Technology Dissidents articles on Democracy Chronicles

This technology dissidents section covers individuals and groups using technology to advance democracy and the controversies surrounding this practice. Whistleblowers like Edward Snowden and Julian Assange will be covered here as well as technology and election experts like Harvard University's Lawrence Lessig. Also check out our entire section on Election Technology.

Saudi Blogger Raif Badawi Freed After 10 Years In Prison

by DC Editors - March 13, 2022

The family of Raif Badawi, one of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent political prisoners, has said the blogger is free after a decade in prison.

Oman Arrests Prominent Internet Activist Al-Kathiri

by DC Editors - March 7, 2022

Reliable local sources confirmed that on March 2, 2022, Oman’s security authorities detained internet activist Ahmed Muslim Al-Kathiri.

Hacktivists Are Piercing Russia’s Propaganda Bubble

by DC Editors - March 6, 2022

Hackers have decided to wage war on Russia, ensuring Russians see photos of Vladimir Putin’s horrific campaign against Ukraine.

Uzbek Blogger Jailed For Facebook Post

by DC Editors - January 30, 2022

An Uzbek court sentenced a Muslim blogger to seven and a half years in prison for posting an innocuous message on Facebook.

He Was the ‘Perfect Villain’ for Voting Conspiracists

by DC Editors - August 25, 2021

Eric Coomer worked for Dominion Voting Systems. He also posted anti-Trump messages on Facebook. What happened next ruined him.

Redistricting App Helps You Comply with the VRA

by DC Editors - July 17, 2021

In the last decade, Dave’s Redistricting App (DRA) has grown in popularity among groups looking to create their own redistricting maps.

Social Media Contributes To Fragmentation Of Political Parties

Social Media Contributes To Fragmentation Of Political Parties (6/13/2022) - Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has escalated a dispute outside New York by endorsing her colleague's primary challenger.

Help Wanted: State Misinformation Sheriff

Help Wanted: State Misinformation Sheriff (6/8/2022) - Several states are making great effort, devoting more resources and time to countering false and misleading election information.

Anxious Leaders Influence Their Followers' Anxiety, Even Online

Anxious Leaders Influence Their Followers’ Anxiety, Even Online (5/17/2022) - Organizational leader’s tweets can influence employee anxieties and this effect is more prominent since the rise of COVID-19, study.

In Election Misinformation Fight, ’2020 Changed Everything’

In Election Misinformation Fight, ’2020 Changed Everything’ (4/26/2022) - Using social media to directly reply to queries, polling location mistakes, or false claims might help to quickly stamp out…

Saudi Blogger Raif Badawi Freed After 10 Years In Prison (3/13/2022) - The family of Raif Badawi, one of Saudi Arabia's most prominent political prisoners, has said the blogger is free after… Continue Reading

TikTok Is Just The Platform Russian Dissidents Need (3/10/2022) - Tiktok despite being swamped in misinformation at times, the app also serves as a platform for countering Kremlin propaganda. Continue Reading

Oman Arrests Prominent Internet Activist Al-Kathiri (3/7/2022) - Reliable local sources confirmed that on March 2, 2022, Oman's security authorities detained internet activist Ahmed Muslim Al-Kathiri. Continue Reading

Hacktivists Are Piercing Russia’s Propaganda Bubble (3/6/2022) - Hackers have decided to wage war on Russia, ensuring Russians see photos of Vladimir Putin's horrific campaign against Ukraine. Continue Reading

Historical Lynching’s And The Contemporary Black Voting Behavior

Historical Lynching’s And The Contemporary Black Voting Behavior (6/30/2022) - Blacks in southern counties that experienced a relatively higher number of historical lynchings have lower voter registration rates today.

Study: Politicians Typically Enjoy Longer Lives Than General Populations

Study: Politicians Typically Enjoy Longer Lives Than General Populations (6/28/2022) - For almost all countries, politicians had similar rates of mortality to the general population in the late 19th and early…

The Harmful Effects Of Partisan Polarization On Health

The Harmful Effects Of Partisan Polarization On Health (6/13/2022) - Partisan polarization causes significant stress and worry among Americans and polarization may be influencing their health, study.

The Changing Face Of Tyranny In The 21st Century

The Changing Face Of Tyranny In The 21st Century (6/8/2022) - Dictators in the 21 century are different - they're "spin" dictatorships that manipulate info. They pose as Democrats and hold…

University Educated Less Likely To Endorse Authoritarianism

University Educated Less Likely To Endorse Authoritarianism (6/4/2022) - Higher education is now seen as a new political cleavage, with level of education increasingly important in describing political attitudes.