Research

We seek to advance democratic values in a technological age by conducting research that focuses on the nexus of technology, computing and democracy. 

We understand that technology has had a profound impact on our society, and want to explore how it might be better developed, governed and implemented to empower users, reinforce openness and transparency, and assure that the rights and freedoms of all people are supported. 

We have a strong foundation in computing research, but the computing technologies of tomorrow cannot be developed by technologists alone. They will require engagement across a wide variety of academic disciplines and lived experiences.      

Our Interests and Expertise

Nathan Schneider is interested in mechanism design, or the development of tools that can enable more accountable, responsive democratic governance systems.

Brian Keegan studies online commons, knowledge commons, online peer production and the politics of designing digital institutions. 

Rick Han, Christine Lv and Shiv Mishra collaborated on the , which was focused on making the Internet safer for its users through work on cyberbullying and detection of online misbehavior.

Eric Wustrow's team studies and combats internet censorship through several projects, including , a new censorship circumvention technique that deploys proxies at Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

Alexandra Siegel's research explores drivers and mitigators of intergroup conflict and intolerance, consequences of repression and digital dimensions of conflict, including the spread of online hate speech, extremism, and disinformation.

Graduate students Upasana Dutta and Rhett Hanscom analyzed Twitter users' behavior after contact with Russia's IRA in the runup the 2016 presidential election. 

Center participants are also interested in and have pursued projects on topics including:

  • examining the intersection of journalism, democracy and technology
  • studying the effects of fake news on the online mediascape and social networks
  • investigating support for voting for people with disabilities
  • exploring democratizing software
  • considering how the application of machine learning online affects the democratic process
  • examination of the relationship between data and politics/advocacy
  • education of consumers of information to combat fake news
  • conducting research linking online incivility outcomes with individual and social factors
  • understanding online pathways to polarization and radicalization
  • exploring online tools that stimulate political activism