This Tuesday, join our monthly #DemocracyDrinks for an informal exchange with WebWatch, the tech watchdog by Defend Democracy which just monitored and campaigned the Dutch elections on information manipulation.

Day: Tuesday 18 November, 17:00-19:00
Venue: Le Coin du Diable
Fee: please support Defend Democracy's work

In the two months before the Dutch elections, (pro)Russian propaganda website Pravda, that is part of the large 'Portal Kombat' network, significantly increased their mentions of Dutch far-right party FvD. Defend Democracy's WebWatch:

"The FvD’s Telegram channel is also in the top 10 sources on which the site has relied since its inception."

To protect our children and our democracies, we have to stop fighting the wrong battles. The best defence isn’t being better parents or being better voters. It’s governing the platforms designed to exploit and divide us for profit.

On 14 October, Defend Democracy director Stollmeyer joined a panel to debate if the European Democracy Shield can counter disinformation and safeguard electoral integrity.

"EU leaders and policy makers still underestimate the scale and urgency of the threats to our democracy. We don't have time to 'wait and see' if the DSA will work!"

Finnish national TV YLE interviewed Defend Democracy on the rise of the far-right in Europe and the weaponisation of American and Chinese tech platforms against democracy.

Defend Democracy was interviewed by Netherlands Democracy Coalition ahead of the Dutch elections.

"Propaganda and algorithms do not appeal to our rationality, but target our emotions – and that part of our brain is much more difficult to make more resilient."

It’s more important than ever to show up for our democracy. On Tuesday 2 December:

• Support your democracy defenders.
• Do an act of kindness or help a neighbour.
• Pick a cause that gets you fired up, and give back.