AI for Democracy: Strengthening Switzerland’s Information Ecosystem

The Idiap Research Institute, in collaboration with the Universities of Lausanne and Neuchâtel, and cross-sectorial impact partners including the Initiative for Media Innovation (IMI), the public broadcaster RTS, Nagravision/Kudelski, and SICPA, have received support from the Hasler Foundation and the Mercator Foundation for an interdisciplinary project designed to reinforce the resilience of democracy in Switzerland as part of the "Digitalisation and Democracy" Program.

Disinformation is increasingly undermining informed decision-making. While artificial intelligence can sometimes amplify distortions, it also holds the potential to fortify democratic processes when applied responsibly. The DEMO-AI project seeks to harness AI to analyze how issues are framed in Swiss media, detect and counter audio-visual disinformation, and develop governance frameworks that remain aligned with democratic values and legal standards.

The project draws on expertise from computing, law, journalism, communication studies, and media literacy. This interdisciplinary framework ensures that the tools created are not only technologically advanced but also legally robust in addressing regulatory and ethical challenges, methodologically rigorous through empirical research, and socially relevant by responding to the needs of citizens and media practitioners.

A defining feature of the initiative is its participatory design. By involving the public directly in the development process, the tools will be calibrated to real-world needs, thereby enhancing trust and strengthening the reliability of Switzerland’s information ecosystem.

Led by Prof. Daniel Gatica-Perez (Social Computing Group) together with Prof. Sébastien Marcel (Biometrics Security and Privacy Group) at Idiap, the project underscores the Institute’s commitment to building AI solutions that are scientifically sound, socially responsible, and democratically aligned.