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Democracy Technologies

@demtech.bsky.social

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Democracy Technologies is the first comprehensive online magazine offering news, background, evaluation and networking around – covering online participation in politics, e-voting and party technologies. Powered by the Innovation in Politics Institute.

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The Innovation in Politics Institute @innovationinpolitics.eu · 22/01/2025

Wir freuen uns, die Keynote-Speaker für die” Safe Democracy Convention" am 13. Februar im Wiener Rathaus vorzustellen!  🎤 Freuen Sie sich auf inspirierende Vorträge von führenden Expert:innen wie Paul Nemitz und Simona Levi, die mit ihrer Expertise und Vision unsere Diskussionen bereichern werden.

Reposted by Democracy Technologies

The Innovation in Politics Institute @innovationinpolitics.eu · 16/01/2025

🌍 Nehmen Sie an der Safe Democracy Convention 2025 am 13. Februar im Wiener Rathaus teil! Entscheidungsträger und Führungspersönlichkeiten aus Österreich und anderen Ländern werden erkunden, wie Technologie die Bürgerbeteiligung, Datensicherheit & Transparenz stärken kann, um Demokratien zu fördern.

Reposted by Democracy Technologies

The Innovation in Politics Institute @innovationinpolitics.eu · 21/11/2024

What does #participation really look like in practice? GoVocal's Jelena Gregorius explains their 360-degree participation—across methods, mediums, and topics—and how you can accomplish it in your project. Get the briefing: briefing.innovationinpolitics.eu/cours…

briefing.innovationinpolitics.eu

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 10/07/2024

In participatory budgeting, institutional initiatives often overshadow those of individuals. To create a level playing field, Milena Kowalska, Poland's youngest councillor, advocates for implementing measures that ensure fair representation and opportunity for all participants.

democracy-technologies.org

Grassroots Politics and Participatory Budgeting in Poland

Milena Kowalska, Poland’s youngest municipal councillor, tells us about her experiences with participatory budgeting.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 27/06/2024

Do you know who is responsible for city planning in your area? Demokratie-Wegweiser is a map that shows German residents which politicians they can approach on different issues in their area. We spoke with Franziska Hollstein about the importance of transparency for local democracy.

democracy-technologies.org

A Map of Government: Democracy Guide

A team in Germany created "Democracy Guide," a map that allows residents to easily locate their local representatives for different issues.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 25/06/2024

“Data should be treated as a communal resource” ProjectTogether's Re:Form is creating a network of innovators at all levels of government across 🇩🇪. Recently, they’ve been exploring how municipalities of various sizes can use data, both public and private. We spoke to Robert Peter about his work.

democracy-technologies.org

"Data Should Be Treated as a Communal Resource"

ProjectTogether's Re:Form programme aims to build a network of innovators from administrations at all federal levels around Germany.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 04/06/2024

Renamed to Go Vocal because "we felt we had outgrown it" says CEO Wietse Van Ransbeeck. We asked him about the platform's use of AI as a moderator for deliberative, co-creative decision-making and supporting process design.

democracy-technologies.org

Citizenlab Becomes Go Vocal

Citizenlab is changing its name to Go Vocal. The participation platform has also announced significant investment in AI-based solutions.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 30/05/2024

Through hacking, disinformation, and micro-targeting, operations like 'Team Jorge' manipulate elections and pose a real threat to democracy. Experts Patrick Penninckx and Peter Wolf stress the need for strict regulations, vigilance, and innovation to safeguard electoral integrity. From our archive:

democracy-technologies.org

Defending Democracy Against 'Team Jorge' and Cyber Saboteurs

Democracy’s destruction has become a lucrative business, highlighting the fact that its defence requires ‘eternal vigilance’. We spoke to Patrick Penninckx, Head of Department for Information Society ...

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 28/05/2024

Open data portals contain a huge variety of information, from cycle lane maps to government spending. They offer practical information, while also allowing journalists, researchers, and the public to monitor governments. Find out more about how they work in our guide:

democracy-technologies.org

What is Open Data, and Why Does it Matter?

A growing number of countries, cities, and regions now have dedicated open data portals. What are they, and how do they benefit democracy?

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 02/05/2024

"The idea was to use icons that everyone, regardless of literacy levels, would be able to recognise” explains Titus Kaloki. We spoke to him and Arjama Mukherjee about U_CODE, the software fostering citizen-urban planner collaboration.

democracy-technologies.org

Fitting a Participation Tool to a New Place

Urban planning tools need to be adapted to the needs of the local community. That's the idea behind U_CODE's pilot project in Nakuru, Kenya.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 11/04/2024

“Democracy should be based on the principle that nothing is too complex for citizens to have a say on” Belgium's citizens' assembly on AI is the first EU consultation of its kind, engaging the public in shaping European AI policy.

democracy-technologies.org

How Belgium is Giving Citizens a Say on AI

The Belgian Presidency of the European Council has convened a citizens' assembly to help shape a European vision on AI.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 09/04/2024

Condominium E-Voting began as a digital alternative for apartment meetings in Kyiv. Now, it keeps Kyivans connected to city life, whether displaced or at home, while also serving as a threat warning system. Kateryna Mohylnytska shares how it engages 83%+ of the population.

democracy-technologies.org

Safe Participation in Kyiv: Condominium E-Voting

The City of Kyiv uses its Condominium e-Voting app to allow residents living overseas to stay involved in their community during the war.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 03/04/2024

Op-Ed | The EU has taken big steps toward regulating AI – but regulation alone is not enough. Karen Boers argues that public procurement could be key to boosting innovation while also maintaining European values.

democracy-technologies.org

AI in Europe: The Role of Public Spending

Public procurement is one of the most effective ways of fostering innovation in AI while also upholding Europe's core values.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 27/03/2024

We spoke to Michal Hladký about how Košice 2.0 is transforming city services with data-driven approaches. Overcoming challenges like data quality and GDPR, the project enhanced transparency and fostered citizen engagement. democracy-technologies.org/industry-new...

democracy-technologies.org

"A Must for Every City": Open Data in Košice

Košice 2.0 was launched to harness the potential of open data to transform services in urban areas. An interview with Michal Hladký.

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Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 26/03/2024

Raphaël Pouyé shares insights on African civic tech: entrepreneurial, anti-corruption, & community-driven. He highlights the importance of knowledge exchange and citizen scrutiny. Read more in this piece from our archive: democracy-technologies.org/participatio...

democracy-technologies.org

“Civic Tech From the Global South Is Less Naive About the Benevolence of Governments”

Raphael Pouyé, democracy support and participatory governance expert, points out we can learn a lot from Civic Tech in Africa.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 21/03/2024

During the yellow vest movement, France promised to digitise the grievances that protesters shared in notebooks placed in town halls. Five years later, this remains undelivered. These "lists of grievances" highlight vital lessons on democratic innovation.

democracy-technologies.org

The Lost Contributions to France's Great Debate

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 19/03/2024

Sortition is the process of randomly selecting citizens to discuss key issues. Despite challenges such as representation and transparency, it offers promise for more diverse voices in decision-making, enhancing democracy beyond elections. Learn more from this piece from our archive:

democracy-technologies.org

Democratic Lottery - A Guide to Sortition

According to some experts, ‘Sortition’ could eventually replace elected politicians altogether. In reality, it is already in use alongside elections – quietly revolutionising the way political decisio...

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 12/03/2024

Change It! is Říčany's youth participatory budgeting initiative, engaging 12 to 25-year-olds in decision-making, fostering interest in shaping the city's future. Adéla Ambrožová discusses being a finalist in the Innovation in Politics Awards.

democracy-technologies.org

Change It! Youth Participation in the Czech Republic

Change It! is Říčany's inaugural youth participatory budgeting project, involving youths aged 12 to 25 in city decision-making.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 08/03/2024

"Is it really possible, with this highly technical approach, to ensure that AI is not going to violate our most basic rights?" Angela Müller of AlgorithmWatch talks to us about loopholes in the Council of Europe's AI Convention & the EU's AI Act.

Loopholes in European AI Regulation

In an open letter, Algorithm Watch and other groups have urged policymakers to avoid loopholes in the Council of Europe's Convention on AI.

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Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 06/03/2024

We spoke to Iwan Ittermann, a Bertelsmann Stiftung Fellow, about his project Pluralism, which promotes respectful dialogue on social media to tackle to the toxicity of online interactions.

democracy-technologies.org

Pluralism: A Platform for Arguing Respectfully

Pluralism provides a model for a new kind of online interaction which rewards good-faith dialogue instead of provocation and hate.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 05/03/2024

From our archive: Xabier E. Barandiaran delves into 'Artificial Collective Intelligence' and AI's impact on democratizing platforms such as #Decidim. Embracing open-source AI, he envisions inclusive governance through technology. democracy-technologies.org/participatio...

democracy-technologies.org

AI and the Future of Participation

At DecidimFest 2023, we talked to Xabier E. Barandiaran, philosopher and founding Decidim member, about AI and the future of participation.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 29/02/2024

As more people turn to social media for news, the potential harm of disinformation on democracies is rising. Here are nine ways governments can team up with others to counter disinformation:

democracy-technologies.org

9 Partners Governments Can Team up With to Counter Disinformation

Governments can partner with or support nine types of organisations and institutions in countering disinformation.

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Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 27/02/2024

Curious about the latest in digital participation, e-voting, and other forms of digital democracy? Subscribe to Democracy Technologies — your source for in-depth knowledge in these areas. Join over a thousand political professionals receiving our newsletter. democracy-technologies.org/subscribe/

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Subscribe - Democracy Technologies

Subscribe now and get all relevant insights in the field of digital participation, democracy technologies and electronic voting.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 22/02/2024

From our archive: Radical Data is a small collective on a mission “to redefine technology as a tool for communities, subverting its oppressive uses by big tech.” Co-founder Rayén Jara Mitrovich discusses AI biases, Chile's constitution, and blending art, activism, and technology.

democracy-technologies.org

Radical Data: Art, Activism, & Technology

Rayén Jara Mitrovich is a co-founder of Radical Data, a collective that uses data and builds tools for resistance and alternative futures.

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Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 20/02/2024

To help tackle disinformation, Bertelsmann Stiftung and the German Ministry of the Interior are leading a citizens' assembly that merges online and off-line participation. We caught up with Dominik Hierlemann from Bertelsmann Stiftung to talk about the project.

democracy-technologies.org

“Citizens’ Assemblies Shouldn’t Happen in a Vacuum"

Dominik Hierlemann of the Bertelsmann Stiftung discusses the design of Germany's new citizens' assembly on disinformation.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 15/02/2024

High-quality government communications can play an important role in tackling disinformation. Examples from the COVID-19 pandemic show how governments can tackle disinformation. democracy-technologies.org/getting-star...

democracy-technologies.org

How Governments Can Fight Disinformation with High-quality Communication

It is easier for governments to fight disinformation by preventing a falsehood from taking hold in the first place.

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Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 13/02/2024

In Brazil, e-voting reshaped the political landscape, raising participation and welfare. More valid votes from less privileged parts of society drove up healthcare spending, showing the power of tech in democracy. Read more in this piece from our archive: democracy-technologies.org/voting/how-e...

democracy-technologies.org

How E-Voting Can Boost Political Responsiveness

The case of Brazil demonstrates how e-voting can actually improve citizens' well-being through higher and more equal political participation.

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Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 08/02/2024

Participative processes often start out by promising a quick path to political change, but frustration arises when results lag. Gianluca Sgueo advocates for a nuanced storytelling approach that embraces political complexity. Read the full interview from our archives here: bit.ly/3wjdHmk

democracy-technologies.org

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 07/02/2024

Participatory budgeting voting methods shape democratic decision-making, ensure fairness, transparency, and community engagement in resource allocation. Here's a guide from our archives to help you choose the best one for your process. democracy-technologies.org/getting-star...

democracy-technologies.org

Finding the Right Voting Method for Your Participatory Budget

How to choose a participatory budget voting method? We present some of the options and their advantages and disadvantages.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 06/02/2024

Op-ed | As disinformation flourishes online, how do we know who to trust? Lists of “trusted sources” are inherently elitist, argues Austin Mackell of Stone Transparency. Instead, journalists need an easy way to share their research process with readers. democracy-technologies.org/opinion/only...

democracy-technologies.org

Only Research Transparency Can Defeat Disinformation

To tackle disinformation, journalists need to be transparent about their working process, argues Austin Mackell, CEO of Stone Transparency.

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Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 01/02/2024

In 2017, a report commissioned by the UK government suggested a pilot program to evaluate e-voting security risks in unions. Over 6 years later, the government has yet to respond. We spoke to Tim Sharp about the reasons behind the delay. democracy-technologies.org/voting/union...

democracy-technologies.org

The Trade Union E-Voting Impasse in The UK

The UK's trade unions see e-voting as essential – but the government's response to a 2017 policy review on the issue is still pending.

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Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 25/01/2024

Democracy Technologies was recently invited to observe Meta's “Community Forum on Generative AI” event — a public consultation on the future of AI. The format raises difficult questions about private companies getting involved in deliberative democracy.

democracy-technologies.org

Meta Experiments With Public Consultation on AI

In October 2023, Meta hosted their Community Forums on Generative AI. Democracy Technologies was invited to observe the event.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 18/01/2024

🔍 Seeking Recommendations: We are looking for experts, best practices, and success stories of political professionals tackling disinformation. Who/what would you recommend for insights and strategies in the fight against disinformation? Share and tag your suggestions below!

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 16/01/2024

In 2023, AI developers explored new democratic ways to shape technology. Notably, Alignment Assemblies's collaboration with Anthropic and OpenAI showcases the potential of public involvement in AI development, and prompts questions about its place in the broader issue of AI regulation.

democracy-technologies.org

Can Alignment Assemblies Bring Democracy to Silicon Valley?

The Alignment Assemblies were launched in 2023 with the mission to democratise the development and use of artificial intelligence.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 09/01/2024

In 2024, more people will head to the polls than ever before. With the rising influence of AI on politics, Tim Gordon writes: "Put the two together and it could be a recipe for disaster." Is it too late to prevent it? Check out this interesting read:

prospectmagazine.co.uk

The dawn of the AI election

Around the world, more people will go to the polls in 2024 than have ever voted before. It comes in the wake of an artificial intelligence revolution which we are still struggling to comprehend. Put t...

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 13/12/2023

Op-ed | In the face of new technological threats to democracy, including AI-generated deep fakes, a group of experts, academics, practitioners and members of civil society is calling for a “Democratic Shield” to protect European elections. democracy-technologies.org/opinion/rais...

democracy-technologies.org

Raising the Democratic Shield

AI is increasingly being used to create deepfakes and disinformation during elections. It is time for Europe to unite and take action.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 11/12/2023

In 2021, PM Imran Khan announced e-voting for the following election in Pakistan. Opposition resistance and a vote of no-confidence in 2022 led to his ousting and the reversal of the e-voting plan. What went wrong, and what can we learn? democracy-technologies.org/voting/there...

democracy-technologies.org

There and Back Again - The Story of Pakistan’s Brief Experiment with Electronic Voting

In 2021 Pakistan tried introducing electronic voting machines. In 2022 that decision was reversed. What went wrong and what can we learn?

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Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 08/12/2023

In our latest interview, Raphaël Pouyé explains that “the Global South is less naive about the benevolence of governments and they want to trust, but they also want to verify”. Therefore a lot of African civic tech is focused on transparency and involving citizens in monitoring public policy.

democracy-technologies.org

“Civic Tech From the Global South Is Less Naive About the Benevolence of Governments”

Raphael Pouyé, democracy support and participatory governance expert, points out, we can learn a lot from Civic Tech in Africa.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 05/12/2023

E-democracy has great potential to bring the public closer to decision-makers, but many governments are hesitant to embrace the change it promises. Find out more about e-democracy, its potential and its shortfalls in this article from our archive: democracy-technologies.org/opinion/relu...

democracy-technologies.org

Reluctant Digital Immigrants: Why So Many in Government Resist e–Democracy

e-democracy has tremendous potential to close the democratic gap. Yet many in government see it as a threat to familiar ways of doing things.

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Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 28/11/2023

Collaborative city planning can generate acceptance. We spoke to Sven Lohmeyer and Pascal Fuhr, who explore their visions for using digital tools, such as mixed reality and the metaverse, to make participation engaging and interactive. democracy-technologies.org/industry-new...

democracy-technologies.org

Visions for the Future of Participation in City Planning

We talked to Sven Lohmeyer, Urbanista, and Pascal Fuhr, Senf app, about their visions for participation in city planning.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 27/11/2023

Launched in 2015, Decide Madrid first garnered global praise. Powered by Consul Democracy, it has since inspired similar projects in 35 countries worldwide. Yet a 2019 local government change, along with user frustration, left its future looking uncertain. democracy-technologies.org/participatio...

democracy-technologies.org

Decide Madrid and Consul Democracy: When the Export Surpasses the Original

The digital participation platform "Decide Madrid" inspired similar projects around the world – yet it has not been without problems.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 23/11/2023

Planning successful participation projects isn't easy, even for experienced professionals. Following Antwerp's 10 conditions for good participation is the first step to ensure citizen engagement benefits communities and governments. democracy-technologies.org/getting-star...

democracy-technologies.org

Antwerp's 10 conditions for good participation

The City of Antwerp's "10 conditions for good participation" guide serves as a checklist for anyone starting a new participation project.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 22/11/2023

While participation projects are good news for democracy, they shouldn’t distract us from the urgent need for broader reforms. Can citizen participation solve the current lack of trust in democracy, or is it just distracting us from bigger problems? democracy-technologies.org/opinion/part...

democracy-technologies.org

Participation Is Not a Panacea for Democratic Decline - Democracy Technologies

On the dangers of letting a positive surge in citizen participation dull the pain of a broader democratic decline.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 20/11/2023

"Beyond the technology, what is also crucial is the community" We spoke to Jens Kimmel about the importance of Consul Democracy, the role of the foundation and the influence of digital participation on democratic transformations. democracy-technologies.org/industry-new...

democracy-technologies.org

Part of a Larger Transformation: The Consul Democracy Foundation

The Consul Democracy Foundation promotes the improvement of participative democracy worldwide using the digital platform Consul Democracy.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 17/11/2023

One of the many highlights of #DecidimFest2023 was Xabier E. Barandiaran’s talk on Artificial Collective Intelligence. In our interview, he spoke to us about open source AI, the future of participation, and permaculture as a model for democratic life. democracy-technologies.org/participatio...

democracy-technologies.org

Artificial Collective Intelligence and the Future of Participation and Artificial Democratic Life - ...

At DecidimFest 2023, we talked to Xabier E. Barandiaran, philosopher and founding Decidim member, about AI and the future of participation.

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 16/11/2023

Exploring digital democracy in , the Participatory Plurianual Plan highlights the balance between inclusive policy-making and digital engagement. Our conversation with Carla Bezerra at Decidim Fest 2023 offers insights into its impact. democracy-technologies.org/participatio...

democracy-technologies.org

Brazil's Participatory Pluriannual Plan

Brasil Participativo is a digital platform provided by Decidim which enables citizens to shape and improve public policies in Brazil.

Reposted by Democracy Technologies

Laura Giesen @lauragiesen.bsky.social · 08/11/2023

Just moderated a panel on Open Source in the public sector with @lsdornheim.bsky.social , Arnau Monterde and Paula Grzegorzewska at #SCEWC23. The stressed that it needs (ideally European or international) standards, financial support and a culture of openness and collaboration.

Four people sitting on a stage. Background screen says "Any questions?"

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 08/11/2023

Hopes were high for #Nigeria’s voter accreditation system BVAS ahead of elections in February. But on the day itself, nothing went as planned. Election observer Daniel Stefanov explores what went wrong with the system, and the lessons we can learn from it: democracy-technologies.org/voting/lesso...

democracy-technologies.org

Lessons in Election Technologies from Nigeria - Democracy Technologies

Nigeria's BVAS voter accreditation system was meant to improve electoral integrity. But on election day, almost nothing went as planned.

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Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 07/11/2023

🚨 Early bird price for Participate Practically runs out on November 17th. Save your spot now to get 25% off the course 🚨 participatepractically.com/product/part...

Democracy Technologies @demtech.bsky.social · 06/11/2023

Analysing CoFoE a year and a half later: A path to an EU-wide digital democracy or a dead end? We explore the aftermath of the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) as we assess the lessons learned and the challenges ahead. democracy-technologies.org/participatio...

democracy-technologies.org

After CoFoE – What's Next for Digital Democracy in the EU?

We look back at the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE). Drawing on the feedback of participants, organisers and civil society, we ask “What is next?