United for a Strong Democracy: Reflections on the “Countering Disinformation, Strengthening Democracy” Conference

Chair: Elisabeth Niejahr (Hertie Stiftung, Germany)
Impulses: Olaya Argüeso Perez (Correctiv, Germany), Odanga Madung (Odipo Dev, Kenya)

What’s it about?

Journalism plays a crucial role in upholding democratic values by ensuring transparency, providing fact-based information, and holding power to account. The session addressed the growing challenge of local journalism’s decline, the role of paywalls in exacerbating inequality in information access, and potential solutions to ensure journalism continues to support democratic discourse. Experts discussed innovative strategies to make journalism more accessible and trustworthy, especially in contexts where disinformation thrives.

What was discussed?

• Local journalism as a democratic pillar: Participants highlighted how the collapse of local journalism, especially in rural areas, creates a vacuum filled by populists and disinformation. When communities lose trusted local news sources, their sense of being seen and heard by decision-makers fades, weakening social cohesion and democratic participation.
• Affordability and accessibility: Paywalls, particularly in the Global South, are a growing issue. Without access to reliable journalism, people turn to free but less credible sources, increasing the risk of disinformation. A critical question raised was whether governments should subsidize subscriptions to trusted media outlets to ensure equitable access to high-quality journalism.
• Rebuilding trust: Journalism must evolve to meet audience needs by integrating more relatable storytelling techniques and diversifying its workforce. Journalists also need to engage more with schools to teach media literacy and demystify their work, thereby enhancing trust in the media.

Key takeaways:

• Why it matters: Strengthening local journalism is critical for preserving democratic dialogue, particularly in underrepresented areas. Experts must advocate for policies that support media plurality and affordability. Journalism’s role as the “fourth estate” is under threat without innovative approaches to engage a broader audience, especially in the Global South.
• Next steps: Policy-makers and media professionals should consider creating funding mechanisms that support local journalism without compromising editorial independence, and bolster efforts to integrate media literacy into educational systems.

Chair: Alejandro Segarra (Asociación por los Derechos Civiles, Argentina)
Impulses: Dalma Dojcsák (Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, Hungary), Heloisa Maria Machado Massaro (Internet Lab, Brazil), William Bird (Media Monitoring Africa, South Africa)

What’s it about?

Civil society plays an essential role in safeguarding democracy by advocating for transparency, accountability, and civic participation. This session examined the shrinking space for civil society organizations (CSOs) to operate due to disinformation and government repression. The focus was on how CSOs can overcome these challenges through new forms of collaboration, intersectional approaches, and sustainable funding models.

What was discussed?

• Local governments as allies: Participants emphasized that local governments, compared to national governments, tend to be less politicized and more effective partners in combating disinformation. Engaging local authorities allows CSOs to counter disinformation at the grassroots level, where its effects are most acutely felt.
• Intersectional strategies: The discussion highlighted the need for civil society to adopt intersectional approaches, recognizing that disinformation disproportionately affects marginalized groups (e.g., migrants, women). Collaborating with organizations that address these issues strengthens the overall response.
• Sustainability and funding: The issue of resources is a perennial challenge for civil society. Participants discussed the need for innovative funding models that go beyond short-term projects and focus on long-term impact. Traditional advocacy must be supplemented with direct citizen engagement to rebuild trust and empower communities.

Key takeaways:

• Why it matters: For those working in civil society or policy-making, understanding the power dynamics and intersectional nature of disinformation is key to developing effective interventions. As the political and social space for CSOs shrinks in many countries, finding new allies and sustainable funding is critical for survival.

Next steps: Experts should advocate for diverse funding streams and build coalitions that include a range of stakeholders—from local governments to grassroots organizations—to create a more resilient civil society.

Chair: Angela Jain (Bertelsmann Stiftung, Germany)
Impulses: Wawrzyniec Smoczyński (New Community Foundation, Poland), Dominik Hierlemann (Bertelsmann Stiftung, Germany)

What’s it about?

Citizen participation is a vital component of healthy democracies, but ideological polarization and declining trust in institutions present serious challenges. This session focused on how innovative participation formats can help counter disinformation, foster trust, and engage citizens in meaningful ways. Experts examined successful models, such as Poland’s "Good Conversation Training," and explored how citizen engagement can help mitigate populism.

What was discussed?

• Tackling polarization first: Ideological and populist polarization was identified as one of the main barriers to effective citizen participation. Before meaningful dialogue can occur, society must address polarization and foster constructive conversations. Initiatives such as Poland’s national dialogue programs were highlighted as models for depolarizing public discourse.
• Diverse participation formats: Different levels of citizen engagement require varied participation formats, from in-person town halls to online platforms. This flexibility ensures that citizens with limited time can still contribute to democratic processes.
• Critical thinking and media literacy: Empowering citizens through critical thinking skills and news literacy programs is crucial for helping them navigate disinformation. Experts emphasized that responsibility for revitalizing democracy should not rest solely on citizens; politicians and journalists must also contribute by being more transparent and accountable.

Key takeaways:

• Why it matters: For policy-makers and democracy advocates, developing citizen participation models that are flexible and accessible is crucial for rebuilding trust in democratic institutions. Tackling polarization through structured dialogue formats can also help bridge divides and restore civic engagement.
• Next steps: Experts should consider piloting mixed participation formats that combine online and offline elements, and integrate critical thinking and media literacy programs into broader democratic initiatives.

Chair: Finn Heinrich (Bertelsmann Stiftung, Germany)
Impulses: Mikael Tofvesson (Swedish Psychological Defense Agency, Sweden), Hanna Müller (Federal Ministry of Interior, Germany)

What’s it about?

Governments face a delicate balancing act between protecting citizens from disinformation and safeguarding freedom of expression. This session explored how democratic governments can respond to foreign malign influence while avoiding censorship. It also examined the importance of collaboration between state institutions and civil society.

What was discussed?

• Foreign vs. domestic disinformation: A distinction was made between foreign disinformation, where governments are typically better equipped to respond, and domestic disinformation, where civil society organizations play a more critical role in preserving freedom of expression.
• Trust in institutions: The effectiveness of governmental counter-disinformation efforts depends on public trust. Ministries and agencies must operate transparently and avoid being perceived as “ministries of truth” that dictate what information is valid.
• Collaborative approaches: Participants underscored the need for a “whole-of-society” approach, where governments, CSOs, and private sector actors work together. This includes clarifying the division of labor between government agencies and CSOs and exploring cooperation opportunities at the local level.

Key takeaways:

• Why it matters: For experts involved in public policy or governance, understanding the complexities of balancing state intervention and freedom of speech is essential. Transparent, trust-based government action is key to gaining public support for countering disinformation.
• Next steps: Policy-makers should focus on creating transparent and accountable mechanisms for tackling disinformation, ensuring that state efforts are complemented by civil society actions to avoid overreach.

Chair: Joachim Rother (Bertelsmann Stiftung, Germany)
Impulses: Nishant Shah (Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong), Syed Nazakat (DataLEADS, India)

What’s it about?

Disinformation is a global issue that requires international solutions. This session discussed the importance of global cooperation in tackling disinformation and explored how collaborative networks can scale solutions that work across regions and contexts.

What was discussed?

• Collaboration as a tool for scaling solutions: The discussion emphasized that while scaling successful approaches globally is important, the focus should first be on solving specific, local problems. Successful collaborations must be goal-oriented and supported by clear objectives.
• Building trust across borders: Effective international cooperation requires mutual trust and a willingness to learn from diverse regional experiences. Participants also noted that international collaboration helps build solidarity among actors facing similar challenges.

Key takeaways:

• Why it matters: For those working on global disinformation challenges, international cooperation offers the opportunity to learn from different contexts and scale effective solutions. Building networks of trust and solidarity is essential to address the global nature of the information crisis.
• Next steps: Experts should invest in cross-border collaborations that are goal-oriented and supported by clear funding models, while also respecting cultural and contextual differences that impact the effectiveness of solutions.

Chair: Charlotte Freihse (Bertelsmann Stiftung, Germany)
Impulses: Martin Hullin (Bertelsmann Stiftung, Germany), Eduardo Ceccotti (Chequeado, Argentina)

What’s it about?

This session examined how technology can be leveraged to protect democracy while ensuring that governance models keep pace with technological advances. The discussion also addressed the challenges posed by the uneven playing field between tech companies and civil society organizations (CSOs).

What was discussed?

• Agile governance models: Participants noted that the speed of technological advancements, particularly in AI, far outpaces the ability of traditional governance mechanisms to respond. There is a need for more agile, multi-stakeholder governance models that can react to the rapid changes in technology.
• Success stories: Examples like Taiwan’s CoFacts platform and Chequeado’s AI fact-checking tools in Argentina were highlighted as models of how technology can be used to combat disinformation effectively.
• Digital literacy and citizen empowerment: Promoting digital literacy is key to empowering citizens to engage in democratic processes and counter disinformation. Taiwan’s efforts to reach targeted demographics through schools, libraries, and other local channels were cited as a successful approach.

Key takeaways:

• Why it matters: For tech experts and policy-makers, understanding how to develop agile governance models that can keep up with rapid technological changes is essential. Digital literacy programs should be scaled to ensure citizens are informed and empowered in the face of technological disruptions.
• Next steps: Experts should work on building cross-sector coalitions that promote best practices in tech governance and support digital literacy programs that reach a broad demographic.