  The societal and epistemological implications of online targeted advertising
have been scrutinized by AI ethicists, legal scholars, and policymakers alike.
However, the government's use of online targeting and its consequential
socio-political ramifications remain under-explored from a critical
socio-technical standpoint. This paper investigates the socio-political
implications of governmental online targeting, using a case study of the UK
government's application of such techniques for public policy objectives. We
argue that this practice undermines democratic ideals, as it engenders three
primary concerns -- Transparency, Privacy, and Equality -- that clash with
fundamental democratic doctrines and values. To address these concerns, the
paper introduces a preliminary blueprint for an AI governance framework that
harmonizes governmental use of online targeting with certain democratic
principles. Furthermore, we advocate for the creation of an independent,
non-governmental regulatory body responsible for overseeing the process and
monitoring the government's use of online targeting, a critical measure for
preserving democratic values.
