The internet and social media have become some of the most important arenas for Danes to share their political views. However, the tone online is often so harsh that many – especially young people, women, and minorities – withdraw completely from the conversation.
To adress this problem, the Algorithms, Data and Democracy project (ADD), the Danish Institute for Human Rights, and the Danish Ministry of Digitalisation’s Centre for Social Media, Tech and Democracy convened 60 experts and stakeholders for a policy lab in April. The participants’ insights have now been compiled into a policy brief with five recommendations to strengthen democratic conversation online.
The recommendations include:
- Developing alternatives to the large American tech platforms
- Strengthening moderation and intensifying efforts against digital harassment
- Investing in digital literacy and technology that encourages respectful debate
Minister for Digitalisation Caroline Stage welcomes the new recommendations:
“If we are to succeed in creating a better digital democracy where everyone can participate in the online debate, we need everyone to contribute ideas and possible solutions. That’s why I am pleased that the Ministry of Digitalisation, together with the Institute for Human Rights and the think tank Mandag Morgen, was able earlier this year to gather 60 stakeholders who provided many valuable inputs on how we can improve conditions for democratic conversation in the future. I will bring these ideas and reflections from the policy brief into the ministry’s ongoing work in this area,” she said.
Young people, women and minorities withdraw from the conversation
The online debate described in the policy brief is marked by unequal representation, self-censorship and a lack of consequences for trolling or chicanery. This status quo drives people away from participating, says Louise Holck, CEO of the Danish Institute for Human Rights:
“We know that several groups refrain from participating in public debate – this includes, for example, young people, women, and ethnic minorities. If citizens do not dare to express their opinions, we lose out on knowledge and perspectives that could enrich the public debate and strengthen our society. This is why it is important to ensure that the EU’s rules on platform responsibility are enforced with due regard for freedom of expression,” says Louise Holck.
A digital state of emergency
Tech giants have created platforms that fuel conflict rather than dialogue, so it is no surprise that the democratic conversation is struggling, says Lisbeth Knudsen, Strategy Director at Mandag Morgen and head of outreach for the ADD project:
“When hate speech and misinformation gain more visibility than arguments and facts, we no longer have a conversation – we have a digital state of emergency. This undermines our trust, our participation, and ultimately our democracy,” says Lisbeth Knudsen.
She says that we have been “asleep at the wheel” and talked about these problems for too long without doing enough to address them:
“If we want to create digital spaces where conversation is possible for everyone – not just those with the loudest voices and the thickest skin – we must move from words to action. Democracy deserves better online conditions than those we have today.”
The policy brief has five recommendations:
- Develop of alternative platforms
Digitally anchored communities with democratic foundations, e.g. a pan-European platform or a Danish public service solution built on values rather than profit. - Stronger moderation through technology and community
A combination of AI tools, independent fact-checkers, and clear accountability from platforms and debate hosts. - Effective legislation and enforcement
Modernising legislation and strengthening the capacity of police and regulators so that digital abuses have consequences. - Digital democratic literacy
Education as a shared project across generations and sectors – not only as a technical skill but also as a democratic one. - Use technology to promote constructive debate
Design and nudging mechanisms that reward responsible behaviour and prioritise quality over volume.
About the policy brief: Conditions for the democratic conversation online
On 1 April 2025, 60 key stakeholders from research, civil society, the tech industry, and the public sector gathered to discuss how to strengthen democratic conversation online.
The participants’ insights have since been condensed into a policy brief highlighting eight key challenges and five recommendations for action. Read the full brief here (in Danish).