Democracy & Tech Initiative

The DFRLab’s Democracy & Tech Initiative creates policy practices that align global stakeholders toward tech and governance that reinforces, rather than undermines, open societies. This initiative builds on the DFRLab’s leadership in the OSINT field, empowering global communities to promote transparency and accountability.

Content

UkraineAlert

Apr 8, 2021

Ukraine’s digital revolution continues with enhanced legal status for e-passports

By Mykhailo Fedorov

On March 30, the Ukrainian parliament passed legislation that recognizes e-passports as official documents and provides them with the same legal status for domestic use as their more traditional paper cousins.

Digital Policy Internet

AfricaSource

Apr 8, 2021

The digital infrastructure imperative in African markets

By Aubrey Hruby

Over the past two decades, Chinese companies have come to dominate the telecom infrastructure landscape in emerging markets. The United States can slow and possibly erode these Chinese gains by promoting innovative US technologies and providing resources to help unleash the second wave of the internet revolution in African countries.

Africa Digital Policy
Nicolas Maduro

In-Depth Research & Reports

Apr 7, 2021

Digital Autocracy: Maduro’s control of the Venezuelan information environment

By Esteban Ponce de León, Daniel Suárez Pérez

A 16-month monitoring report that analyzes the information environment in Venezuela, exploring the Maduro regime’s tactics when promoting influence operations in the country and abroad.

Disinformation Latin America

New Atlanticist

Apr 7, 2021

The storm shaking US tech in digital India

By Anand Raghuraman

In India, contentious debates over US technology platforms and their influence have gained strength and considerable political attention. And globally, governments are determined to exert sovereign control over digital domains and online users. The real test is whether US tech companies can carefully adapt their platforms and values to local markets without stretching them beyond all recognition.

Digital Policy India

Event Recap

Apr 7, 2021

Event recap | Digital identity

By the GeoTech Center

An episode of the GeoTech Hour focusing on the concept of digital identity, and how it can eliminate barriers and promote inclusion.

Digital Policy Technology & Innovation

NATO 20/2020

Apr 2, 2021

Digitalize the enterprise: NATO 20/2020 podcast

By Barry Pavel, Jeffrey Lightfoot

If NATO is to unlock new frontiers of innovation and harness emerging technology, digitalizing how it does business is the key.

Defense Technologies Digital Policy

UkraineAlert

Apr 1, 2021

How Putin made the international media his unwitting accomplices

By Peter Dickinson

Vladimir Putin's hybrid war against Ukraine relies heavily on deliberate disinformation and blanket denials. By prioritizing impartiality over accuracy, the international media has often played the role of unwitting accomplice.

Conflict Disinformation

Event Recap

Mar 31, 2021

Event recap | Indigenous data sovereignty: Opportunities and challenges

By the GeoTech Center

On Thursday, October 22, the GeoTech Center hosted the fifth installment of the Data Salon Series in partnership with Accenture to discuss the challenges to achieving data sovereignty for indigenous communities. The panel featured Dr. Tahu Kukuthai, Professor of Population Studies and Demography at the University of Waikato, Dr. Ray Lovett, associate professor of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Epidemiology for Policy and Practice at Australian National University, Dr. Desi Rodriguez-Lonebear, Assistant Professor of Sociology and American Indian Studies at UCLA, and Ms. Robyn Rowe, Research Associate and PhD Candidate at Laurentian University. GeoTech Center Director Dr. David Bray moderated the panel and the discussion that followed.

Digital Policy Inclusive Growth

GeoTech Cues

Mar 31, 2021

Reimagining a just society pt. 4: New maps for a world disrupted by climate change

By Carol Dumaine

On a radically transformed planet, different conceptual maps are necessary for understanding what today’s priorities must be. These maps, or mental models, inform the framing that policy and decision makers use to weigh their options. Limitations in our conceptual frames can drastically limit the scope of considered futures.

Climate Change & Climate Action Security & Defense

In the News

Mar 31, 2021

Borghard in Russia Matters: Punitive response to SolarWinds would be misplaced, but cyber deterrence still matters

By Atlantic Council

On March 31, Erica Borghard published an article in Harvard Kennedy School’s Russia Matters on the appropriate response to the SolarWinds breach. She argues that a retaliatory option would be unwise, but that this does not mean that deterrence strategies are irrelevant for cyberspace. “A punitive response to SolarWinds is unwise because the available evidence […]

Cybersecurity United States and Canada

Experts

Events