We're delighted to welcome Karolina Mackiewicz as our newest Policy Fellow! Karolina brings expertise in technology policy, digital transformation and AI governance, and will help translate IDDP's research into actionable policy insights. Learn more about her work at: iddp.gwu.edu/karolina-mac...

Last week scholars, policymakers & policy practitioners came together for a timely discussion on digital threats & disinformation across Asia. Our discussions explored a range of challenges shaping the region's information environment. Thank you to all who joined us for a wide-ranging conversation!

A recent paper by IDDP researchers unpacks “trustworthy AI” in a way that helps explain why so many debates in this space feel misaligned. A 🧵 (1/6) @broniatowski.bsky.social and @lorien-abroms.bsky.social

Our last research grant recipient is Y. Tony Yang. His work will investigate the intersection of health misinformation and democratic trust. (1/3)

We are excited to share that IDDP is funding Professor Julian Wamble's research project challenging how we think about AI and misinformation. (1/3)

Today we're highlighting our next RfP recipient Professor Jasmine Carrera Smith. Her project will explore a timely and crucial question: does person of color (POC) identity predict support for POC representation? (1/3)

We are pleased to announce that @abuaardvark.bsky.social (Marc Lynch) has also been selected as a recipient of IDDP’s research funding for his proposal on AI, surveillance, and authoritarianism in the Middle East (1/4)

Over the course of the week we are going to our research grant winners and provide a summary of their projects. A 🧵 We are proud to recognize this year’s research grant recipients, scholars whose work is advancing critical inquiry at the nexus of digital technology, governance, and democracy. (1/4)

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down Louisiana’s congressional map in a 6–3 ruling, limiting the use of race in redistricting. In an interview with WBUR’s Here & Now, Spencer Overton explains the implications for voting rights and future elections. 🎧: bit.ly/4t9R3F4

The world has changed and so has our understanding of misinformation. What does it look like today, and how has our approach evolved?

If you’re passionate about shaping the future of AI research we have a postdoc opportunity for you. Alongside the Institute for Trustworthy AI in Law & Society (TRAILS) we're looking for an exceptional Postdoc w/expertise in AI, meta-analysis and building scientific infrastructure. 💻 bit.ly/4tkHqnL

In Democracy Journal, IDDP Co-Director Ethan Porter reviews the book Politics Without Politicians: The Case for Citizen Rule, which challenges top-down policymaking and makes the case for more inclusive, participatory approaches. Full Article: democracyjournal.org/magazine/80/....

Is there actually a way to stop misinformation? At our latest Food for Thought session, @adamberinsky.bsky.social explored this question and the answer isn’t as simple as we might hope.

Is There Any Real Hope to Stop Misinformation? Join our Food for Thought series with MIT’s Adam Berinsky as he explores why current solutions fall short and what actually works. Register here: form.jotform.com/260674910556... 🗓️ April , 12:30–1:30 PM

Are you passionate about policy and research? This job is for you. IDDP is hiring a Policy Fellow to translate research into actionable insights for policymakers and the public across AI, misinformation, and democracy. Apply at: gwu.jobs/postings/125023 . 📅 Deadline: May 31, 2025.

In recent years, academics, advocates, and policymakers have proposed or discussed the need for a new digital regulator (NDR) – a new agency of the federal government that regulates the AI and technology industry, w/ a particular focus on market competition, data privacy, and transparency & safety.

IDDP kicked off the Food for Thought series this week with political scientist @jenvictor.bsky.social sparking an engaging conversation on the state of democracy in the U.S.

IDDP's @lorien-abroms.bsky.social studied the efficacy of trusted online communities helping to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Spanish-speaking Latino parents. Findings suggest culturally relevant, moderated Facebook groups can support more positive vaccine beliefs. Read at bit.ly/4lytIL1

Join our colleagues in the School of Media & Public Affairs next week for their annual Entman talk with @brendannyhan.bsky.social. This year's conversation will focus on the myths behind misinformation. 📅: Wednesday, March 25 from 4 - 5pm in 🏢: MPA B07 Register at form.jotform.com/260695132582...

Don't forget to register for our inaugural Food for Thought 🔊 Who: @jenvictor.bsky.social What: Conversation on the ways in which democracy is defined and measured, how 🇺🇸 stacks up, and where we go from here When 📅: March 24th 2-3pm Where 🏢: SMPA 5th Floor Studio Register: bit.ly/47H9sRu

New @techpolicypress.bsky.social article by @broniatowski.bsky.social & Joseph Simons encourage policymakers to think of large scale digital platforms as critical infrastructure. Policy debates surrounding these platforms narrowly focus on access controls or legal liability. Read at bit.ly/4bzYjDr.

‼️ We're launching the Food for Thought speaker series ‼️ Designed to spark curiosity and conversation, Food for Thought brings together faculty and IDDP affiliates who want to share their research with the broader @gwu1821.bsky.social community.

On the 4th anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war, we are revisiting a 2022 cross-national study that offers a key insight: fact-checking reduced belief in pro-Kremlin misinformation, but didn’t change attitudes about the war. People update facts, not always loyalties. Find at: bit.ly/4s1NhgC

@annalenhart.bsky.social contributed to @aspendigital.bsky.social new handbook Defining Technologies of Our Time: AI. As AI evolves, how we define it shapes regulation, accountability, and governance. Her chapter explores General Purpose AI and policy challenges. Read at: bit.ly/4b46uIW

🔊 Funding alert 🔊 We're looking for @gwu1821.bsky.social faculty to submit research proposals on digital technology, media and democracy. ‼️Deadline‼️March 6, 2026 More details are available at: iddp.gwu.edu/call-interna...

One of our Principal Researchers, Spencer Overton, was quoted in @techpolicypress.bsky.social on his forthcoming paper. He argues that AI policies under the Trump administration risk embedding exclusion into future tech by dismantling bias safeguards. Read full article: bit.ly/4sYNGC2

Last week we hosted a timely discussion on youth voting rights, examining the role of young people & college campuses in advancing democratic participation. Thanks to our panelists for their insights and to everyone who joined us. Full event recap: rb.gy/8dm12n

Join IDDP for a book talk on Youth Voting Rights, a timely exploration of the 26th Amendment and the ongoing fight to expand youth voting power. Lunch will be provided! 📅 Wednesday, January 21st from 12:30–2:00PM 📍 SMPA’s 5th Floor Studio Register: bit.ly/3NMXoa9

IDDP Principal Researcher Spencer Overton, was quoted by @thehill.com on how the Supreme Court could reshape U.S. elections. He noted that the Louisiana v. Callais could see the Court retreat further from checking partisan gerrymandering. Full article: bit.ly/4qkSdwR

Our director @ethanvporter.bsky.social was featured in an article that finds AI can influence voters—sometimes more than campaign ads. Porter is less pessimistic, arguing chatbots are unlikely to have a scalable impact on the upcoming U.S. midterms. Read more: bit.ly/4bgXwIQ

Wishing our community a joyful holiday season and a bright year ahead. Read our newsletter to take a look back on all we've accomplished this year: t.e2ma.net/webview/n0vj...

AI chatbots can engage in political persuasion more than expected. In a new article by @sciam.bsky.social IDDP Co-Director @ethanvporter.bsky.social notes that, despite pessimistic claims, facts aren’t dismissed—they can drive effective political persuasion. Full story at: bit.ly/4q587KZ

@brandonsilverman.bsky.social & @annalenhart.bsky.social interviewed 18 high profile social media figures about privacy. They found participants are highly aware of their content’s visibility, reach, and third-party marketing tools—setting them apart from typical users. Read at: bit.ly/4peorZB

🚨Research Alert🚨 @ethanvporter.bsky.social new paper explores whether and under what conditions — fact-checks can impose reputational costs on political leaders who spread misinformation, particularly on abortion, one of the most polarizing issues in American politics. Read at bit.ly/48QYYQt.

In our final clip recap of last month's event, Susan Stokes spoke about why we're seeing increasing cases of democratic erosion around the world, including the US. Listen to her full response in the video below. Or watch our event recording at bit.ly/3LDSE5M.

During our State of Democracy event last month, Harvard professor @ryanenos.bsky.social spoke about how our democracy is being eroded, in many cases without the public recognizing that it is happening. If you missed our event you can find a full recap at bit.ly/3LDSE5M.

During our State of Democracy event last month, @eugenerobinson.bsky.social spoke about the role the Supreme Court has played in some of the challenges currently being faced by our democracy. If you missed our event you can find a full recap at bit.ly/3LDSE5M.

NEW REPORT 💻 @annalenhart.bsky.social and @brandonsilverman.bsky.social interviewed 18 high-profile social media figures about how they view privacy. Many policymakers assume that public data from prominent accounts involve lower expectations of privacy. Is that the case? Read here: bit.ly/4peorZB.

If you weren’t able to attend The State of Democracy in Trump’s America: Year One, you can catch it at bit.ly/3LDSE5M. We hope this conversation proved to be an insightful reflection on how the Trump presidency is testing democratic institutions and norms in the United States. @newrepublic.com.

Join IDDP and @newrepublic.com on Oct. 21st for a frank discussion on democracy. Speakers include @rokhanna.bsky.social, @ryanenos.bsky.social, the University of Chicago's Susan Stokes, and former @washingtonpost.com columnist Eugene Robinson. Register to save your seat today: bit.ly/479ZNmF.

Curious to know about where IDDP is headed? In a Q&A with GW Today, @catiebailard.bsky.social and @ethanvporter.bsky.social spoke about their vision for the Institute. Read it at gwtoday.gwu.edu/q-new-co-directors-gws-institute-data-democracy-and-politics.

🖥️ 📈 The SMM market thrives on secrecy. Some tools have privileged access, most scrape, few disclose. We need standards that put the public interest first. Read the report by @cmilez.bsky.social, @brandonsilverman.bsky.social, and @annalenhart.bsky.social at iddp.gwu.edu/dashboard-data-acquisition

Our first post! And what better way to mark this occasion than by announcing the start of a new chapter at IDDP. Last month @catiebailard.bsky.social and @ethanvporter.bsky.social stepped in as the Institute's Co-Director's. Read their full statement at iddp.gwu.edu/about.