The Digital Technology for Democracy Lab is a collaboration across the University of Virginia that explores how rapidly evolving digital technologies can challenge, but might also fortify, democratic institutions and practices.
Pioneering transdisciplinary research to explore democracy in the digital age
Our Focus
Upcoming Events
Book Launch: An Evening About Our Future with AI
Thursday, September 10, 2026 • 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM EDT
UVA Law School, Purcell Reading Room, 580 Massie Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22903
Research & Programming
AI Impact Atlas
Subterranean Convergence
Open-Source AI as Democratic Infrastructure
AI Shock
Automated Futures
Multimodal Climate AI
Data in the Dark
Automation’s Ecologies
Visual Misinformation
AI & the Environment
Student Technology Council
Technology & Disinformation
Social Contagions
Gender & Tech
Co-Opting AI
Urban Digital Twins
Technology & Democracy Exchange
Data Center Policies
Descendant-Led Digital Humanities Lab & Network
Cryptocurrency & Democracy
Trending
DTD Lab Welcomes New Postdocs & Faculty Affiliate
Meet the Lab
Reimagining AI for Environmental Justice & Creativity Collection of Essays
Learn More & Download
Insights from the Visual Generative AI Propaganda Convening
Learn More & Download
Video Library
FLiNG Report Launch: How Finfluencers, Fin-Tech, and FOMO Shape Young Adults’ Financial Well-being
Cryptocurrency & Democracy
In the News
2025-26 Arts & Sciences Research Report Highlights
The latest research report published by the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences features DTD Lab faculty co-lead, Mona Sloane's latest book, Predicted: How AI Is Restructuring Social Life (page 33). Previous work from DTD Lab grant recipients LaRissa Rogers and Angel Adams Parham can also be seen on (page 9).
Nine Scholars Join the Karsh Institute as Inaugural Faculty Fellows
Congratulations to Laurent Dubois, DTD Lab director, Lana Swartz, 2025-26 DTD Lab seed grant recipient, and Bertrall Ross, 2023-25 DTD Lab faculty co-lead who are among the inaugural cohort of faculty fellows joining the Karsh Institute of Democracy. Fellows will work closely to develop new research priorities, identify emerging questions, and connect scholarship with public life.
What Research Actually Looks Like for Undergraduate Data Scientists
A recent feature from the School of Data Science, highlighted experiences from undergraduate students who had opportunities to work with faculty over the summer. One of these students shared their work with Jess Reia, DTD Lab faculty co-lead, on a project supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, that uses the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey to study why transgender adults avoid seeking medical care.
Join our vibrant lab and help us explore the intersection of digital technology and democracy.
Current Opportunities