Launching my Churchill report on International Day of Democracy 2025

Today feels like the perfect day to share something I’ve been working on for over a year.

Today, I’m launching “Trust, Manipulation, and Democratic Resilience: Investigating the use of AI for the spread of disinformation during elections“ – a comprehensive report born from fieldwork across India, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States during 2024’s “super year” of global elections.

Here’s what I discovered: Australia stands at a critical juncture. We possess advantages that many democracies don’t; higher institutional trust, less polarised discourse, stronger social capital – and of course compulsory voting. But our window for action is closing. With 18 large-scale elections scheduled across Australia from today to 2028, the time for proactive measures is now.

This report speaks to everyone with a stake in Australian democracy. Whether you work in an electoral commission, a government department, a media organisation, an academic institutions, a civil society organisation, a tech company, or are simply an engaged citizen – you’ll find targeted insights and practical recommendations designed specifically for your role in strengthening democratic resilience. Each sector has unique capabilities and responsibilities in addressing these challenges, and the report provides tailored pathways for action.

My most encouraging finding? Human resilience is our greatest asset. Algorithm-driven polarisation is most effectively countered through trusted relationships within existing community networks. We can build societal immunity to disinformation, but only if we act collaboratively and decisively.

This International Day of Democracy reminds us that we must move from voice to action. My research represents the voice – documenting challenges, identifying solutions, and mapping pathways forward. Now we need a renewed global commitment to democratic values, and real action that transforms these insights into concrete measures that protect and strengthen our democratic institutions.

I am deeply grateful to The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust for their support, which enabled me to investigate one of the most pressing challenges facing democracies today.

My heartfelt thanks go to every interviewee around the globe who shared their insights and expertise: from electoral commissioners to journalists, from academics to civil society advocates, from technology experts to the dedicated public servants working on democracy’s front lines.

Thanks too goes to my fantastic colleagues at the Victorian Electoral Commission who supported me in so many ways as I undertook this Fellowship, and continue that support today.

I invite you to read the report, start conversations within your networks, and reach out to me directly. The choice of how artificial intelligence shapes our democratic future remains ours to make. Let’s make it wisely, together.

The report is available now. Let’s talk.