Defend Democracy
@defenddemocracy.bsky.social
We #DefendDemocracy against hybrid & technological threats. Nonpartisan, nonprofit, Transatlantic. Founder & Director: Alice @Stollmeyer
Support us: https://defenddemocracy.eu/get-involved/donate/
Support us: https://defenddemocracy.eu/get-involved/donate/
Pinned
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...
Follow @webwatch.bsky.social !
More info: defenddemocracy.eu/webwatch-tec...
Reposted by Defend Democracy
BREAKING: European Parliament calls for EU-wide minimum age of 16 to access social media, video sharing platforms and AI companions, and proposes bans on the most harmful addictive practices.
#DefendDemocracy #PeopleVsBigTech
www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...
#DefendDemocracy #PeopleVsBigTech
www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...
Children should be at least 16 to access social media, say MEPs | News | European Parliament
MEPs are calling for ambitious EU action to protect minors online, including an EU-wide minimum age of 16 and bans on the most harmful addictive practices.
www.europarl.europa.eu
November 26, 2025 at 12:39 PM
BREAKING: European Parliament calls for EU-wide minimum age of 16 to access social media, video sharing platforms and AI companions, and proposes bans on the most harmful addictive practices.
#DefendDemocracy #PeopleVsBigTech
www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...
#DefendDemocracy #PeopleVsBigTech
www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...
Here is #DefendDemocracy 's November newsletter!
📰 Read this edition: crm.defenddemocracy.eu/civicrm/?civ...
✏️ Sign up for future editions: defenddemocracy.eu/newsletters/
✅ Join our democracy defenders & stay tuned!
📰 Read this edition: crm.defenddemocracy.eu/civicrm/?civ...
✏️ Sign up for future editions: defenddemocracy.eu/newsletters/
✅ Join our democracy defenders & stay tuned!
November 25, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Here is #DefendDemocracy 's November newsletter!
📰 Read this edition: crm.defenddemocracy.eu/civicrm/?civ...
✏️ Sign up for future editions: defenddemocracy.eu/newsletters/
✅ Join our democracy defenders & stay tuned!
📰 Read this edition: crm.defenddemocracy.eu/civicrm/?civ...
✏️ Sign up for future editions: defenddemocracy.eu/newsletters/
✅ Join our democracy defenders & stay tuned!
Reposted by Defend Democracy
Pope denounces polarisation and partisanship.
He warns democracy is not in good health.
“Let us not be deceived by easy solutions. Let us instead be passionate about the common good.”
www.euractiv.com/section/poli...
He warns democracy is not in good health.
“Let us not be deceived by easy solutions. Let us instead be passionate about the common good.”
www.euractiv.com/section/poli...
Pope decries populists, warns democracy is in bad health
Pope Francis denounced populist politics and what he called "the dross of ideology" on Sunday (7 July), warning that democracy was not in good shape in many parts of the world.
www.euractiv.com
July 8, 2024 at 12:26 PM
Pope denounces polarisation and partisanship.
He warns democracy is not in good health.
“Let us not be deceived by easy solutions. Let us instead be passionate about the common good.”
www.euractiv.com/section/poli...
He warns democracy is not in good health.
“Let us not be deceived by easy solutions. Let us instead be passionate about the common good.”
www.euractiv.com/section/poli...
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
Putin’s real fear is DEMOCRACY expansion.
“There is no greater threat to Putin’s legitimacy than Ukrainians practicing democracy.”
#DefendDemocracy
#StandWithUkraine
#EuropeStandUp
I’ve been in a room with Putin. He calls Ukrainians “Russians with accents.” His real fear isn’t NATO expansion, it’s democracy expansion. It shatters his entire argument for dictatorship at home. Because if Ukrainians embrace freedom, Russians may demand the same.
November 22, 2025 at 8:07 AM
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
Putin’s real fear is DEMOCRACY expansion.
“There is no greater threat to Putin’s legitimacy than Ukrainians practicing democracy.”
#DefendDemocracy
#StandWithUkraine
#EuropeStandUp
Reposted by Defend Democracy
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...
‘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...
November 21, 2025 at 8:30 AM
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...
‘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...
November 20, 2025 at 5:19 PM
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...
‘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...
Reposted by Defend Democracy
🚨 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✊
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✊
November 19, 2025 at 9:51 AM
🚨 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✊
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...
"When updating security assets, we must not only invest in hardware and software but also in ‘wetware’."
Our latest:
defenddemocracy.eu/europe-secur...
November 17, 2025 at 4:21 PM
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...
"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.
November 14, 2025 at 5:13 PM
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.
Reposted by Defend Democracy
"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...
Within 10 years [...] we will be a continent, like many others, of conspiracy theorists, extremists, noise and fury."
defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...
"Europeans, let's wake up!" — Defend Democracy
“We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks.” President Macron on the occasion of German Unity Day, 3 October 2025.
defenddemocracy.eu
October 5, 2025 at 12:08 PM
"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...
Within 10 years [...] we will be a continent, like many others, of conspiracy theorists, extremists, noise and fury."
defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...
Reposted by Defend Democracy
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
Over hoe een geliefd thema voor Russische desinformatie ook door Nederlanders wordt gebruikt.
www.web-watch.org/news/complot...
#TK2025 #NLpol #verkiezingen
October 15, 2025 at 3:07 PM
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
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
Our fight for democracy is far from over.
#DefendDemocracy #TK2025
With the official prognosis giving one additional seat to PVV and one to FvD compared to the ext poll, the narrative should really not be that the Netherlands/Jetten has beaten the radical right. The far right bloc remains remarkably stable.
October 30, 2025 at 8:44 AM
The Overton window has shifted to the right.
Our fight for democracy is far from over.
#DefendDemocracy #TK2025
Our fight for democracy is far from over.
#DefendDemocracy #TK2025
Reposted by Defend Democracy
We continue the Kremlin's long tradition of alliances with Europe's far right.
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
"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
October 29, 2025 at 6:07 PM
We continue the Kremlin's long tradition of alliances with Europe's far right.
Reposted by Defend Democracy
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
Veel van elkaar geleerd!
foundationmaxvanderstoel.nl/in-gesprek-o...
#TK2025 #NLpol #NLkiest #verkiezingen
October 29, 2025 at 3:57 PM
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
Veel van elkaar geleerd!
foundationmaxvanderstoel.nl/in-gesprek-o...
#TK2025 #NLpol #NLkiest #verkiezingen
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
"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
October 28, 2025 at 7:28 PM
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
"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
October 18, 2025 at 5:55 PM
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...
“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...
Russia is at ‘hybrid war’ with Europe, warns EU chief, calling for members ‘to take it very seriously’
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged the EU to “urgently equip itself with a strategic capacity to respond” to Russian hybrid warfare.
therecord.media
October 13, 2025 at 5:42 PM
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...
“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...
It is precisely its less visible nature that makes the influence of foreign interference in Western democracies so insidious.
defenddemocracy.eu/kremlin-tact...
Kremlin tactics spotted ahead of Netherlands' election — Defend Democracy
The battle for Europe is also being fought online. While in the West it is not that visible, precisely that makes foreign interference so treacherous.
defenddemocracy.eu
October 10, 2025 at 4:58 PM
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...
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...
"Coordinated action, stronger defence, and sanctions needed to counter Russian provocations targeting EU security and infrastructure."
www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...
Call for a unified EU response to Russian violations and hybrid warfare threats | News | European Parliament
Coordinated action, stronger defence, and sanctions needed to counter Russian provocations targeting EU security and infrastructure.
www.europarl.europa.eu
October 9, 2025 at 7:58 PM
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...
"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!
Stay on top of the Dutch elections:
Subscribe to the TK25 Trend Tracker!
Wist je dat WebWatch ook een nieuwsbrief heeft?
In onze wekelijkse TrendTracker bieden we:
* een overzicht van bereik, groei, engagement van politieke partijen
* onze ontdekkingen over online misleiding
Meld je aan en blijf op de hoogte:
web-watch.org/trend-tracker/
#TK2025 #NLpol #verkiezingen
In onze wekelijkse TrendTracker bieden we:
* een overzicht van bereik, groei, engagement van politieke partijen
* onze ontdekkingen over online misleiding
Meld je aan en blijf op de hoogte:
web-watch.org/trend-tracker/
#TK2025 #NLpol #verkiezingen
October 6, 2025 at 3:31 PM
For our Netherlands' community:
Stay on top of the Dutch elections:
Subscribe to the TK25 Trend Tracker!
Stay on top of the Dutch elections:
Subscribe to the TK25 Trend Tracker!
Reposted by Defend Democracy
exact quotation, and other relevant sections of the speech, translated here:
defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...
defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...
"Europeans, let's wake up!" — Defend Democracy
“We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks.” President Macron on the occasion of German Unity Day, 3 October 2025.
defenddemocracy.eu
October 4, 2025 at 2:51 PM
exact quotation, and other relevant sections of the speech, translated here:
defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...
defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...
Reposted by Defend Democracy
🔥 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.”
“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 have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks.”
defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...
October 4, 2025 at 11:37 AM
🔥 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.”
“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 have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks.”
defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...
October 4, 2025 at 10:52 AM
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 have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks.”
defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...