Democratic Information Society

What responsibilities and opportunities do different groups of individuals, government, science and industry have for strengthening democracy in the information society?
On the one hand, digital media are a source of information, leaving scope for a wide range of opinions. For example within the public debate around the corona crisis or climate change. On the other hand, extreme opinions are more easily heard thanks to algorithms. The current societal challenges show how important it is for research institutes to contribute to a trusted stock of knowledge which is needed to improve policy. And for them to make use of the knowledge and judgement of citizens and civil society organisations in research into societal challenges.
Three topics
To explore the theme of “Democratic Information Society” we will be contributing to the following topics with new research and debate over the next years.
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Participating in the technological society
How can everyone have a say and participate in the technological society?
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Trustworthy knowledge for policy and political decision-making
How can knowledge for policy lead to trusted and informed political decision-making?
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Democratic control of technology
How can democratic control over technology be strengthened?