Information Ecosystems and Troubled Democracy: Guidance for Policy Makers and Big Tech Companies

This summary explores research-based guidance for big tech companies and policymakers to align information ecosystems with international human rights commitments, without prescribing specific recommendations.The guidance covers governance approaches and shifts in how policymakers understand issues like information integrity, the role of technology, the harms of mis- and disinformation, and the impact of power dynamics on trust in the public sphere. It also recognizes the challenges of addressing corporate power and polarized publics.The summary emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts across corporations, governments, civil society, philanthropies, and academia to foster equity and justice in 21st-century information ecosystems.