“Crisi della rappresentanza” means a loss of confidence in the parties, institutions, or official voices that are supposed to speak for citizens. In practice, people stop assuming that formal channels are credible, responsive, or legitimate.
In cyber security, this matters because trust is a security control. Attackers exploit distrust by posing as “more authentic” alternative voices, spreading disinformation, or impersonating official accounts, support desks, and government portals. A crisis of representation can also make users less likely to verify messages or report suspicious activity, which helps phishing, fraud, and influence operations. Defenders respond by using strong identity verification, signed communications, transparent incident reporting, and consistent messaging across official channels. When legitimate institutions communicate clearly and can be authenticated, they reduce the space where impersonation and manipulation thrive.