The Center for Democracy and Technology has issued a new report examining how social media creators have become influential actors in political communication and campaign ecosystems. The study, titled Architects of Online Influence, analyzes the growing role of political influencers, the incentives that shape their work, and the regulatory and platform-policy gaps that surround them. It argues that the creator economy is no longer peripheral to political discourse but is now a structural part of how campaigns, advocacy groups, and even foreign actors attempt to shape public opinion.

The programme offers practical instruction for judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and legal practitioners on how to identify and handle SLAPPs in line with European and international standards. It is built on recent legal frameworks, including Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)2 and the EU’s 2024/1069 Directive, both of which set clear expectations for protecting individuals engaged in public participation from abusive legal tactics.