Alex Engler

We funded 12 projects at a moment of profound technological change and extraordinary democratic crisis — all focused on strengthening our collective understanding of the information ecosystem.

🧵 We're excited to share that we’re using slightly outdated content to backfill our BlueSky profile!
For instance, like, uh, two months ago, we awarded our inaugural Information and Democracy Research Grant Program! (1/4)

We study the information ecosystem — the platforms, algorithms, and incentives that determine which ideas spread and which don't. Our goal: better science, better policy, stronger democracy.

We're building shared data infrastructure (including PennMAP) and investing in computational social science — ML, network analysis, NLP — to study information systems at scale.

Research - Center on Media, Technology and Democracy

We take a broad view of the media ecosystem. That means social platforms, yes — but also TV, podcasts, radio, and the wider internet. We don't assume any single channel dominates how people actually get information. Check out our research compendium for a snapshot of our work in this space!

Hello from the Penn Center on Media, Technology, and Democracy! 👋 We're new(ish), and we just joined Bluesky — because, well, you know how the other platforms are going. Here's what we're about 🧵 (1/6)

The regime does not make mistakes | Opinion The language used by the Trump administration to justify occupation and arrests chillingly echoes that of Latin American dictators like Augusto Pinochet.

Essential reading: The Regime Does Not Make Mistakes by @janeesberg.bsky.social

"Like Pinochet, the Trump administration wants you to believe the people they are terrorizing and killing deserve it."

www.inquirer.com/opinion/comm...

When Minnesotans were talking about “not letting this happen to our neighbors,” this is the heartbreaking “this” they meant

"Many American see this as a tax" except 1) smart money says most Americans have no idea that the European Commission is fining X and TikTok and 2) it affects normal Americans bottom line literally not at all.

Patently false claim, and poorly contextualized by NYT

Europe Worries About Another Trump Blowup, This One on Tech

This is pretty frustratingly credulous coverage by @jeannasmialek.bsky.social about the Trump admin's depiction of EU tech regulation.

The EU has been principled and disciplined in applying its laws, and is fining clear and demonstrable violations.

www.nytimes.com/2026/02/19/w...

This nearly exactly happened to my dad last year. Very sorry to hear this and hoping the best for your family.

The highlight from my first Knight Media Forum will unquestionably be hearing from journalists Julie K Brown (Epstein) and Georgia Fort (Minneapolis). American heroes, their words ringing in my ears.

@knightfoundation.org
@jkbjournalist.bsky.social

The Death of Direct File Tech for good not welcome in the Trump administration

Reminder when you watch the Intuit Super Bowl ads, they have Super Bowl ad money because they are a successful rent seekers who have worked for decades to kill free, quality, public tax preparation services donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-death-...

Enrollment algorithms are contributing to the crises of higher education Algorithms that allocate aid reduce scholarships and may contribute to student debt, dropout rates, and racial inequities, says Alex Engler.

I'm looking back on some of my old AI regulatory work before the Penn Accountable AI Conference today, and IMO my work on enrollment algorithms (AI that sets the cost of college tuition) is among my best.

I rarely re-read my old work but it's a nice feeling.

www.techpolicy.press/enrollment-a...

Was just texting this, Philly edition, to people earlier today. Absolutely balmy.

Alex Pretti was a colleague at the VA. We hired him to recruit for our trial. He became an ICU nurse- I lover working with him. He was a good kind person who lived to help and these fuckers executed him.

White. Hot. Rage.

Tomorrow's front page of the Minnesota Star Tribune: Jan. 24, 2026

A society that has any aspiration to be free and democratic cannot - it must not! - tolerate the existence of an agency like ICE.

In both personnel and institutionalized culture, ICE is a stronghold of violent authoritarianism, simply incompatible with the fundamental values of a democratic society

New real-world field study *inoculating* against misinformation in live social media scroll feeds out in Harvard Misinfo Review @misinforeview.bsky.social

We targeted +375k users with a short ad on Insta using a novel quasi-experimental method (1/3)

misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/preb...

pepper spraying someone in the face from inches away while they are already restrained on the ground should get you fired and land you in jail, no exceptions

The new Penn Center is now on LinkedIn, bringing you the latest and greatest research on the information ecosystem!

New paper overviews from Duncan Watts, Matt Levendusky, Diana Mutz, and Dan Hopins out today in our growing (in beta) Research Compendium

www.linkedin.com/company/penn...

This was extremely predictable, and a good criticism of US AI policy has been an overly strong focus on large models, rather than specific uses / applications where value is clearly demonstrated and real competition is happening already.

Global publisher Google traffic dropped by a third in 2025 Google search traffic was down globally by a third in the year to November, according to new Chartbeat data.

Google traffic to publishers dropped by ONE THIRD in 2025 pressgazette.co.uk/media-audien...

The Wall Looks Permanent Until It Falls On the optimism of preparation in a time of democratic decay.

this is superb data4democracy.substack.com/p/the-wall-l...

Registration is open for the first Accountable AI Research Conference, at The Wharton School in Philadelphia on Feb. 6, 2026.

ai-analytics.wharton.upenn.edu/wharton-acco...

If you're an AI governance practitioner or researcher, looking for insights on the future of responsible AI, please join us!

Nicholas Kristof @NickKristof X.com I'm struck by the contrast between the passion for democracy shown by Iranians willing to die for it and the complacency with which many Americans have accepted an authoritarian slide. Americans should cheer for Iran's democrats--and also learn from their determination.

I see this take around from time to time and totally disagree. ICE just murdered a woman standing up to them. No Kings is among the largest protests in history.

The complacency is coming from elites in media, business, universities, and the Democratic leadership

As our government seeks to erase the truth of five years ago, I am deeply grateful for all those researchers whose words shine with such clarity in our Media and January 6th @oxfordunipress.bsky.social book: global.oup.com/academic/pro...

ICYMI -

As of Jan 1, Virginia has a 1-hour limit on any individual social media app for youth under 16 years old (so, 1-hour limit on _each_ TikTok, IG, X, etc).

Parents are also allowed to change that limit for their children, apparently without restriction.

lis.virginia.gov/bill-details...