Program on Democracy and the Internet

The Program on Democracy and the Internet seeks to promote research, convenings, and courses that engage with the challenges new technologies pose to democracy in the digital age.

Lunch Seminar Series | November 26th, 1 PM - 2:15 PM

Disinformation as Collaborative Work: The Disinformation Campaign Against the White Helmets

OUR WORK

The Program on Democracy and the Internet (PDI) envisions digital technologies supporting rather than subverting democracy by maximizing the benefits and minimizing the threats through changes in policy, technology, and social and ethical technological norms. Through knowledge creation and education, and by leveraging the convening power of Stanford University, PDI creates and shares original empirical research around how digital technologies are impacting democracy to inform and educate decision-makers in the field, including the next generation of technologists, business leaders, and policymakers.

Featured News & Publications

The Internet’s Challenge to Democracy: Framing the Problem and Assessing Reforms

In the span of just two years, the widely shared utopian vision of the internet’s impact on governance has turned decidedly pessimistic. A new publication authored by Nathaniel Persily, Senior Fellow, Freeman Spogli Institute and Co-Director of the Cyber Policy Center, available online.

EVENT | From Polarization to Consensus: Towards a Modern Theory of Social Choice

Asish Goel is the next speaker for the Lunch Seminar Series, on December 3rd. Join us at Encina Hall to hear his thoughts on algorithmic and market-inspired approaches to large scale democratic decision making.

EVENT REGISTRATION

Glasnost! Nine Ways Facebook Can Make Itself a Better Forum for Free Speech and Democracy

The growing influence of Facebook – as well as other platforms such as Instagram YouTube and Twitter – in the personal, cultural and political life of billions of people has led to widespread concerns about the influence of hate speech, harassment, extremist content, polarisation, disinformation and covert political advertising