We all know something has gone wrong: people hate politics, loathe the media and are now scared of each other too. Journalist and one-time senior political advisor Tom Baldwin tells the riveting--often terrifying--story of how a tidal wave of information overwhelmed democracy's sandcastle defenses against extremism and falsehood. Ctrl Alt Delete exposes the struggle for control between a rapacious 24-hour media and terrified politicians that has loosened those leaders' grip on truth as the internet rips the ground out from under them. It explains how dependency on data, algorithms and digital technology brought about the rise of the Alt Right, the Alt Left and a triumphant army of trolls driving people apart. And it warns of the rise of those threatening to delete what remains of democracy: resurgent populists in Westminster, the White House and the Kremlin, but also--just as often--liberals fearful of mob rule. This is an explosive, brutally honest and sometimes funny account of what we all got wrong, and how to put it right again. It will change the way you look at the world--and especially the everyday technology that crashed our democracy. "Superb, perhaps the most incisive and readable explanation yet as to how the internet is skewing politics."-- The Guardian "Few have had a better view of what has gone wrong with politics and the media . . . what distinguishes this book . . . is the way in which Baldwin weaves in a memoir-style narrative, taking his own share of the blame for the state we are in."-- Financial Times "A well-written, often funny, sometimes elegiac and occasionally angry musing on how the worlds of politics and the media have been changed for the worse in the past decade."-- The Times "Baldwin talks with an insider's knowledge. . . . Where he excels is in weaving together many complex strands to marshal an argument that is illuminated by well-chosen examples and revelatory interviews. His case that we are in civic crisis is made in lucid, punchy and often witty prose." -- Observer "An authoritative perspective . . . laced with burning insights from life in the political arena" -- Irish Times "Written with characteristic gusto and insight, this is a no-holds-barred indictment of the democratic and civic crisis we face today." -- Tristram Hunt, Director of the Victoria & Albert Museum "The sometimes hilarious, often tragic and always gripping story of how freedom of expression in press, broadcast and new media has become an increasingly wobbly foundation for our democracy and way of life. Tom Baldwin has written an important book." -- Robert Peston, British Broadcaster "Trenchant, wise and full of first-hand accounts of the weirdness of modern media and politics. This timely reminder that democracy is not yet lost fizzes with optimism and energy -- but warns that time is running out."-- Justin Webb, BBC presenter "This book is a brilliant exploration of what has gone wrong, how it happened and where we go from here. It is as nuanced as it is full of wit and conviction. An absolute must-read."-- Matthew d'Ancona, Editor-in-Chief, Finch Publishing, and author of Post-Truth "This is the best account yet of how the media and politicians failed to adapt to the Information Age -- and a rollicking good read to boot."-- Justine Roberts, Founder and CEO, Mumsnet "A valuable compendium of US/UK political communications episodes. . . Baldwin has done us a service by recounting this narrative . . a useful reminder to those on all sides of the political divides that recent media/political history is more complex than many partisan campaigners allow."-- LSE Polis "An absorbing read."-- UnHerd "Baldwin's journalistic personality--curious, garrulous, and ironic--shines through the many amusing anecdotes about how things got to be this way."-- Foreign Affairs "Baldwin weaves his own experience as a journalist and political operative with a deep and balanced read of academic and other authoritative sources to tell this compelling story ... His narrative is easy to digest (funny and packed to the brim with stories and examples) even though his thesis is chilling."-- Choice Timely look at the media, data, and the crisis of democracy Tom Baldwin has spent twenty-five years at the centre of the action. He started his career on local newspapers before becoming political editor of The Sunday Telegraph and then assistant editor of The Times. Later he worked as The Times' Washington bureau chief, and as Director of Communications and Strategy for the Labour Party. He lives in London with his family.