改变，这一传播矩阵使人们不可避免地被卷入其中，主动或被迫接收、讨论传播内容。信息传播借助推荐算法等技术不断增强黏性，使个体逐渐滞留于“信息茧房”而不自知，难以接收与个体主观意志不一致的信息。

Multiple Challenges to Mainstream Ideological Construction in the Digital-Intelligent Era

数智时代主流意识形态建设的多重挑战

The interweaving of diverse ideological trends requires strengthening the guiding role of Marxism. In the ideological field, various ideas and concepts interweave, with the good and the bad mixed together. This undoubtedly greatly increases the difficulty for people to accurately identify information and also makes them susceptible to interference and misguidance by erroneous social ideas and concepts. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the impact of diverse social ideological trends in the digital-intelligent era on the guiding role of Marxism.

多元思潮交织，要求强化马克思主义指导地位。在意识形态领域，各种思想观念相互交织、良莠不齐，这无疑极大地增加了人们准确辨别信息的难度，也使人容易受到错误社会思想观念的干扰和误导。因此，必须重视数智时代多元社会思潮对马克思主义指导地位的冲击。

The rise of media platforms requires mainstream media to innovate discourse expression. With the rise of platforms such as social media, search engines, short videos, and live streaming, which attract a large number of users, mainstream media face the urgent task of enhancing their own attractiveness. The "Opinions on Accelerating the Deep Integration and Development of Media" points out that "it is necessary to follow the mass line in the all-media era." [2]2 A policy document issued by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council in 2020, guiding the deep integration of traditional and new media. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "It is necessary to adapt to the trends of segmented and differentiated communication and accelerate the construction of a new pattern for guiding public opinion." [3]3 Xi Jinping's instruction from his speech at the National Conference on Propaganda and Ideological Work in 2018. Therefore, mainstream media need to more actively respond to the impact of digital-intelligent technological changes on information content, skillfully integrate serious narrative discourse with vivid narrative discourse, and forge a new "user-centered" path that combines authority with affinity.

媒体平台兴起，要求主流媒体创新话语表达。随着社交、搜索、短视频、直播等平台的兴起并吸引大量用户，主流媒体面临着提升自身吸引力的紧迫任务。《关于加快推进媒体深度融合发展的意见》指出，“要走好全媒体时代群众路线”。习近平总书记强调：“要适应分众化、差异化传播趋势，加快构建舆论引导新格局。”因此，主流媒体需更加积极应对数智技术变革对信息内容的影响，巧妙融合严肃性的叙事话语与鲜活性的叙事话语，走出一条兼具权威性与亲和力、“以用户为中心”的新型道路。

Changes in media technology require building a platform for promoting mainstream ideology. Technological innovation is the fundamental driving force behind the disruptive transformation of the information communication landscape. Therefore, it is necessary to fully integrate new technologies such as 5G, big data, artificial intelligence, and blockchain, firmly establish an internet mindset, and build an innovative platform for online propaganda and education of mainstream ideology within the digital-intelligent media field. For example, using big data technology to analyze user interests, implement security-level management of online information data, and conduct holistic analysis and regulation of online public opinion, thereby continuously enhancing the dissemination power, guiding power, and influence of mainstream ideology.

媒介技术变革，要求搭建主流意识形态宣传平台。技术革新是推动信息传播格局发生颠覆式变革的根本动力，因此，要充分整合5G、大数据、人工智能、区块链等新技术，牢固树立互联网思维，在数智媒介场域中，搭建主流意识形态网络宣传教育的创新平台。例如，运用大数据技术对用户兴趣进行分析，对网络信息数据进行安全分级管理，对网络舆情进行整体性的分析调控等，从而不断增强主流意识形态的传播力、引导力和影响力。

Risks in the communication landscape require the ideological security governance system to break the "information cocoon." In the digital-intelligent era, various media platforms embedded with digital-intelligent technology, relying on a matrix-like, all-encompassing communication landscape, have an unavoidable impact on individuals. As digital-intelligent technology matures and becomes deeply embedded in the field of ideological dissemination, individuals increasingly tend to immerse themselves in an "echo chamber" where self-identity is continuously reinforced. Therefore, the ideological security governance system in the digital-intelligent era needs to pay attention to this potential risk, address it through means such as legislative constraints and technological improvements, break algorithmic discrimination, and avoid phenomena such as cognitive barriers, value polarization, and inter-circle estrangement, thereby safeguarding security and stability in the ideological field.

传播格局风险，要求意识形态安全治理体系打破“信息茧房”。在数智时代，内嵌数智媒介技术的各类媒介平台凭借矩阵式、无死角的传播格局，对个体产生难以避免的影响。而随着数智技术的不断成熟，及其在意识形态传播领域的深度嵌入，个体愈发容易沉浸于自我认同不断强化的“回音壁”之中。因此，数智时代的意识形态安全治理体系需要重视这一潜在风险，通过立法约束、技术改进等方式加以应对，打破算法歧视，避免产生认知壁垒、价值极化、圈层隔阂等现象，维护意识形态领域的安全与稳定。

Basic Strategies for Maintaining Mainstream Ideological Security in the Digital-Intelligent Era

数智时代维护主流意识形态安全的基本策略

Adhere to the Party's management of ideology. Currently, the internet has become the main battlefield for ideological struggle, and its development trend has also become a key variable affecting the direction of various undertakings. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Being able to manage it is the hard truth; using it well is true skill." [4]4 Xi Jinping's remark from a speech on internet governance, emphasizing both control and effective use of the internet. To transform this greatest variable of the internet into the greatest increment, it is necessary to coordinate the promotion of mainstream ideological security work in the digital-intelligent era from the perspective of the overall strategic situation. The key lies in clarifying the leading force of ideological security work in the digital-intelligent era. "Mastering ideological leadership is the first priority in mastering all leadership." [5]5 A classic formulation from Mao Zedong, stressing the primacy of ideological leadership in overall leadership. Adhering to the Party's management of ideology is not only an important aspect of upholding the Party's leadership but also a valuable experience gained by the Party in the long-term course of revolution, construction, and reform. Therefore, in the ideological governance system of the digital-intelligent era, the Party must play a leading role, making top-level design at the overall and strategic levels. Party members and leading cadres should enhance their sense of responsibility, earnestly fulfill their relevant duties in ideological work, take responsibility and fulfill their duties in their respective domains, participate in and lead the formulation of strategic goals, and ensure the formation of a favorable situation where leading cadres take the lead and all Party comrades work together to grasp ideological work.

坚持党管意识形态。当前，互联网已经成为舆论斗争的主战场，其发展态势也成为影响各项事业走向的关键变量。习近平总书记指出：“管得住是硬道理，用得好是真本事。”将互联网这一最大变量转变为最大增量，需要站在战略全局的高度，统筹推进数智时代主流意识形态安全工作，其关键在于明确数智时代意识形态安全工作的主导力量。“掌握思想领导是掌握一切领导的第一位。”坚持党管意识形态，不仅是坚持党的领导的重要方面，也是党在长期的革命、建设、改革事业中得出的宝贵经验。因此，在数智时代意识形态治理体系中，党必须发挥领导作用，在整体层面、战略层面做好顶层设计。党员领导干部要增强责任意识，切实履行好意识形态工作的相关职责，做到守土负责、守土尽责，参与并主导制定战略目标，确保形成领导干部带头、全党同志动手抓意识形态工作的良好局面。

Promote the application of digital-intelligence technology. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that “from a global perspective, media intelligence has entered a stage of rapid development. We must enhance our sense of urgency and mission, promote continuous breakthroughs in independent innovation of key core technologies, and explore the application of artificial intelligence in news collection, production, distribution, reception, and feedback.” [6]6 Xi Jinping, “Accelerating the Therefore, we should adhere to systematic thinking and deeply explore the specific pathways for integrating digital-intelligence technology into the identification of and response to ideological risks at each stage. At the risk-identification stage, a risk-monitoring system should be established with the help of digital-intelligence technology, using techniques such as keyword recognition and content analysis to accurately classify and differentiate risks. At the content-production stage, generative artificial intelligence and other digital-intelligence technologies should be used to scientifically analyze and integrate massive user data, and on this basis, ideological content production and creation should be carried out, continuously enhancing its appeal by staying close to real life. At the dissemination stage, through the embedding of artificial intelligence technology, an “audio-visual conversion” effect can be achieved, promoting the enrichment and life-oriented expression of ideological content and enhancing its attractiveness. At the evaluation-and-feedback stage, human-computer interaction can be realized through technologies such as facial recognition, collecting authentic individual evaluation data.

推动数智技术运用。习近平总书记指出，“从全球范围看，媒体智能化进入快速发展阶段。我们要增强紧迫感和使命感，推动关键核心技术自主创新不断实现突破，探索将人工智能运用在新闻采集、生产、分发、接收、反馈中”。因此，应坚持系统思维，深入思考数智技术融入意识形态风险识别及应对各环节的具体路径。在风险识别环节，借助数智技术建立风险监测体系，通过主题词识别、内容分析等技术将其进行准确的判别分类。在内容生产环节，借助生成式人工智能等数智技术对海量用户数据进行科学分析整合，以此为基础进行意识形态内容生产创作，在贴近现实生活的过程中不断提升其感染力。在传播环节，通过人工智能技术嵌入，实现“视听转换”效果，促进意识形态内容表达丰富化、生活化，提升内容吸引力。在评价反馈环节，通过人脸识别等技术实现人机互动，收集个体真实的评价数据。

Cultivate a digital-intelligence talent team. At present, China’s internet users are mainly young people, among whom the post-2000s generation is gradually becoming the main new force online. They exhibit entirely new personality traits, which significantly increases the challenges and related work pressures faced by mainstream ideology in the digital-intelligence field. Under these circumstances, the construction of mainstream ideology needs to keep pace with the times by absorbing new concepts, applying new technologies, and adopting new management methods. At the same time, the current number of practitioners is far from sufficient to meet demand. Therefore, on the one hand, corresponding specialized courses or programs should be established, focusing on cultivating a sufficient number of high-quality professional digital-intelligence technology talents; outstanding talents should be actively sought out, and highly influential “opinion leaders” should be recruited to join. On the other hand, the existing online talent team should be optimized, with an attempt to build a digital-intelligence-technology-oriented full-lifecycle training system for cybersecurity talent, continuously improving the professional competence of the existing online talent team.

培养数智人才队伍。当前，我国网络用户以青年群体为主，其中“00后”新生代群体逐渐成为网络新生主体力量。他们展现出全新的性格特征，使得数智场域中主流意识形态面对的挑战和相关工作压力明显增加。在此情形下，主流意识形态建设需要与时俱进地吸收新理念、应用新技术和管理方法。与此同时，现有从业人员的数量也远远不能满足需求。因此，一方面，要专门开设相应的专业或者课程，着力培养数量充足、素质优良的专业型数智技术人才；积极发掘优秀人才，吸收具有高度影响力的“意见领袖”加入。另一方面，要优化现有网络人才队伍，尝试构建以数智技术为导向的网络安全人才全生命周期培养体系，不断提升现有网络人才队伍的职业素养。

Strengthen internet legislation and regulation. With the rapid development of digital-intelligence technology, some ideological issues have emerged, such as personal privacy leaks, rampant rumors, and language violence, which are endless and difficult to identify, posing a serious threat to the security of mainstream ideology. Against this backdrop, it is urgent to strengthen legislation in the internet domain. The internet is not a lawless place; governance in the online sphere should not only focus on the use of “soft” means—that is, strengthening the guidance and struggle capacity of ideological public opinion—but also be supplemented by “hard” means. Specifically, on the one hand, attention should be paid to important high-level legislation such as the Cybersecurity Law of the People’s Republic of China, clearly defining the key directional and principled areas in network governance; on the other hand, emphasis should be placed on regulating and constraining specific online behaviors, for example, clarifying the punishment provisions for illegal and criminal acts of slandering and insulting heroes and martyrs, and promptly summarizing and reporting on relevant cases, fully leveraging the warning and educational role of typical cases.

加强互联网立法监管。随着数智技术的迅猛发展，一些意识形态问题随之涌现，如个人隐私泄露、谣言和语言暴力泛滥等问题层出不穷且识别困难，对主流意识形态安全造成了严重威胁。在此背景下，加强互联网领域立法刻不容缓。互联网不是法外之地，网络领域治理，不仅要注重“软性”手段的运用，即加强思想舆论的引导、斗争能力，也要辅之以“硬性”手段。具体而言，一方面，要重视《中华人民共和国网络安全法》等重要高位阶立法，清晰界定网络治理中方向性、原则性的关键领域；另一方面，要注重对网络具体行为进行规范和约束，例如，明确诋毁、侮辱英雄烈士的违法犯罪行为的惩罚规定，并对相关案例进行及时总结通报，充分发挥典型案例的警示教育作用。

Online editor: Zhang Jian

网络编辑：张剑