Rest of World, an award-winning global nonprofit publication, has received a $200,000 sponsorship from Luminate to support its coverage of the ways social media platforms and AI technology are radically upending how billions of people will vote in elections across the world throughout 2024.

Funding from Luminate will be used to produce a series of stories on elections in key countries, including a deeply reported piece on the role of social media platforms in elections worldwide, an AI election tracker, and a live event elevating the consequences of AI in free and fair elections.

“Rest of World is uniquely positioned to cover this year’s elections around the world through the lens of technology,” said Anup Kaphle, Rest of World’s editor-in-chief. “We’re excited to work with local journalists in their home countries to make sense of the consequences tech platforms, particularly AI, are having in electoral campaigns across the globe.” 

“As a global foundation working to build stronger societies and safeguard democracy in the age of Big Tech, we believe the nexus of artificial intelligence and democracy represents one of the most critical and challenging issues of our time,” said Stephen King, Luminate’s Chief Executive Officer.

“Rest of World has set the highest journalistic standards in their coverage of AI’s impact on democracy, challenging Big Tech corporations’ spin and orthodoxies.

“Their unique global lens is invaluable in redressing some of the biases and blind spots in Western media narratives. We are delighted to help them expand their coverage of AI and elections throughout the coming months.”

Through immersive,on-the-ground reporting, Rest of World will shine a light on the ways AI, social media platforms, and the future of democracy converge in some of the world’s most populous countries through year-long coverage of elections outside the West.

About Rest of World

Rest of World challenges expectations about whose experiences with technology matter.

It connects the dots across a rapidly evolving digital world, through on-the-ground reporting in places typically overlooked and underestimated. Since its inception, the publication has produced stories from more than 100 countries guided by the belief that the story of technology is as big as the world that’s using it.

About Luminate

Luminate envisions a future where everyone has power to shape society. Our mission is to ensure that everyone – especially those who are underrepresented – has the information, rights, and power to influence the decisions that affect us all.