News & research

What's the latest in the field of civil society law and policy? Read our news and learn more about our analytical and research work!

Highlighted

Tech and AI

Framework for Meaningful Engagement 2.0

Research

04-11-2025

The updated FME 2.0 offers very practical suggestions on how to engage civil society and affected communities in AI development to support platforms and AI developers in creating rights-based products.

Members of the LEAD initiative pose at the event

Climate Action

New global initiative aims to place environmental defenders at the heart of climate decisions

News

14-11-2025

ECNL and partners launched the LEAD initiative at COP30.

colourful circles against the backdrop of a crowd

European policies

From promise to practice: ECNL reflections on the EU's Civil Society Strategy

News

24-11-2025

How do we move the Strategy’s commitments from paper to real action? This blog points to the priorities and offers our experience to support implementation.

Black and white skyscrapers in the background, a graph with dots symbolizing that there are different inputs organized in participatory platforms by AI. A young woman looking at the graph and the skyscrapers. On the right some computer codes.

Tech and AI

Blueprint for rights-centered AI in public participation

News

06-11-2025

Concrete recommendations for public institutions and AI developers on how to design and use AI tools that strengthen public trust in democratic processes.

woman holding a binocular looking into the distance, surrounded by geometric shapes and a dotted line

Action for Civic Space

The Future of Civil Societies

Research

06-06-2025

What are the trends and drivers that shape our world and the work of civil society? A foresight paper by James Logan written as part of ECNL’s strategy development process.

Tech and AI

A Guide to Fundamental Rights Impact Assessments (FRIA)

Developed by ECNL and DIHR, this new guide lays out a clear roadmap for putting FRIAs into practice meaningfully, as strategic tools for responsible AI use.

Research

Tech and AI

A framework for AI systems that truly serve the communities they affect: ECNL's Framework for Meaningful Engagement

Here is a quick overview of the key elements of the updated FME 2.0, a tool to distinguish deep, substantive engagement from superficial consultation.

News

Participation

Amsterdam's journey in participatory AI development

Case study on how the municipality, technical team and citizens worked together to develop responsible AI that genuinely serves public interest, piloting ECNL's Framework for Meaningful Engagement while doing so.

News

Tech and AI

Innovation thrives when rights come first: ECNL submission to UK parliamentary inquiry on AI

Closing regulatory gaps in AI is key to protecting the rights of individuals and communities it affects.

News

Tech and AI

Handbook on seven global digital governance processes

New explainer for civil society organisations on how they can navigate processes that shape our digital future and human rights.

Research

Tech and AI

How to make AI safe for democracy?

Read the key takeaways from our recent webinar, where we brought together experts from different sectors to explore how technology can be used responsibly and with respect for fundamental rights.

News

European policies

From promise to practice: ECNL reflections on the EU's Civil Society Strategy

How do we move the Strategy’s commitments from paper to real action? This blog points to the priorities and offers our experience to support implementation.

News

Tech and AI

Practical guidance on engaging with internet standardisation and governance bodies

This new resource walks you through the key entry points to the bodies that set the technical and policy rules governing how the internet works.

Research

UN Standards

How does digital and AI-driven surveillance impact assembly and association rights?

Read ECNL submission to UN Special Rapporteur HRC62 Thematic Report.

News