Democracy is increasingly digital: online platforms are where we get our information, where our opinions are formed – they shape how we reach democratic decisions.
At their best, these platforms offer the tantalising prospect of being tools for civic mobilisation, giving a voice to the marginalised, and enabling pluralistic debate to flourish. But, more often than not, they are poisoning the well of public discourse. They fuel hate and polarisation, undermine democracy, increase censorship and surveillance, and spread falsehoods at mind-boggling speeds.
Civitates supports organisations who are countering this: those holding big tech to account, fact-checking information, tracking the algorithms which are reshaping our societies, and providing new, positive visions for what a ‘good internet’ could be.
We were an early, rare funder of this: providing support at a critical juncture for our grantees to influence groundbreaking EU legislation, including the Digital Services Act (DSA) which aims to exert democratic control over big tech, and hold corporations to account for their harmful and illegal content.
Expose the direct harm technology is inflicting on democracy in order to hold Big Tech to account and address the misuse of technology by public and private actors.
Promote solutions, alternatives, and positive narratives to counter Big Tech’s dominant model and make technology safer, trusted and to protect rather than undermine human rights.
Support the establishment and the coordination of coalitions in selected countries that can effectively address the challenges and opportunities of tech regulation enforcement at national level.
