Policy Initiatives
Model rules, regulatory comments, and coalition briefs that turn evidence into enforceable public-interest standards.
Research · Policy · Civic AI
Advancing Tech Policy for Better Democratic Outcomes
Independent research and policy design at the intersection of digital platforms, data rights, civic AI, and election integrity.
Research Program
Investigations and public datasets on ranking systems, ad targeting, and automated influence operations.
Mission in Practice
Field partnerships with election officials, journalists, and community groups who live with platform risk first.
Who we are
About the Center
The Center for Digital Democracy is an independent research and policy institute dedicated to ensuring that digital technologies strengthen—rather than erode—democratic life. We study how platforms, data markets, and emerging AI systems shape public discourse, civic participation, and the integrity of elections.
Our work translates technical complexity into rules the public can enforce: algorithmic accountability, platform transparency, privacy protections for communities most exposed to surveillance, and safeguards against synthetic media in civic processes.
This website is a design prototype of the Center’s public presence. Contact and newsletter forms validate in the browser and do not send email.
Priorities
What we fight for
Election integrity in digital public squares
Operational and legal safeguards against coordinated deception, synthetic media, and last-mile disruption of voter information.
Accountable civic AI
Transparency, auditability, and due-process limits when governments and campaigns deploy automated systems.
Privacy and data rights
Constraints on commercial surveillance, data brokerage, and the secondary use of civic and voter files.
Checks on concentrated platform power
Interoperability, due process in moderation, and structural remedies that rebalance power toward the public.
Library
Policy research and publications
Briefs, working papers, and datasets for lawmakers, journalists, and coalitions building the next generation of digital public-interest rules.
Request a briefingSynthetic Media and the 2026 Election Calendar
Policy brief · March 2026
Auditing Civic AI: A Due Process Framework
Working paper · January 2026
Data Brokers and Voter Files: Market Structure
Report · November 2025
Workstreams
Research
Algorithmic Accountability
How ranking, recommendation, and targeting systems shape civic information—and the disclosure rules required to make them inspectable.
Election Integrity
Synthetic media, coordinated inauthentic behavior, and the operational playbooks election administrators need before the next cycle.
Platform Governance
Comparative analysis of interoperability, moderation due process, and structural remedies that rebalance platform power.
Civic AI & Public Interest Compute
Frameworks for using AI in government and campaigns without sacrificing equal protection or meaningful human oversight.
How we work
Four pillars of the program
Policy Lab
Drafting model legislation, agency comments, and international standards that put public-interest rules on a clock.
More information →Key Projects
Multi-year investigations into commercial surveillance, political ad infrastructure, and automated influence markets.
More information →Civic Partnerships
Working alongside election officials, newsrooms, and community organizations to convert research into field practice.
More information →Open Research
Peer-reviewed analysis and reusable datasets so advocates, scholars, and policymakers can pressure-test the same evidence.
More information →Calendar
Events
Workshop · Oct 8, 2026
Civic AI Oversight Clinic
Washington, DC · In person
Register →Webinar · Nov 12, 2026
Election Integrity Briefing: 2026 Cycle
Virtual · 90 minutes
Save a seat →Clinic · Dec 3, 2026
Community Data Rights Workshop
Hybrid · Limited capacity
Express interest →Conference · Jan 20, 2027
Platform Power & Democratic Speech
Annual convening · DC
View program →Inbox
Contact
Briefing requests, partnership ideas, and press inquiries. This is a front-end prototype — submissions stay in your browser.