Programme On
Democracy
& Technology

About DemTech

Since 2012, the Programme on Democracy & Technology has been investigating the use of algorithms, automation, and computational propaganda in public life. Our goal is to use rigorous social science and computational methods to increase civic engagement and promote democratic values.

We use qualitative, comparative, quantitative and computational methods, and often work with academics, journalists, independent investigators, and policy makers to identify new problems and craft new research questions.

We work with many kinds of data, do international fieldwork, and engage in “real-time” social and information science, actively disseminating our findings to journalists, industry, policy makers, and the interested public.

DemTech Newsletters

DemTech publishes three different newsletters, focusing respectively on the War in Ukraine and Disinformation, China Information Operations and COVID-19 Misinformation (currently paused) .

The War in Ukraine and Disinformation Newsletter selects the most relevant media and research publications that explain how misinformation and influence operations during the Russia-Ukraine war are changing the global information environment. The newsletter is a collaboration between the Programme on Democracy and Technology and PeaceTech Lab.

The China Information Operations Newsletter summarizes the latest research on computational propaganda, censorship, strategic use of artificial intelligence technologies, and data manipulation. It identifies the most recent trends in Chinese government influence operations, both internal and international. It highlights the latest reports from investigative journalists and think tanks, reviews the most relevant academic research, and offers insight from the original research coming out of the Programme on Democracy and Technology. Read previous newsletters here.

The COVID-19 Misinformation Newsletter (currently paused) summarizes the latest research on the production and consumption of computational propaganda, fake news, censorship and campaigns to manipulate public understanding of the health crisis. It identifies new trends in COVID-19 influence operations around the world. It highlights the latest reports from investigative journalists and think tanks, reviews the most relevant academic research, and offers insight from the original research coming out of the Programme on Democracy and Technology. Read previous newsletters here.

Latest Research

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