“This is for everyone.” These are the famous words of the founder of the World Wide Web, Tim Berners-Lee, but the reality is that in many parts of the world, the Internet and how it is governed is controlled by the very few. In the Maldives in June 2023, a group made up largely of women, worked to change that and make the internet work for the people and for democracy, which they continue to do today. 

With the highest level of internet access in the western Balkans, Kosovo faces vast threats to its information integrity. NDI’s global mission in supporting and strengthening democratic institutions recognizes this growing threat to democratic institutions and political and social fabrics globally. While the internet has empowered billions with access to knowledge, it has also empowered those seeking to undermine democracy.

In recent years, the rise of technology has ushered in an era where information spreads rapidly and seamlessly across countries and borders worldwide. This trend has come with some democratic opportunities but also major risks to democracies, chief being the lack of information integrity. West Africa is no exception to this trend, with Russian disinformation campaigns targeting the region to exploit political instability and degrade trust in democracy.

Digital attacks are on the rise globally. These attacks threaten the continuity and effectiveness of democratic actors’ daily operations and, on a larger scale, threaten to undermine the public’s trust in the democratic systems in which these actors operate.