Democracy Reporting International
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Democracy Reporting International
@democracyreporting.bsky.social
DRI supports local ways of promoting democracy with impartial analysis and best practice examples, bringing international standards of democracy to life.
Access the full report for more insights, evidence, and solutions!
November 7, 2025 at 9:57 AM
The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) promises transparency, but enforcement is uneven. Platforms delay or restrict researcher data access, forcing civil society (and DRI!) to go to court for this right 👩‍⚖️
November 7, 2025 at 9:57 AM
We investigated and identified 735 fake or “murky” TikTok accounts impersonating candidates and parties. Almost 80% were removed after our reports. But the tactic is evolving fast 💯
November 7, 2025 at 9:57 AM
When tested in 10 EU countries, major chatbots often gave wrong or misleading election info. Error rates were especially high in non-English languages, exposing a threat to proper election participation 🗳️
November 7, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Generative AI isn’t the future, it’s here, be it in deepfake audio campaigns in Slovakia or images reinforcing negative stereotypes. In Germany’s 2025 election, 7% of AfD posts contained AI-generated content 🤖
November 7, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Key findings:

Far-right actors achieved the highest engagement rates online, even while posting less. Their secret weapon was emotional, polarising content that algorithms reward 🎯
November 7, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Given the challenging context for European democracy today, the Shield should offer a strong response in terms of framing, funding, and follow-through.

Deep dive into our recommendations 🖇️https://ow.ly/YMlK50VnVjA
November 6, 2025 at 10:09 AM
💬 A Centre for citizens

The recently announced Centre for Democratic Resilience should support this checklist, addressing the full spectrum of disinformation (internal and external), supporting research into democratic resilience and innovation, and bringing democracy closer to citizens.
November 6, 2025 at 10:09 AM
🌐 Be flexible and cross-cutting

Democracy is the system that underpins EU society. As such, supporting it should cut across sectors and involve a wide range of actors. Given today’s highly volatile political context, all efforts to support democracy need a flexible whole-of-society approach.
November 6, 2025 at 10:09 AM
🛡️ Fund democracy support

A strong democracy is a security guarantee. Europe is facing increasing security challenges, leading to increased defence spending. Democracy support should be recognised as a contribution to security and stability and should therefore receive proportionate funding.
November 6, 2025 at 10:09 AM
🤖 Boost EU tech sovereignty

The EU can no longer afford to be dependent on foreign technology and digital services, as this opens it up to blackmail and undue interference. The Shield should support European tech alternatives that are aligned with EU democratic values and standards.
November 6, 2025 at 10:09 AM
🇪🇺 Cover EU candidate countries

EU and candidate countries are profoundly interlinked, particularly in terms of the information space. The Democracy Shield will be cracked if it does not protect Europe as a whole and enable knowledge exchanges on countering autocracy.
November 6, 2025 at 10:09 AM
🗣️Include civil society

Currently, the legitimacy of civil society to participate in policymaking is being undermined. There should be a stronger commitment to ensuring an enabling environment for civil society to operate in and for citizens to mobilise and make their voices heard.
November 6, 2025 at 10:09 AM
📱 Give social media feeds back to their users

Online platforms employ opaque recommender systems that determine what content citizens engage with, contributing to rising polarisation. The EU should use its digital rulebook to give users more control over their feeds.
November 6, 2025 at 10:09 AM
💰 Introduce monetisation governance

Online platforms are removing guardrails against information manipulation. Transparency is needed in the way content is monetised to ensure it doesn’t harm the information environment. The DSA risk assessments can provide this transparency.
November 6, 2025 at 10:09 AM
🎙️ Support media and journalists

Pressures on public interest media and journalists have increased, and funding has been slashed, but the media is democracy’s first line of defence. The sector must receive greater judicial, political and financial support.
November 6, 2025 at 10:09 AM
💻 Existing digital rulebook first

The EU must not fold to external pressures and continue to implement and strengthen its digital regulation, including the Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act, Regulation on Political Ads, Media Freedom Act and AI Act.
November 6, 2025 at 10:09 AM
These new civic champions are now ready to mobilise their communities, fight misinformation & make sure every voter from city centers to remote villages has the tools to participate fully and confidently.

🤝 @youthdemocracycohort.com National Election Watch Sierra Leone @ec.europa.eu @epd.eu
November 3, 2025 at 2:19 PM