In December 2019, an SCS Global team led by Internews and including FHI 360 and ICNL surveyed local and international civil society leaders about their experiences with Emerging Technologies and Digital Threats to Civic Space to determine CSOs’ interests and needs for information and guidance.

One hundred seventy-one respondents—61% of whom are from the field—identified the following emerging technologies as top choices to support civil society and democracy work: apps and tools, social media, data management, and artificial intelligence. Respondents identified cybercrime, disinformation, and government control of data and surveillance as the biggest digital threats
to their work and civic space.

SCS Global presented the survey results and gathered additional feedback from participants at the DRG Center’s Civil Society and Media Division’s Partners’ Meeting in December 2019. Based on the survey responses and feedback, SCS Global is developing an online tool to provide succinct, accurate information on technology trends and threats, explaining their relevance for civil society and those operating in the DRG space.

Respondents identified cybercrime, disinformation, and government control of data and surveillance as the biggest digital threats to their work and civic space.