Foreign-agent laws are especially dangerous in the hands of antidemocratic regimes, which use them to suppress criticism and stifle civil society, primarily NGOs and independent media. buff.ly/4dUOzTU

"Recognizing how an algorithm may produce biased outcomes and identifying the shortcomings—and potential risks—of an overreliance on facial recognition technology is central to defending human rights from web-based threats." buff.ly/3SlYHwk

"Information manipulation is intended to undermine the concept of knowable truth and a shared reality, damaging societal trust and attacking the foundations of democratic systems," something which is only made easier with Generative AI tools. buff.ly/45tgvei

Kleptocracy is a leading cause of underdevelopment, human rights abuses, and war on the African continent, particularly in Central Africa. buff.ly/43TZ985

China's Belt and Road Initiative investments "pose a threat to Montenegro's democracy and European integration by undermining anticorruption efforts and environmental protection standards." buff.ly/3A7Qg1x

AI's societal impact “will depend on how well democratic mechanisms are working to uphold government transparency, support deliberation, and engage affected communities in decision making." buff.ly/47eeQZJ

Are you a mid-career professional with substantial experience working to advance democracy and human rights? The Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program is now accepting applications for fellowships in 2025–2026. The deadline to apply is November 1, 2024! ned.org/fellowships

"As international corruption networks evolve and change, so too must the countermeasures and safeguards that mitigate the damage they cause." buff.ly/48Oyf5i

Civil society in the developing world "should be engaged directly, and democratic governments should invest resources to build the capacity and expertise of such partners." ned.org/defending-the-…

Authoritarian regimes aim to control online spaces both through proactive information operations that promote authoritarian narratives, and the surveillance and censorship of democratic voices. buff.ly/3ux2ePw

In authoritarian contexts, companies with "close ties to state actors are more willing to comply with censorship and surveillance demands." They are "more susceptible to becoming vehicles for state disinformation." buff.ly/3yvlW0o

"Deficiencies of current anti-kleptocracy initiatives and the blunted impact of sanctions show that Russia is not simply a kleptocracy but a hardened resourceful autocracy that has weaponized kleptocracy to attack the West." buff.ly/4bWwt3B

China has emerged as a lending alternative to the European Union in the Western Balkans. However, the funds provided lack transparency, “undermining the regulations established by the West" and contributing to democratic backsliding. buff.ly/3YRqHvJ

"Gen AI can accelerate the efforts of research organizations to spot information manipulation online by helping to identify the behaviors, narratives, and tactics authoritarian state actors use." buff.ly/45tgvei

AI uses and AI harms are often difficult to see. "Moreover, too much emphasis on the 'black box' nature of AI systems may close off discussion on those elements we can scrutinize." buff.ly/47eeQZJ

African civil society organizations often lack the capacity and specialized knowledge that are essential for tracking Beijing’s financial flows and PRC actors’ complex economic relationships with local kleptocrats. buff.ly/43TZ985

"An information vacuum has allowed global authoritarians to define democracy" and audiences must be reminded that democracy is the better guarantor of freedoms. buff.ly/3TUGMg2

Activists, journalists, and civil society groups are monitoring emergent malign narratives, fact-checking them, and developing programs that empower citizens to better recognize quality information. buff.ly/3ux2ePw

Without firm democratic guardrails, smart cities can undermine privacy, erode good governance norms, and amplify the influence of authoritarian actors such as the People’s Republic of China. buff.ly/3jfzPb0

ICYMI: The Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program is now accepting applications for its 2025–2026 fellowship cycle. To learn more and apply, visit: ned.org/fellowships