Your Data, Our Democracy

1 minute read | First published: October 19, 2020

Around the world, as elections become increasingly data-intensive, our personal data is becoming a political asset for campaigns to leverage in pursuit of electoral success and political power. This educational short film explains to voters some of the ways in which our personal data is being used and alludes to the larger democratic consequences of the 'datafication' of politics. What does the development of the 'Influence Industry' mean for our democracies, and what can we do about it?

Watch the animation in English or Dutch to learn more.

If you want to dive deeper into the topic, check out our Voter’s Guide, which explains in accessible terms where political campaigns source personal data, what kinds of data they collect, and how they use it to target and persuade voters. The guide demystifies campaigning techniques like ‘digital listening’, ‘micro-targeting’ and ‘A/B testing’, and offers voters 7 essential tips to detox their personal data. The Voter's Guide is also available in Dutch here!