Observatory on information and democracy

The global research to policy platform on information and democracy

The International Observatory on Information and Democracy is a global research to policy interface gathering scientific evidence to inform future-proofed policies and empower appropriate civic action.

Who we are

Enhancing understanding of how the information landscape impacts democracy

The International Observatory on information and democracy is a global knowledge hub gathering scientific evidence on most pressing issues at the intersection of information and democracy. The Observatory provides states and society as a whole with periodic evaluations of the current state of academic research on information ecosystems and their impact on democracies worldwide. Our analysis aims to inform future-proofed policies, empower appropriate civic action, and stimulate further research globally. 

The Observatory is an initiative of the Forum on Information and Democracy, the implementing entity of an intergovernmental partnership gathering 55 countries around the world.

What we do

The Observatory’s mission

The Observatory’s mission is to advance a collective and shared understanding of the information ecosystem and its impact on democracy to foster coordinated and effective responses from decision makers.

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Research-to-policy interface

With a growing network of leading academics and experts in the field, and through the Partnership on Information and Democracy gathering 55 signatory States, the Observatory serves as a research-to-policy interface, directly connecting knowledge producers with decision-makers.

We facilitate collaboration between knowledge producers and policymakers by establishing a continuous interaction process. This approach ensures that the information generated is relevant and timely for decision-makers. The Observatory adresses policymakers’ needs by identifying key issues for research and framing these topics within a legislative and political context.

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Research synthesis producer

The Observatory provides regular assessment reports on critical issues at the nexus of information and democracy, informed by a diverse range of views and expertise. Its work covers declining trust in news media, threats to information integrity, tech corporations power and datafication, or artificial intelligence and human rights.

By assessing the strengths of scientific consensus, exploring actionable recommendations and highlighting where further research is needed, the Observatory’s aim is to foster well-informed and coordinated decisions and policies among states, civil society, and the private sector in the pursuit of information integrity.

Our reach

Our Global Impact

By mobilizing hundreds of academic and civil society experts, aggregating thousands of regional scientific resources and collaborating with leading institutions, we are committed to positively influencing global debates.

A global network

We gather a global network of hundreds of academic and civil society experts

Data aggregation

We aggregate thousands of regionally-diverse scientific resources

Mobilization

We mobilize dozens of world-leading thought leaders

Institutional partnerships

We partner with top-tier academic institutions

Research-to-Policy

We inform representatives of 55 democratic States

International cooperation

We collaborate with relevant international institutions (UN, OECD, Council of Europe, OSCE, etc.)

OID’s supports

They support us

Featured reports

Our Reports

The Observatory produces comprehensive reports based on an aggregation and synthesis of all available research and data (meta-analysis). This ensures stakeholders share a common understanding of critical impacts while also revealing research data gaps and important variance across different regions. The Observatory employs a robust methodology that ensures inclusion of perspectives and expertise from the Global Majority.

Report summary

Écosystèmes de l’Information et Menaces à la Démocratie: Résumé Exécutif

Résumé Exécutif - Synthèse globale de l'état des connaissances sur les médias d'information, la gouvernance de l'information et des données....

Global synthesis

Information ecosystem and troubled democracy

This inaugural report of the Observatory is a critical review of state-of-the-art research in three areas, with a cross-cutting theme of mis- and disinformation: media, politics and trust; artificial intelligence,...

Report summary

Information Ecosystems and Troubled Democracy: Report Summary

A Global Synthesis of the State of Knowledge on News Media, AI and Data Governance...

Report summary

Information Ecosystems and Troubled Democracy: Executive summary

A Global Synthesis of the State of Knowledge on News Media, Al and Data Governance...

Report summary

Information ecosystems and troubled democracy: Research Priorities

A Global Synthesis of the State of Knowledge on News Media, AI and Data Governance...

Report summary

Information Ecosystems and Troubled Democracy: Guidance for Policy Makers and Big Tech Companies

A Global Synthesis of the State of Knowledge on News Media, Al and Data Governance...

Thematic report

Information ecosystems and democracy (chapter 1)

This chapter begins with an introduction that frames the central themes of the report, covers the key concepts and definitions, delves into the challenges facing democracies focusing on mis- and...

Thematic report

News Media, Information Integrity and the Public Sphere (chapter 2)

This chapter examines what research tells us about the multiple causes and consequences of changes in legacy and online news media, and what can be done to promote information integrity...

Thematic report

Artificial Intelligence, Information Integrity and Democracy (chapter 3)

This chapter examines research on the properties of AI systems (specifically machine learning algorithms) and how they are embedded in online content governance systems....

Thematic report

Big Tech and Governing Uses of Data (chapter 4)

This chapter examines evidence on the relationships between the power of big tech companies and approaches to governing the practices of data extraction and use – that is, processes of...

Thematic report

Awareness of Mis- and Disinformation and the Literacy Challenge (chapter 5)

This chapter focuses on people’s knowledge about the presence of mis- and disinformation in the information ecosystems they participate in, and literacy training initiatives that enable people to identify these...

Thematic report

Governing Information Ecosystems: Legislation and Regulation (chapter 6)

This chapter provides an account of selected legislative and regulatory tools that are available to governments to mitigate the harms of mis- and disinformation and to govern the way mainly...

Thematic report

Combating Mis- and Disinformation in Practice (chapter 7)

This chapter looks in detail at specific governance measures to combat mis- and disinformation by civil society organizations and governments....

Thematic report

Towards Data Justice in Information Ecosystems (chapter 8)

This chapter examines how the monopolistic power of big tech companies – permitted by state and co-regulatory measures and pursued by big tech companies – creates biases and harmful discrimination...

Thematic report

Conclusion: Information Ecosystems and Troubled Democracy (chapter 9)

This chapter provides a summary of the overall state-of-the-art research indicated by our analysis of research in the preceding chapters, and emphasizes the politics of undertaking research in the areas...

Our experts

A Global Pluri‑disciplinary Network

With a growing network of +300 experts across a wide array of sectors and disciplines, the Observatory serves as platform of exchange for governments, policymakers, regulatory bodies, Academics, NGOs, public information bodies, and tech corporations, to provide a shared understanding of how the current structure of the information and communication space is undermining democracies around the world.

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Research cycles

Periodic Global Assessments

Periodic global assessments reports based on an aggregation and synthesis of all available research and data (meta-analysis).

News

Recent news

17 February 2025

The Observatory presents its results on News Media, Information Integrity, and the Public Sphere at the European University Institute

4 February 2025

The Observatory Launches its First Report at the Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society In Berlin

15 January 2025

Oped – Beyond Moderation: Challenging Big Tech’s Power in a Troubled Time for Democracy

15 January 2025

The Observatory on Information and Democracy presents the first global assessment of information ecosystems amidst unprecedented digital policy turmoil

27 September 2024

Scientists around the world call to protect research on one of humanity’s greatest short-term threats – Disinformation

27 September 2024

Scientists around the world call to protect research on one of humanity’s greatest short-term threats – Disinformation

An initiative of the Forum on Information and Democracy

The Observatory is an initiative by the Forum on Information and Democracy, the civil society-led implementing entity of the Partnership on Information and Democracy. The Forum’s mission is to advance policy change, enhance civic voice and participation in agenda-setting and policy discourse to strengthen the information ecosystem.

Observatory on Information and Democracy – Interactive Map

Developed using GarganText by the OID in partnership with CNRS Institute for Complex Systems.

This map represents a statistical summary of the thematic content of the report. The network graph represents relations between the words in the report, placing them closer to each other the more they are related. The bigger the node, the more present the word is, signalling its role in defining what the report is about. The colors represent words that are closely related to each other and can be interpreted as a topic.

The map is generated by the OID using GarganText – developed by the CNRS Institute of Complex Systems –on the basis of the repot’s text. Starting from a co-occurrence matrix generated from report’s text, GarganText forms a network where words are connected if they are likely to occur together. Clustering is conducted based on the Louvain community detection method, and the visualisation is generated using the Force Atlas 2 algorithm.