Hacking Democracies - Cataloguing cyber-enabled attacks on elections 

This policy brief highlights examples of interference in elections globally. It considers critical learnings to develop policy responses to counter different types of interference. 

Insights on judging dangers and managing risks

One of the great hopes for the internet was that it would herald a new era in the democratisation of information. To a large extent, it's been successful. So successful that global platforms, technology diffusion and mobility have brought some unintended consequences by enabling the rapid dissemination of disinformation and fake news.

We live in a time when trust in our democratic and other vital institutions has declined. Adversaries with new capabilities have compounded this loss of confidence, undermining trust in institutions. 

In this policy brief, the writers explore such interference worldwide and consider critical learnings from those examples to develop policy responses for countering each type of interference.

Technology can transform lives by reducing barriers to entry and creating more significant equity so that all our citizens can participate in education and the economy. We want to live in a world where technology enhances our experience, all citizens can access the internet, and we can vote electronically in elections. However, our interconnection must be safe and trusted, protecting and enhancing our democracies.  

This brief starts a critical national conversation, generating awareness of the approaches commonly taken by adversaries to spread disinformation, misinformation and fake news. It lays out a series of measures for managing risk. It is an educational resource for our citizens on what to watch for and how to better distinguish reputable information from disinformation in real time.