Consultancy opportunity Research consultant – Digital Oligarchy study at Civicus (Global Remote)

About CIVICUS

CIVICUS exists to defend people power. As a growing global alliance of over 15,000 members in 188 countries, we work together to monitor violations of basic civic freedoms, call out the perpetrators of violations and strengthen the power of people to organise by supporting a more accountable, effective and innovative civil society. We strive to promote excluded voices, especially from the Global South.

To make this happen, CIVICUS works on five core objectives:

1. Generate timely knowledge and analyses on civil society actions in relation to civic and democratic space
2. Coordinate targeted advocacy to defend and expand civic and democratic space
3. Contribute to stronger emergency and sustained support ecosystems for activists and organisations at risk
4. Strengthen public discourse on civic space and reinforce civil society narratives
5. Build counter power with the most affected groups and their movement

About the Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI)

The Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI) is a programme that emerged from Denmark’s Tech for Democracy initiative in response to the shrinking democratic and civic space. Its objective is “to promote and protect local inclusive democratic space in the digital era”.  The initiative is implemented by a consortium of partners comprising Access Now, CIVICUS, Digital Defenders Partnership, Global Focus, European Partnership for Democracy, Fundo de Mujeres del Sur, Witness, and IWGIA. The Digital Democracy Initiative – Project 1: Enabling and Amplifying Action for Civic Space and Inclusive Democracy is a constituent project within the Digital Democracy Initiative programme.

Background
The dominance of a small group of tech billionaires over digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and public discourse is fundamentally reshaping the landscape of democracy and civic space worldwide. These individuals own and control social media platforms, cloud computing services, space-based internet infrastructure, AI research labs, and cybersecurity firms, effectively making them gatekeepers of the digital civic space. This concentration of power raises concerns about democratic accountability, political influence, and the erosion of public oversight over critical technological systems.

Big Tech owners wield extraordinary influence over democratic institutions, not only through corporate lobbying and strategic litigation but also through their control of information ecosystems that shape public opinion and electoral outcomes. Their capacity to dictate platform policies, moderate content, and manipulate information flows places them in a position of unelected political authority, where they can censor dissent, amplify certain narratives, or engineer digital environments that favor their ideological and economic interests.

This new form of digital oligarchy has far-reaching consequences, including:

• Regulatory capture and political influence: Tech elites invest heavily in lobbying, campaign financing, and legal battles to evade regulatory constraints, influencing election outcomes and public policy in ways that favor corporate interests.
• Algorithmic manipulation and digital censorship: Social media and search engine algorithms dictate what information is seen, effectively influencing political discourse, shaping public narratives, and even swaying elections. AI-driven content moderation enables platforms to silence dissent, shape narratives, and restrict civic engagement, disproportionately affecting activists, journalists, and marginalised communities.
• Privatisation of public infrastructure: Beyond social media, tech billionaires are expanding their control into space-based internet infrastructure (e.g., Starlink), private digital identity systems, AI-powered law enforcement tools, and data-driven public services. This shifts essential public functions into the hands of private actors with no democratic accountability.
• Mass surveillance and data exploitation: The unprecedented collection of user data enables tech giants to conduct mass surveillance, behavioral profiling, and predictive analytics, often in collaboration with governments. This undermines digital privacy, civic freedoms, and the autonomy of civil society organisations.
• Disinformation and polarization: Many billionaire-owned platforms have been used for disinformation campaigns, state-sponsored propaganda, and the spread of extremist content. Their financial incentives to prioritise engagement over truth exacerbates societal divisions and weakens democratic resilience.

While some governments have attempted regulatory measures to curb these risks, the global nature of Big Tech monopolies and their deep political influence makes such efforts fragmented and ineffective. Civil society, in turn, faces immense challenges in advocating for fairer digital governance while also remaining dependent on these very platforms for organising, advocacy, and mobilisation.

These developments undermine civic space and place civil society organisations in a vulnerable position, often forced to rely on these very platforms for organising, advocacy, and mobilisation, while simultaneously being subject to algorithmic suppression, arbitrary takedowns, and digital censorship.

Why this research matters

As democracies struggle to regulate Big Tech’s unchecked power, civil society must develop alternative strategies to counteract digital monopolies. This research will explore:

• How big tech platforms shape political discourse, policy debates, and electoral integrity.
• The impact of AI-driven censorship on digital civic space, media freedoms, and online activism.
• The regulatory failures that have allowed Big Tech to evade accountability.
• Civil society-driven solutions such as alternative digital infrastructures, decentralised governance models, and regulatory frameworks to reclaim public oversight over digital spaces.

As digital oligarchs continue to amass influence, this study will provide an evidence-based roadmap for reclaiming digital civic spaces and ensuring that technological power is aligned with democratic values and public interest, rather than private wealth and corporate dominance. The study will provide actionable recommendations for CSOs, policymakers, and digital rights advocates working to safeguard democracy in an era of digital oligarchy.

Scope of Work

The consultant will be responsible for conducting comprehensive research and analysis to develop a detailed research paper and a strategic advocacy brief on the growing influence of tech billionaires over digital infrastructure, civic space, and democratic processes. This research will assess the implications of digital monopolies, platform regulation gaps, and algorithmic control while proposing concrete strategies for civil society organisations to counteract these challenges. The scope of work includes, but is not limited to, the following tasks:

• Conduct an extensive literature review of relevant reports, case studies, and legislative frameworks on Big Tech monopolisation, AI governance, digital platform regulations, and the impact of billionaire-owned tech empires on civic space and democracy. This review will establish a baseline understanding and highlight key trends and gaps.
• Analyse the political and economic influence of tech billionaires on global and national democratic institutions, examining their role in lobbying efforts, regulatory capture, electoral interference, and control over digital discourse.
• Conduct comparative case studies on how billionaire-controlled platforms have shaped democratic engagement, media independence, and civil society activism, focusing on examples such as Elon Musk’s Twitter/X, Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, Google’s AI dominance, and Amazon’s surveillance networks.
• Assess the impact of algorithmic control, platform censorship, and deplatforming on civil society actors, particularly how changes in content moderation policies, algorithmic visibility, and arbitrary restrictions have affected civic activism and freedom of expression.
• Develop strategic policy and advocacy recommendations for CSOs, policymakers, and regulators to mitigate the risks posed by digital oligarchies. This will include recommendations for legal frameworks, regulatory interventions, and alternative models for digital sovereignty and decentralised internet governance.
• Draft a well-structured advocacy brief summarising key research findings and policy implications, aligning with the goals of the Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI) to promote an open, democratic, and inclusive digital space.

Deliverables

At the end of the consultancy, the consultant will submit:

• Research Report: A comprehensive analysis of the role of tech billionaires in reshaping democracy and civic space, including case studies, risks, and solutions.
• Advocacy Brief (5-7 pages): A short-form, action-oriented document providing practical recommendations for CSOs, digital rights organisations, and policymakers on mitigating the influence of Big Tech monopolies.

Desired Knowledge and Experience

We are seeking an experienced researcher, policy analyst, or civil society expert or consultant (individual or team) with expertise in digital democracy, digital rights, and platform governance. with demonstrable experience in the following areas:

• A post-graduate degree in Political Science, International Relations, Technology Policy, Law, Digital Rights, or related fields.
• Strong expertise in digital governance and big tech regulation with strong knowledge of digital democracy, AI policy, platform governance, and regulatory frameworks affecting Big Tech’s role in civic space.
• Proven experience conducting in-depth policy research, producing high-quality reports, and developing strategic advocacy briefs for civil society, policymakers, and multilateral institutions.
• Familiarity with issues related to content moderation, algorithmic governance, deplatforming, and the impact of tech billionaires on political discourse and electoral processes.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse challenges faced by CSOs in online mobilisation, platform censorship, and surveillance, with knowledge of global digital rights coalitions and advocacy strategies.
• Ability to synthesise complex topics into accessible insights, engage with diverse stakeholders (civil society actors, digital rights experts, policymakers), and present findings clearly in written and verbal formats.
• Excellent writing and analytical skills.
• Fluency in English is required. Proficiency in additional languages and familiarity with political and technological contexts in the Global South is highly desirable.
• Preferred candidates will have experience working with global civil society networks, digital rights coalitions, and technology policy organisations.

Reporting Requirements

The consultant will report to the Programme and Network Coordinator – DDI. Regular progress updates and milestone reviews will be conducted to ensure alignment with project objectives and timelines.

Application Dealine 21st April 2025 

Method of Application

Interested consultants should submit the following documents to [email protected] with the subject line “Proposal: Digital Oligarchy Research”

• Cover Letter (1-2 pages) explaining your qualifications and interest in the consultancy.
• A detailed CV highlighting the candidate’s relevant professional experience and relevant skills.
• A detailed proposal outlining the candidate’s approach to conducting the research, including proposed methodologies, tools, and techniques to be used, with a work plan detailing the proposed timeline, key milestones and deliverables.
• A detailed budget proposal, including your proposed daily remuneration rate in US dollars, number of workdays envisioned for this consultancy and any additional costs.
• A sample of previous research work, analysis reports, or publications relevant to the consultancy.
• Contact information for three (3) individuals or organisations that can attest to the quality and impact of your previous work.

Please read the application process carefully and follow all steps exactly. Only applicants submitting the application in the required format and components will be considered.

Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted and may be asked to provide further information or clarification on their proposals. Due to the high volume of proposals received, we are unable to provide detailed feedback on each application. However, we will notify all candidates about the status of their application.

If you have any questions, please contact us at the above email address: [email protected]

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