Putin’s real fear isn’t NATO expansion. Putin’s real fear is DEMOCRACY expansion. “There is no greater threat to Putin’s legitimacy than Ukrainians practicing democracy.” #DefendDemocracy #StandWithUkraine #EuropeStandUp

Now that's a line-up!

Excited to host a timely debate: ‘From Regulation to Resilience: Role of Digital Laws in Defending Democracy & Security’ Speakers: @meredithmeredith.bsky.social @johnnyryan.bsky.social @robin.berjon.com @mollymckew.bsky.social Stay tuned! #Regulation4Resilience defenddemocracy.eu/events/4-dec...

🚨 Brussels, today 🚨Ursula! Stand up for Europe – not for Trump’s tech bros! As the EU unveils its “Digital Omnibus” today, we're rolling out billboards calling on @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu to stop bending to US and Big Tech pressure and enforce our digital laws #StandUpUrsula✊

Why Europe needs a security update: the era of hybrid warfare. "When updating security assets, we must not only invest in hardware and software but also in ‘wetware’." Our latest: defenddemocracy.eu/europe-secur...

Well timed! A day after @ec.europa.eu Democracy Shield publication, #DefendDemocracy joined a Rapid Alert System (RAS) meeting of EU & its member states for an exchange on the role of civil society in defending democracy from hybrid attacks, in particular FIMI & disinformation.

"If we Europeans do not wake up and say, ‘We want to take back control of our democracies,’ I can tell you this: Within 10 years [...] we will be a continent, like many others, of conspiracy theorists, extremists, noise and fury." defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...

Het draaiboek lijkt inmiddels versleten, maar ook dit keer duikt de complottheorie over “kiesfraude” weer op. Over hoe een geliefd thema voor Russische desinformatie ook door Nederlanders wordt gebruikt. www.web-watch.org/news/complot... #TK2025 #NLpol #verkiezingen

The Overton window has shifted to the right. Our fight for democracy is far from over. #DefendDemocracy #TK2025

We continue the Kremlin's long tradition of alliances with Europe's far right.

Wij gingen, samen met @democratiecoalitie.bsky.social, in gesprek met studenten over desinformatie, misleiding en de rol van algoritmes tijdens verkiezingstijd in Nederland. Veel van elkaar geleerd! foundationmaxvanderstoel.nl/in-gesprek-o... #TK2025 #NLpol #NLkiest #verkiezingen

Surprise, surprise… defenddemocracy.eu/russian-prav...

BREAKING: Russian propaganda site promotes far-right party ahead of Netherlands elections. "The party's channel is also in the top 10 sources on which the website has relied since its inception." defenddemocracy.eu/russian-prav... #TK2025 #NLpol #verkiezingen

Great banner 😍 #DefendDemocracy!

Russia is at ‘hybrid war’ with Europe, warns EU chief. “It is time to call it by its name. This is hybrid warfare, and we have to take it very seriously.” #DefendDemocracy therecord.media/russia-hybri...

Kremlin tactics spotted ahead of Netherlands’ election. It is precisely its less visible nature that makes the influence of foreign interference in Western democracies so insidious. defenddemocracy.eu/kremlin-tact...

EU Parliament demands a unified EU response to Russian violations and hybrid warfare threats. "Coordinated action, stronger defence, and sanctions needed to counter Russian provocations targeting EU security and infrastructure." www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...

For our Netherlands' community: Stay on top of the Dutch elections: Subscribe to the TK25 Trend Tracker!

exact quotation, and other relevant sections of the speech, translated here: defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...

🔥 Finally an EU leader says it out loud: “We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks that are controlled either by large American entrepreneurs or large Chinese companies, whose interests are not at all the survival or proper functioning of our democracies.”

President Macron: “Europeans, let's wake up! We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks.” defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...

We are alarmed by reports that Germany is on the verge of a catastrophic about-face, reversing its longstanding and principled opposition to the EU’s Chat Control proposal which, if passed, could spell the end of the right to privacy in Europe. signal.org/blog/pdfs/ge...

YouTube has a new #AI feature. What risks for #democracy? defenddemocracy.eu/youtube-ai-d... #DefendDemocracy #tech #TK2025

Handige tips voor in verkiezingstijd: Hoe voorkom je dat je per ongeluk desinformatie verspreidt? #TK2025 #NKpol #verkiezingen

Dank voor een mooi gesprek, Bram! Ben erg benieuwd naar de uiteindelijke video. Meer weten? Kijk alvast op @defenddemocracy.bsky.social en @webwatch.bsky.social

Political parties must stop advertising on Meta halfway through the Netherlands' election campaign. What is going on? Our @webwatch.bsky.social had a look: web-watch.org/politieke-ad... #EUsky #TK25 #tech

Last week we celebrated International Democracy Day! #DefendDemocracy brought together inspiring voices for an informal exchange on the future of our democracy. Thanks to @ec.europa.eu guest speaker Simona Constantin for adding real depth to the discussion & to @K_B_Foundation for support.

at the center of the efforts to destroy civil society in russia, hungary, georgia and elsewhere is the stigmatization, harassment, & criminalization of NGOs. that's what this is about, a full-on assault on democratic debate & freedoms. this is not hyperbole. it's right here.

On International #DemocracyDay, Defend Democracy is launching WebWatch, our tech watchdog. First up, we will monitor, analyse and expose the (lack of) digital and information integrity of the Netherlands' elections on 29 October 2025. #EUsky #TK25 #tech

On this International #DemocracyDay, at #DefendDemocracy we are excited to launch WebWatch, our tech watchdog! Follow @webwatch.bsky.social ! More info: defenddemocracy.eu/webwatch-tec...

Here is #DefendDemocracy 's September newsletter! 📰 Read this edition: crm.defenddemocracy.eu/civicrm/?civ... ✏️ Sign up for future editions: defenddemocracy.eu/newsletters/ ✅ Join our democracy defenders & stay tuned!

The world is watching. And so is Defend Democracy. #HandsOff #DefendDemocracy #PeopleVsBigTech

Last week, #DefendDemocracy organised the 3rd 'cross-party lunch on democracy, security & tech', a new initiative under our 'Coalition for Democratic Resilience' program. This time with @EP_Democracy & @EP_Justice advisor. Thanks FNF, HBF & FES for your support! defenddemocracy.eu/projects/coa...

Does the EU have the courage to take and enforce adequate structural measures to defend democracy against the weaponisation of digital platforms? @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu @hennavirkkunen.bsky.social @michaelmcgratheu.bsky.social

There was a time when the US would stand tall in the defense of freedom and democracy. No more. We will now congratulate the winner but “avoid opining on the fairness or integrity of an electoral process, its legitimacy.” Putin will love it! www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Digital engineering creates not just far-right voters; it manufactures far-right candidates. Does the EU have the courage to take and enforce adequate structural measures to defend democracy against the weaponisation of digital platforms? New analysis: defenddemocracy.eu/poland-2025-...

Here is #DefendDemocracy 's July newsletter! 📰 Read this edition: crm.defenddemocracy.eu/civicrm/?civ... ✏️ Sign up for future editions: defenddemocracy.eu/newsletters/ ✅ Join our democracy defenders & stay tuned!

A new era calls for a new strategy. #DefendDemocracy Board & Director meet to discuss the future of democracy. Where else than in Brussels, the heart of EUrope, leader of the Free World? 🇪🇺💫 (But how long can the EU hold the line if we obey the US in advance & don’t invest in democratic security?)

Paraphrasing Winston Churchill: “You are given the choice between dishonour and trade war. Chose dishonour, and you will have a trade war anyway.” #HandsOff #DefendDemocracy

The most amazing place to discuss 'Security, Safety and Resilience': Białowieża Forest, which during WW2 was a refuge for Polish and Soviet partisans (now a UNESCO World Heritage Site). #DefendDemocracy spoke about 'Security and new technologies: facing AI and disinformation'.

Honoured to exchange with EU Commissioner @michaelmcgratheu.bsky.social to provide input for the European Democracy Shield. One of #DefendDemocracy's recommendations: align EU's MFF budget with the agreed 1.5% NATO defence spending to invest in tech sovereignty & societal resilience to hybrid war.

Thrilled to announce a bold ally of #DefendDemocracy! Former Minister of Foreign Affairs @glandsbergis.bsky.social joins our Advisory Board. "Freedom runs in my family. The survival of our freedoms relies on strong defence of our values & borders." defenddemocracy.eu/about/adviso...

While EU leaders meet, #DefendDemocracy held its own EU summit: @epc-official.bsky.social Chief Executive @FabianZuleeg joined our monthly @democracydrinks.bsky.social to discuss how Europe can defend its liberal democracy by taking decisive action asap. www.epc.eu/publication/...

Here is #DefendDemocracy 's June newsletter! 📰 Read this edition: crm.defenddemocracy.eu/civicrm/?civ... ✏️ Sign up for future editions: defenddemocracy.eu/newsletters/ ✅ Join our democracy defenders & stay tuned!

Defend Democracy joins call urging Europe to put democracy at the heart of its new security agenda. #NATOsummit #EUpol #security www.kofiannanfoundation.org/news/democra...

Very proud of #DefendDemocracy and the entire team to pull off this high-level conference with the Polish EU Presidency on defending democracy! Here's a thread with pictures & impressions. Sign up to our newsletter to stay tuned for more: defenddemocracy.eu/newsletters/ #Poland25EU #EUsky #NATO

Honoured to co-organise a conference with @poland25eu.bsky.social: Defending Democracy in the New Geopolitical Landscape: How to accelerate EU’s Preparedness against Hybrid Threats? Great collaboration & thanks for security & resilience as #Poland25EU priority! defenddemocracy.eu/events/13-ju...

Thanks to our co-organiser @poland25eu.bsky.social and partner @eudiplomacy.bsky.social for an inspiring conference: “Defending Democracy in the new geopolitical landscape. How to accelerate EU’s preparedness against hybrid threats”. Sign up & stay tuned for more: defenddemocracy.eu/newsletters/

Last week, #DefendDemocracy organised the 2nd 'cross-party lunches on democracy, security and tech', a new initiative under our 'Coalition for Democratic Resilience' program. This time with a @EP_Defence & @EP_SingleMarket advisor. Thanks to all for joining! defenddemocracy.eu/projects/coa...

Honoured to join @ec.europa.eu @danishmfa.bsky.social & others for @eesc.bsky.social expert hearing "Enhancing EU´s ability to protect European democracies". #DefendDemocracy message: invest in civil preparedness & societal resilience against hybrid & tech threats NOW. ec.europa.eu/info/law/bet...