election-watch.eu

Brussels, 14 May 2026. Election-Watch.EU has submitted its written contribution to the European Commission’s Targeted stakeholder consultation – European Democracy Shield Work strands on Safety in politics, AI in electoral processes and anti-SLAPPs. This submission follows our participation in the focus group discussions on Safety in Politics and AI in Electoral Processes held on 16 April 2026, and reflects expert insights into these two work strands of the European Democracy Shield.

This initiative is essential to better ensure the safety of political candidates and elected representatives, thus enhancing the integrity of the Union’s democratic life. As the Commission prepares to adopt a Recommendation on safety in politics and to develop a dedicated best practices guide, it is necessary to shift from fragmented and reactive approaches towards more systematic, preventive, and operational responses. 

Safety in politics

Election-Watch.EU’s contribution on safety in politics highlights that, while physical attacks and intimidation remain severe threats, there is a growing convergence between online and offline violence, where digital abuse translates into real-world security risks. We welcome the particular attention paid to women and other groups at heightened risk of discrimination across this workstream: women candidates are indeed disproportionately targeted by gender-based attacks, which not only harm individuals, but also discourage their involvement  and undermine the overall inclusiveness of the political process. 

The way forward requires adopting a holistic and preventive approach that combines legal, institutional, technological, and societal responses, while ensuring that these measures are context-sensitive, implementable, and adapted to national political and institutional contexts. 

AI in electoral processes

In its contribution to the European Commission’s consultation on AI in electoral processes, Election-Watch.EU highlighted both the opportunities and risks arising from the growing use of AI in democratic processes. Drawing on findings from the 2024 European Parliament Election Assessment Mission and recent analytical work contributed to the Joint Research Centre (JRC) on the impact of AI on democracy, the submission stresses the need for transparent, human-centred and rights-based approaches to AI deployment in elections. 

Particular attention was paid to risks related to disinformation, synthetic media, opaque political advertising, algorithmic amplification, and the unequal capacities of electoral stakeholders to respond to rapidly evolving digital threats. At the same time, the submission underlined the potential of AI to support electoral administration, accessibility, multilingual communication and civic engagement when accompanied by appropriate safeguards, transparency obligations, independent oversight and stronger digital literacy. 

Election-Watch.EU also called for closer cooperation between EU institutions, election management bodies, civil society, researchers and digital platforms to ensure that emerging AI governance frameworks effectively protect electoral integrity and democratic resilience across the Union.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

AI and elections, election security, European Commission, Political violence, safety in policial life