• Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences

• Qualitative,
• Academic

• Digital,
• Governance,
• Democratisation

Digital threats to democracy

On new technology and disinformation

The Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations asked the Rathenau Instituut to conduct research into the impact of technological developments on the production and dissemination of disinformation and measures that could be taken to mitigate their potential negative effects. The report focuses mainly on disinformation aimed at disrupting public debate and the democratic process. The study reflects the action lines that the minister, Kajsa Ollongren, announced in her letter to the House of Representatives on 18 October 2019 as part of the government’s strategy to protect Dutch society against disinformation.

This study focuses on the following questions:
• What is the impact of technological developments on the production and
dissemination of disinformation?
• What measures have already been taken to contain the threats that
disinformation poses for public debate and the democratic process?
• What new measures can be taken to counter those threats, taking account of
freedom of speech and press freedom?
• Who are the relevant actors in that respect.

See download at the bottom of this page below for the English version of the report.

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