University of Kwazulu-Natal

Democratic Roadmap Building Civic Resilience To The Global Digital

Bonisiwe Shabane
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democratic roadmap building civic resilience to the global digital

We’re sorry, this site is currently experiencing technical difficulties. Please try again in a few moments. Exception: forbidden On 18 March 2024, on the occasion of the Third Summit for Democracy Multi-Stakeholder Roundtable in Seoul, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a new Democratic Roadmap to build civic resilience to the... The roadmap, developed by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy (CDP) is meant to assist global policymakers, civil society and the private sector in providing a global response to tackle the challenge of information integrity...

In its preamble, the roadmap goes over the evolution of the lexicon surrounding information manipulation while underlining the fact that the challenges posed by it are not new. Recent dynamics in the global digital information sector, fuelled in no small part by the rapid development of generative AI, however make 2024 a crucial year, with important elections taking place or anticipated in... In that context, the roadmap highlights the need for citizens to have access to “accurate sources of information to form opinions and participate in free and fair elections” and develop the skills to “critically... The roadmap urges the various actors to follow four steps. Firstly, they should highlight the importance of the digital information manipulation challenge as a threat to the functionality and vitality of society. Doing so will help limit eroding the people’s trust in democratic values and institutions on a global scale.

They should also recognise that building information integrity can be consistent with freedom of opinion and expression, in line with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 19 of the... Reinforcing the private sector digital platforms’ ability to strengthen civic resilience is also key to promote information integrity. The roadmap identifies five areas in which said platforms can enhance transparency and communication: algorithmic promotion and demotion of content, privacy policies, use and sharing of user data, political advertising and the labelling of... Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 October 2024 Identifying “[f]oreign information manipulation and interference [FIMI] [as] a national security threat,” the U.S. Department of State has announced two initiatives to counter FIMI.Footnote 1 In January 2024, the Department launched a Framework to Counter Foreign State Information Manipulation that “seeks to develop a common understanding of [the]...

. . [and its] allies and partners . . . can develop coordinated responses .

. . and protect free and open societies.”Footnote 2 Two months later, the Department unveiled a Democratic Roadmap “for global policymakers, civil society, and the private sector” that proposes steps to “tackle the information integrity challenge... At the third Summit for Democracy in March 2024, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken avowed that “[b]uilding a more resilient information environment is . .

. a vital national security interest” of the United States.Footnote 10 He emphasized “the challenge of disinformation—of material deliberately meant to deceive and divide—as well as other forms of false and misleading content.”Footnote 11 And... Pitting one group against another. Discrediting our institutions.”Footnote 12 “This distortion of the marketplace of ideas,” he said, “is not an unfortunate byproduct of free speech–it's a direct threat to freedom of expression itself.”Footnote 13 He pointed out that... . .

‘to hold opinions without interference.’”Footnote 14 “The manipulation of information,” he concluded, “undermines our ability to exercise that fundamental right.”Footnote 15 At the summit, Secretary Blinken highlighted the Framework to Counter Foreign State Information Manipulation unveiled earlier this year. The Framework focuses on five “Key Action Areas” for signatories. First, countries agree to “develop[] and implement[] strategies . . .

[that] ensure safeguards for freedom of expression, protection for marginalized groups, transparency in media ownership, and a commitment to protect elections from foreign malign influence.”Footnote 16 Second, countries commit to “organize dedicated government institutions... . . [through] investing in digital security tools that can detect foreign state information manipulation and ensuring interoperability between government partners.”Footnote 18 Fourth, countries promise to “protect and support the role of independent media, promote independent... A second major initiative, the Democratic Roadmap, announced in March, posits that, given the capacities of new technologies, governments, the private sector, journalists, and civil society must “build civic resilience to digital information manipulation... .

. strengthen the integrity of the digital information realm in support of democracy.”Footnote 23 The Roadmap lays out four steps and a detailed list of best practices to “tackle the information integrity challenge in ways... This report examines the complex relationship between digital technologies and democratic governance. We analyze how the digital transformation has simultaneously created new opportunities for civic participation while enabling novel forms of manipulation, surveillance, and control. Our findings indicate that protecting democratic values in digital spaces requires coordinated policy responses, technological innovation, and renewed civic engagement. We propose a comprehensive framework for safeguarding digital democracy that balances innovation with fundamental rights and collective governance.

Democratic systems worldwide face unprecedented challenges and opportunities as digital technologies reshape how citizens engage with politics, access information, and participate in public discourse. This digital transformation has: This report examines these dynamics and proposes frameworks for protecting democratic values in digital spaces. Digital technologies have created unprecedented opportunities for civic engagement: Case Study: Taiwan's vTaiwan Taiwan's vTaiwan platform uses digital tools to facilitate consensus-building on complex policy issues. The process combines online deliberation with face-to-face meetings and has informed 26 policy decisions since its inception.

Its Pol.is discussion system uses machine learning to identify areas of consensus across diverse viewpoints, demonstrating how technology can enhance rather than undermine deliberative democracy. We’re sorry, this site is currently experiencing technical difficulties. Please try again in a few moments. Exception: forbidden We’re sorry, this site is currently experiencing technical difficulties. Please try again in a few moments.

Exception: forbidden In 2025, the global democracy ecosystem faces unprecedented challenges. Shrinking civic space, funding constraints, digital threats, and rising authoritarianism demand urgent dialogue and collective action. To address these challenges, the Global Democracy Coalition (GDC) is launching “Democracy Talks”. The Democracy Talk dialogue series aims to provide a safe space for GDC partners and allies, for collective reflection, learning, exchange of experiences in how to navigate a new and more challenging environment and... The Democracy Talk dialogue series will start with a four-part webinar series that will bring together global democracy advocates, policymakers, and experts to explore some of the most pressing issues shaping democracy today.

These webinars will serve as the first step in a year-long conversation, ensuring that democracy stakeholders are not just reacting to crises but actively shaping strategies for the future. 1. Provide a platform for Coalition partners and external experts to exchange insights on emerging developments, lessons learned to date, good practices, and tested and emerging solutions to address the increasing challenges facing democracy and...

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We’re Sorry, This Site Is Currently Experiencing Technical Difficulties. Please

We’re sorry, this site is currently experiencing technical difficulties. Please try again in a few moments. Exception: forbidden On 18 March 2024, on the occasion of the Third Summit for Democracy Multi-Stakeholder Roundtable in Seoul, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a new Democratic Roadmap to build civic resilience to the... The roadmap, developed by the U.S. Department of State’s...

In Its Preamble, The Roadmap Goes Over The Evolution Of

In its preamble, the roadmap goes over the evolution of the lexicon surrounding information manipulation while underlining the fact that the challenges posed by it are not new. Recent dynamics in the global digital information sector, fuelled in no small part by the rapid development of generative AI, however make 2024 a crucial year, with important elections taking place or anticipated in... In t...

They Should Also Recognise That Building Information Integrity Can Be

They should also recognise that building information integrity can be consistent with freedom of opinion and expression, in line with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 19 of the... Reinforcing the private sector digital platforms’ ability to strengthen civic resilience is also key to promote information integrity. The roadmap identifies five areas in which said pl...

. . [and Its] Allies And Partners . . .

. . [and its] allies and partners . . . can develop coordinated responses .

. . And Protect Free And Open Societies.”Footnote 2 Two

. . and protect free and open societies.”Footnote 2 Two months later, the Department unveiled a Democratic Roadmap “for global policymakers, civil society, and the private sector” that proposes steps to “tackle the information integrity challenge... At the third Summit for Democracy in March 2024, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken avowed that “[b]uilding a more resilient information environment...