Technology is playing an increasingly complex role in helping shape the outcomes of global conflicts, democratic norms and systems, and rising authoritarian power. Both the technologies used to ensure democracy functions–such as voting systems–and digital technologies that influence how we view and engage with information have profound impacts on a key ingredient for a healthy, functioning democracy: trust.

While disinformation, affective polarization, and anti-democratic behavior have always existed, the growing scale of these problems, aided in part by the evolving Internet landscape and our growing reliance on digital technologies, poses novel threats to democracy.

Technology not only increasingly shapes the future of individual democracies, but also of global power dynamics and international conflicts. The days of assuming technology is neutral are over, as the war in Ukraine has so clearly highlighted. From SpaceX’s Starlink providing internet access to Ukraine, to non-state hackers deploying ransomware to cripple Belarusian supply lines, to social media companies’ decisions to ban Russian state media, technology is playing an ever-increasing role in global political outcomes. The information environment has already been pivotal in helping determine on-the-ground outcomes and how we understand events as they unfold.

Through our Geopolitics of Technology practice area, IST is working to help governments, private companies, and civil society understand these threats so we can devise plans, policies and products to bolster our resilience as well as seeking novel ways that technology can be used to help strengthen democracy. Through our current and past initiatives, we have convened interdisciplinary coalitions, provided insights of contested information environments and the malign narratives that pollute them; and developed practical policy and technical recommendations.

Current Projects

AI Antitrust and National Security

The Institute for Security and Technology (IST) is leading the charge on antitrust research, asking: What does a principled antitrust remedy framework for AI labs look like—one that respects established legal precedents while addressing the distinctive national security risks of advanced AI systems? What practical considerations should shape remedy design, and when should national security be a deciding factor? What are the most feasible paths forward?This is a forward-looking effort to anticipate how legal, technological, and national security discussions around AI may evolve. Rather than seeking to alter the standards for establishing antitrust liability, our focus is on remedies in successful cases, and how such remedies may be more systematically organized to preserve competition while acknowledging points of intersection with security concerns.

AI Chip Export Control Initiative

Powerful microprocessors capable of delivering the computational power necessary to train cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) systems are inherently a “dual-use” technology–that is, useful for both civilian and military applications. The United States and like-minded countries have imposed export controls to prevent their proliferation to adversarial actors. However, malicious actors continue to exploit existing loopholes and circumvent these controls, posing threats to U.S. national security and competitiveness. In answer to this challenge, the Institute for Security and Technology (IST), with support from Open Philanthropy, is launching an effort to investigate the root causes of compliance failure and develop a comprehensive framework for an enhanced multi-agency AI chip export controls enforcement program within the U.S. national security apparatus and in collaboration with the relevant international partners.

Energy FIRST

Modern life runs on energy. Defense, manufacturing, healthcare, and communications all depend on affordable and reliable supply. Yet our energy system faces growing risks—from natural disasters and cyberattacks to geopolitical shocks and aging infrastructure. The Energy FIRST Initiative brings together experts from industry, government, academia, and civil society to ensure American and allied energy systems can continue to deliver through conflict and crisis. The initiative complements federal frameworks such as the National Infrastructure Protection Plan by turning strategy into field-tested practice that operators can use across five interconnected elements of energy security: fuel and supply chains; infrastructure modernization; resilience; security (cyber-physical); and technology & adaptation.

Religious Voices and Responsible AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping how humans interact with technology, society, and one another, but its development may not reflect diverse ethical, social, and religious perspectives. Religious leaders including (but not limited to) pastors, imams, and religious educators serve as trusted voices who can guide their communities in understanding AI’s ethical and societal implications. By equipping these leaders with tools and knowledge, the Religious Voices and Responsible AI effort aims to ensure that faith communities can contribute to the future of AI. In its first pilot stage, IST, in partnership with AI and Faith, will work with evangelical churches in Southern California and mosques in the Bay Area and Seattle-Tacoma. In future phases, we hope to expand to other religious communities and regions.