Defend Democracy celebrates International Democracy Day by launching a new initiative: a tech watchdog called WebWatch.
WebWatch‘s first project is about digital and information integrity around the Netherlands’ general elections of 29 October 2025. Will there be improper influence on public debate in the weeks before, during and after the election? Will we see online deliberate deception of social media users and voters?
Romania’s elections in December 2024 were so disrupted by Russian interference via social media that the Supreme Court declared the election results invalid. Experts warn that Romania is a testing ground for other European countries. What can we expect in the Netherlands?
Defend Democracy’s WebWatch will monitor, analyse and expose whether and what is going wrong. The aim is not only to reduce the effect of manipulation, deception and disinformation on the elections, but also to increase citizens’ media literacy and digital literacy.
After the Dutch elections WebWatch will switch its website to English and will develop broader tech watchdog activities and publications about technological threats to democracy.
International Democracy Day
In 2007 the United Nations resolved to observe 15 September as the International Day of Democracy, with the purpose of promoting and upholding the principles of democracy. It invited all UN member states and organisations to commemorate the day to contribute to raising public awareness about the importance of democracy.
Defend Democracy is honouring International Democracy Day by launching its tech watchdog WebWatch. And tonight we will celebrate Democracy Day together at our monthly networking event #DemocracyDrinks. The speaker will be Simona Constantin, Cabinet member of EU Commissioner McGrath (Democracy, Justice, Rule of Law and Consumer Protection). This special edition of our monthly event is kindly supported by the King Baudouin Foundation.
Defend Democracy, 15 September 2025
