Bruxelles, 05 June 2025 – Rescuing Democracy from Political Corruption in the Digital Age: that’s what RESPOND stands for. Launched with the ambition to explore how digital technologies and media are transforming, and in some cases threatening, democratic decision-making, RESPOND is a Horizon Europe-funded research project led by University of Bologna (Italy) that brings together 16 universities, think tanks and civil society organisations from 12 European countries. 

From the very beginning, RESPOND set out to do more than just study corruption: it aimed to understand its roots, measure its mechanisms and engage citizens, institutions and researchers in shaping meaningful responses. At its core, RESPOND sees corruption not simply as a problem of individual wrongdoing, but as a symptom of broader institutional fragilities and systemic imbalances. Through comparative research and co-creation workshops, the project has begun to uncover how these dynamics play out in different national contexts and how digital infrastructures can amplify, obscure or reshape them.

To bring these conversations beyond the walls of academia, RESPOND has launched its podcast RESPOND News: Dispatches on Democracy’s Hidden Threats, offering a window into the project’s ongoing reflections, tensions and discoveries, sharing not only what we know about corruption, but also perspectives, doubts and reflections on how corruption and technology are influencing our democracies and the trust of the citizens.

Now, as the project marks its first year of activity, RESPOND has become a vibrant space for collaboration, critical inquiry and public engagement. Its initial questions have evolved into deeper conversations on power, transparency and trust in democracy. Across the continent, the RESPOND team is conducting fieldwork, organising open events and building bridges between research and real-world democratic challenges.

As RESPOND looks ahead, the project is establishing itself as a key European forum for reflection and action on political corruption in the digital age, connecting empirical research with civic engagement and helping to shape new democratic imaginaries. 

For more information, including access to the podcast and updates on upcoming events, visit www.eu-respond.eu.

About RESPOND:
RESPOND is a research project funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No 101132405. Respond is investigating political corruption and its consequences for democratic institutions in digital societies. Coordinated by the University of Bologna, the project brings together 16 universities, think tanks and civil society organisations from 12 European countries. Combining interdisciplinary research and participatory practices, RESPOND seeks to understand how digital technologies and media are transforming political accountability and trust, while supporting innovative, inclusive responses to corruption.

Contact Information:
For media enquiries and interviews:
RESPOND Press Office: info@eu-respond.eu