The rise of data-driven technologies has expanded the use of personal data for influence, including political influence. Companies and political groups can now optimize their messages and track email engagement. They can target individuals with personalized content based on collected data, such as demographics and previous interactions. Additionally, they can analyze social media to influence people's and voter's opinion.
Digital influence is conducted through an industry of consultants, technology companies, and platforms. The role of the industry in society and politics is extensive, shrouded in mystery, and can have serious consequences for our political experience and, consequently, social and economic life.
Video Your Data, Our Democracy
What?
The Influence Industry Project supports civil society to respond to the influence industry through different areas of work. Firstly, we share research and case studies detailing how political influence takes place worldwide. In 2022, the project launched the Influence Industry Explorer, an open-source tool that provides detailed information on more than 500 companies that play a role in election campaigning. Through the learning hub and training, the project provides a guided tour of research, frameworks and skills to build the capacity of professionals monitoring, regulating or otherwise working on political influence.
The project also supports citizen engagement by developing resources on digital and political literacy, such as Inform: A voter literacy resource center for navigating digital election campaigns. Inform includes guides, workshop outlines, and activities to empower voters, educators, facilitators, and organizations involved in voter education. It explores how digital and data-driven technologies play a key role in political campaigns and elections.
Masterclasses
The project also organises Influence Industry Masterclasses and workshops, knowledge-building and skill-sharing spaces that provide skills, tools, resources, and methodologies for professionals to investigate, cover, and monitor the influence industry. Since 2021, Tactical Tech has hosted several masterclasses, summer schools, camps and events through which we have trained over 200 high-profile experts, journalists, researchers, academics and election monitors.
Amber Macintyre from The Influence Industry Project at the DataFestTbilisi organised by Forset, 2023. Image by ForSet
Cassiane Cladis from The Influence Industry Project hosting a workshop at Re:publica, Berlin, 2024.
User exploring The Influence Industry Project resources online. Image by Wael Eskandar
The Personal Data, Political Participation guide. Image by Wael Eskandar
Multimedia resources like animations, podcast series and more
Tactical Tech Skills are interesting for:
Journalists, Researchers, investigators and evidence seekers
Civil society organisations and rights groups
Experts & decision-makers
Other organisations or individuals interested in building and expand their skills
“Tactical Tech's mastercourse and resources taught me how large, organized, and wealthy the international influence industry is. I also learned the various databases and tools available to journalists that could be useful for an investigation.”Participant of one of the Masterclasses
“It's great to learn about research into the influence industry from the experience of the facilitators but also key concepts used in discussing the influence industry, which actually requires a lot of time to unpack. This helps us understand the complexity of the industry and, thus, the policy problems faced by policymakers working to regulate the industry. ”Participant of one of the Masterclasses
“I have learned a lot about the role of data in the influence industry and, more importantly, how to start an investigation properly. It is remarkable that the rich examples from the guest speakers and the security keynote are also very useful”Participant of one of the Masterclasses
TEDIC collaborated with The Influence Industry Project to develop the "Guía del votante", based on the Data Detox Kit's voter's guide and translate the video "Your data, our democracy" into Spanish, materials that they use to raise awareness of the use of personal data in electoral campaigns.
Fundación Internet Bolivia’s Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Citizenship and Personal Data Protection trained over 1,500 participants, including politicians, journalists, health staff, students, educators, and NGO members.
"I want citizens to be aware of technology's role to be able to ask questions about how the different political forces treat their data and what they will do with it", says Tetyana Bohdanova, a researcher from Ukraine, focused on election monitoring, digital security and voter engagement.
Tetyana Bohdanova is one of the researchers and journalists who gained knowledge and skills to research how data was used in the Ukrainian context. She used this experience to create new materials for other researchers and authored the module "Research Methods for Investigating the Influence...
MediaNet Works, an organisation based in Kenya, empowers communities, especially young generations, to reap the benefits of the Internet and the general ICTs available. "Information is power, and when people have it, they can take control of their lives.", says Clement Njoroge, Founder and Director of MediaNet Works.
MediaNet Works, and 13 other organisations, partnered with Tactical Tech to adapt and localise the Voter's guide. This collaborative effort paved the way for developing training programs for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) practitioners who gained...
This public intervention and interactive experience invites visitors to reflect on how technology impacts their lives and society. Available in multiple formats, from large-scale exhibitions to low-cost self-print formats, it is easily used and adapted. It features printed and digital poster exhibitions, animations, apps, workshop curricula, and other assets in around 30 languages.
The Data Detox Kit, available in over 45 languages, offers tips, tools, and concrete steps to improve your online life, enabling informed choices and personalized digital habits. It includes over 30 guides, workshop outlines for educators, an alternative App Centre, and a resources page on digital privacy, security, environmental impact, wellbeing, and tackling misinformation.
This youth initiative from Tactical Tech aims to empower young people to take control of their digital futures through education, co-creation, and capacity building. It features playful, youth-focused exhibitions, interactive activities, learning resources, and tools and methodologies for educators to engage young people in conversations about AI, technology, and their impacts.
This e-learning interactive course advances and disseminates knowledge on media literacy, verification, and safe Internet navigation. The course contains simple explanations and real-world examples illustrating secure research and information-gathering methods. The modules feature engaging and creative formats, such as tutorials, quizzes, and interactive games.
How do you respond in a crisis? Everything Will Be Fine is a public intervention and interactive experience that explores how people understand and respond to global crises like climate change and pandemics through the lens of technology. This hybrid intervention includes the work of more than 60 artists, technologists, researchers and investigators.
The project offers comprehensive resources, workshops, and institutes on investigative tools and methodologies for civil society actors such as media organizations, experts, researchers, academics, investigators, and journalists. It fosters spaces for collaboration and exchange to enhance the capacity of today’s global community of digital and OSINT investigators.