Claes de Vreese
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claesdevreese.bsky.social
Claes de Vreese
@claesdevreese.bsky.social
Professor of AI, society, media and democracy + Political Communication, U Amsterdam || Director of Digital Democracy Centre, SDU || AlgoSoc || AIMD || Mix of work and private stuff ||
🇩🇰🇳🇱🇪🇺🏃🏼🧪☕️🍿🐶🟥🦋
Pinned
Thrilled to receive the 2025 @carlsbergfondet.dk Research Prize.

The prize celebrates free and independent research. I am incredibly indebted to students, colleagues, support staff, funders, and mentors who made all the research possible. Onward and upward 🚀

www.carlsbergfondet.dk/en/news/klau...
Reposted by Claes de Vreese
Jetten en Bontenbal blunderen met inhoudelijk akkoord: andere partijen willen verder op basis van politieke spelletjes
Jetten en Bontenbal blunderen met inhoudelijk akkoord: andere partijen willen verder op basis van politieke spelletjes
Deze week presenteerden Jetten en Bontenbal de voorlopige resultaten van de tussenformatie.
speld.nl
December 4, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Read this overview before today's morning ☕

Today will be about X and deceptive Blue ✔️, ad transparency, and researcher access to data. Very important topics. But only a part of what is being investigated.
So (see @klonick.bsky.social last night) today may be the day that the EU Commission fines X for breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA). Busy day for me, and I expect many questions if it happens, so here's an explanation thread in advance.

First of all, a reminder of the provisional decision
EU Commission preliminary findings that Twitter/X has breached the Digital Services Act (nb remedy is a fine, not a ban)
December 5, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Reposted by Claes de Vreese
The persuasive impact of AI chatbots on voters.

The effects found are large but likely also an effect of the design.

Regardless, AI is part of election campaigns now.

My comments include reference to recent @algosoc.org data

@ernesto-deleon.com @favstats.eu

www.newscientist.com/article/2507...
AI can influence voters' minds. What does that mean for democracy?
Voters change their opinions after interacting with an AI chatbot – but it seems that AIs rely on facts to influence people
www.newscientist.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Reposted by Claes de Vreese
All 46 Council of Europe member states have signed the European Convention on Human Rights.

Signing the #ECHR isn’t optional, it’s a mandatory step for any country wishing to join the #CouncilOfEurope.

Because human rights, democracy, and the rule of law are at the 💙 of everything we do.
December 5, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Reposted by Claes de Vreese
🚨 New in Nature+Science!🚨
AI chatbots can shift voter attitudes on candidates & policies, often by 10+pp
🔹Exps in US Canada Poland & UK
🔹More “facts”→more persuasion (not psych tricks)
🔹Increasing persuasiveness reduces "fact" accuracy
🔹Right-leaning bots=more inaccurate
December 4, 2025 at 8:43 PM
The persuasive impact of AI chatbots on voters.

The effects found are large but likely also an effect of the design.

Regardless, AI is part of election campaigns now.

My comments include reference to recent @algosoc.org data

@ernesto-deleon.com @favstats.eu

www.newscientist.com/article/2507...
AI can influence voters' minds. What does that mean for democracy?
Voters change their opinions after interacting with an AI chatbot – but it seems that AIs rely on facts to influence people
www.newscientist.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Visa restrictions (H1B) for the US incoming if you worked on disinformation, content moderation, fact-checking or online safety 🤯

www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Exclusive: Trump administration orders enhanced vetting for applicants of H-1B visa
An internal State Department memo said that anyone involved in "censorship" of free speech should be considered for rejection.
www.reuters.com
December 4, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Reposted by Claes de Vreese
Political communication research overwhelmingly relies on text. But parliamentary speech is multimodal! In our new @psrm.bsky.social article, Mathias Rask and I show that legislators also signal partisan conflict nonverbally— through changes in vocal pitch during floor speeches. 🧵 1/11 #polisky
December 4, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Reposted by Claes de Vreese
"WhatsApp, ChatGPT and Telegram are on the European Commission’s radar for designation under the Digital Services Act, senior official Irene Roche Laguna said on Wednesday. This means they would have to comply with the strictest regime of the content-moderation law." www.mlex.com/mlex/technol...
WhatsApp, ChatGPT, Telegram are on EU’s radar for platform rules | MLex | Specialist news and analysis on legal risk and regulation
WhatsApp, ChatGPT and Telegram are on the European Commission’s radar for designation under the Digital Services Act, senior official Irene Roche Laguna said on Wednesday. This means they would have t...
www.mlex.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Is een minderheidskabinet een risico? Dat hoeft het niet te zijn. In Denemarken is het de norm en heel stabiel.

Maar daar is wel een éénkamer-parlement, een traditie van brede afspraken en een cultuur van vertrouwen en elkaar wat gunnen.

Ik lichtte het toe in @nieuwsuur.nl

youtu.be/6RfliwJMmlM
December 4, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Reposted by Claes de Vreese
Een minderheidskabinet in Nederland, kan dat? ... ik schuif vanavond bij @nieuwsuur.nl @nieuws.nos.nl aan om over voor- en nadelen te spreken, oa op basis van ervaringen uit Denemarken waar minderheidskabinetten de norm is - en heel stabiel.

nos.nl/nieuwsuur/ar...
3/12 in Nieuwsuur: Minderheidskabinet? • Regeling mijnschade • Oppositie Rusland • Biografieën
De uitzending van 3 december.
nos.nl
December 3, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Reposted by Claes de Vreese
📢📢 Happy to announce a new update to the PPEG database!

The data now covers

- > 3.000 parties
- 1.100 parliamentary elections
- 402 presidential elections
- 2.044 cabinets

across 73 countries (1945 - 2025, Oct 31).

All info: ppeg.wzb.eu

We hope that data is helpful to the community!
December 3, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Een minderheidskabinet in Nederland, kan dat? ... ik schuif vanavond bij @nieuwsuur.nl @nieuws.nos.nl aan om over voor- en nadelen te spreken, oa op basis van ervaringen uit Denemarken waar minderheidskabinetten de norm is - en heel stabiel.

nos.nl/nieuwsuur/ar...
3/12 in Nieuwsuur: Minderheidskabinet? • Regeling mijnschade • Oppositie Rusland • Biografieën
De uitzending van 3 december.
nos.nl
December 3, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Reposted by Claes de Vreese
The Commission’s plan to delay the AI Act’s high-risk regime is facing serious questioning from EU governments. Countries are questioning the Commission’s discretion to set new deadlines and demanding clear criteria for predictability.
www.mlex.com/mlex/article...
EU countries question proposed approach for delaying AI Act’s key duties | MLex | Specialist news and analysis on legal risk and regulation
A planned delay for key EU AI Act duties has come under question from member states, which warn that the European Commission's proposed approach lacks clear criteria, predictability and sufficient inv...
www.mlex.com
December 3, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Reposted by Claes de Vreese
📣 #MilitantDemocracy out in #OpenAccess @routledgebooks.bsky.social!

📝 Offers one of the first comprehensive theories of #democraticselfdefence. Great to see it’s still relevant to current debates.

🎂 This month marks the 10th anniversary of the Dutch edition!

www.taylorfrancis.com/books/oa-mon...
December 3, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Reposted by Claes de Vreese
Heel fijn om bij BNR’s Big Five the gast te zijn en met Art Rooijakkers uitgebreid te spreken over de formatie en de impact van uiterst rechtse partijen op de liberale democratie www.bnr.nl/podcast/theb...
Politicoloog Sarah de Lange (Leiden University): 'De kiezer is rechtser gaan stemmen, terwijl hun opvattingen niet zijn veranderd'
De formatie sleept zich voort, maar is een minderheidskabinet dé oplossing om Nederland van het slot te halen? Te gast is Sarah de Lange hoogleraar Nederlan...
www.bnr.nl
December 3, 2025 at 11:15 AM
EU has a trove of data for good AI. Use it.

"By scrapping its digital regulation in the rush to boost the economy and gain digital sovereignty, the EU is surrendering its longtime ambition and ability to shape global technology"

@techpolicypress.bsky.social

www.techpolicy.press/europes-digi...
Europe’s Digital Sovereignty Hinges on Smarter Regulation for Data Access | TechPolicy.Press
A European data commons could give AI start-ups legal certainty, fair data access, and a real chance to compete with Big Tech, writes Milan Wiertz.
www.techpolicy.press
December 3, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Reposted by Claes de Vreese
UK aims to secure deal to rejoin Erasmus programme by January
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
UK aims to secure agreement to rejoin Erasmus student exchange scheme
Britain quit EU programme after Brexit, when Boris Johnson claimed it did not offer good value for money
www.theguardian.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:22 AM
The AI Act ‘pause’ creates new levels of uncertainty. The last thing needed.

And, don’t forget, citizens across Europe support a regulated *and* competitive AI space. #NotAContradiction

www.politico.eu/article/eu-a...
‘Pure regulatory chaos’: Move to help Europe win artificial intelligence race misfires
A fresh legal mess could be on the horizon after the EU agreed to pause part of its AI law.
www.politico.eu
December 2, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Reposted by Claes de Vreese
„At a time when the majority of Americans distrust big tech and believe artificial intelligence will harm society, Silicon Valley has built its own network of alternative media where CEOs, founders and investors are the unchallenged and beloved stars.“

www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
How big tech is creating its own friendly media bubble to ‘win the narrative battle online’
At a time when distrust of big tech is high, Silicon Valley is embracing an alternative ecosystem where every CEO is a star
www.theguardian.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:05 AM
The 2026 Fellow cohort in the @ddc-sdu.bsky.social x TrygFonden program has just been announced.

What can I say... fabulous line up including @annaneifer.bsky.social Asger Nim, @jasminemcnealy.com, @leahellmueller.bsky.social and many more.

Check the full cohort 🚀⬇️

www.sdu.dk/en/forskning...
DDCxTrygFonden fellowship cohort 2026
DDCxTrygFonden fellowship cohort 2026
www.sdu.dk
December 2, 2025 at 7:09 AM
I am part of the trend.

But I am also old enough to find it a genuine loss that the option will be gone

#ChristmasCard 🖤

www.economist.com/europe/2025/...
Denmark gets ready to cancel Christmas cards
The Danish post is the first to end letter collection, but others will follow
www.economist.com
December 2, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Reposted by Claes de Vreese
𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗗𝗗𝗖 𝘅 𝗧𝗿𝘆𝗴𝗙𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗖𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁!
We are thrilled to introduce the 15 (!) researchers, journalists, & policy experts from 9 countries to tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time: the impact of digital technologies on democratic societies.
December 1, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Rage bait Word of the Year.

Rage bait is a feature of political communication. Some politicians are skilled at it.

Given that Meta and Google/ YouTube have banned political ads online (in the EU), rage baiting is likely to 📈

Organic content needs to create attention.

www.bbc.com/news/article...
Rage bait named word of the year 2025 by Oxford University Press
The phrase - meaning to get angry scrolling through social media - beats aura farming and biohack to the title.
www.bbc.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Reposted by Claes de Vreese
Negen taal-, cultuur- en regiobachelors (TCR) aan de UvA lijken binnen enkele jaren te verdwijnen. Om een terugloop in het aantal studenten te ondervangen zouden de individuele bachelors in één nieuwe, overkoepelende TCR-opleiding op moeten gaan. www.folia.nl/nl/actueel/1...
Talenopleidingen aan de UvA lijken te verdwijnen
www.folia.nl
December 1, 2025 at 8:47 AM