News

Find out what we're up to, who's using our platform, and our hopes for the future of participatory e-democracy.

Browse below for case studies, interviews, product updates and more.

All stories

When We Outsource Critical Thinking from AI, Will We Stop Being Human?

24 May 2023 - Meelika Hirmo

“I think, therefore I am”. A famous quote from the philosopher Rene Descartes summarising how he defined the key essence of being human. With the rapid development of AI and considering how the human brain is renowned for being “lazy”, are we poised to delegate the most essential part of being a human - thinking? What exactly does it mean if we no longer take time for thinking and learning and all the answers can be provided within seconds?

What to Believe When They Don't Want Us to Believe In Anything?

23 May 2023 - Meelika Hirmo

On one sunny morning, in our Tallinn office, located in the hub of startups, restaurants and NGOs, we welcome Pablo Veyrat, a former journalist and current lecturer of Sociology and Social Pedagogy. We have invited him for the first “Coffee Morning” session, where an expert joins us (well you guessed it!) for coffee, treats and critical discussions. On this occasion, it's the topic of AI and if it will lead us to the point where we cease to be what makes us human.

Ready for the Fifth Industrial Revolution? Our New Developer Sure Is!

21 April 2023 - Meelika Hirmo

We've got some new talent in our team! Meet Osama, Mohammad, our “humble developer” as he calls himself. We spoke with Osama about technology, democracy and his journey all the way from the big city of Islamabad, Pakistan, to Tallinn, Estonia, where the entire population of the country is about the same as in his home city.

Activists from 12 Countries Meet in Rural Estonia to Learn About Digital Participation

28 March 2023 - Meelika Hirmo

Today, an international 10-day Bootcamp started — bringing together civil society leaders from 12 countries. During the Bootcamp, participants will learn about Estonia's e-democracy and civil society development, as well as exchange ideas and practices in order to support the development of their local democracies.

If You Can't Dance, Is It Your Revolution? Meet Our New Communications Lead

6 March 2023 - Oksana Naidjonova

We caught up with our newest recruit, Meelika Hirmo, to find out what makes her tick. Or dance, rather? She shares her personal story of growing up during the Singing Revolution and why she joined Citizen OS. We also talk about books and how cooperation could change our democracies.

How to Encourage Better Political Discussions During Elections

16 February 2023 - Oksana Naidjonova

Friends of Citizen OS in Estonia, the Estonian Debating Society and Praxis Centre for Policy Studies, have launched a “Smart Voter” campaign in Estonia. The project encourages citizens to make well-considered decisions and aims to raise voters’ political awareness before and during the Estonian Parliamentary elections.

Our Annual Report 2022.

21 January 2023 - Becca Melhuish

The year 2022 was a big one for us at Citizen OS. Check out our Annual Report to find out what we’ve been up to—our projects and partnerships, our platform developments, and our organisational expansion—as well as our plans for 2023.

1200 Citizens Attend Indonesia Opinion Festival 2022.

4 April 2022 - Becca Melhuish

Just under 1200 Indonesian citizens came together online to democratically share their opinions, insights and hopes for the future at our second Indonesia Opinion Festival.

Our New Government Partnership for Youth E-engagement in Indonesia.

17 January 2022 - Indianna Knight, Becca Melhuish

Youth E-Engagement Programme is a new partnership between Citizen OS Indonesia and the Indonesian government.

Interview - Imam Gunawan, Indonesian Ministry of Youth and Sport.

16 January 2022 - Agustina Iskandar Crombach

Interview with Imam Gunawan from the Indonesian Ministry of Youth and Sport on collaborating with Citizen OS.

My Volunteer Experience - Sara Sinha.

5 December 2021 - Indianna Knight

Sara Sinha shared her experience of volunteering with us.

Meet Falko Blumenthal, a Civic Hacktivist.

15 November 2021 - Indianna Knight

Falko Blumenthal reflects on his time at Tallinn Winter School and shares his views on civic hacktivism.

Meet our alumni digital change-makers.

4 October 2021 - Indianna Knight, Becca Melhuish

We caught up with alumni of the Digital Innovation Programme.

Interview—The past and future of Citizen OS.

21 September 2021 - Becca Melhuish

The succession of Margo Loor by Anett Linno as CEO marks a new chapter of growth.

Citizen OS global expansion led by new CEO.

20 September 2021 - Becca Melhuish

A new chapter of growth begins, following the succession of outgoing CEO, Margo Loor, by incoming CEO, Anett Linno.

Interview—PARE General Meeting goes online.

6 May 2021 - Becca Melhuish

Find out how Estonia’s PARE Union moved their general meeting online with the help of the Citizen OS platform.

Meet our young changemakers.

10 March 2021 - Becca Melhuish

Find out what our inspiring team of young Estonian changemakers thinks about civil society activism, “being the change”, and the future potential of participatory e-democracy.

Celebrating freedom of expression in Indonesia.

5 March 2021 - Becca Melhuish

Led by Citizen OS Indonesia, the first ever Indonesian Opinion Festival saw 527 participants come together to discuss important social issues, with outcomes being passed on to government for action.

Our new community e-participation course.

16 February 2021 - Becca Melhuish

Seventeen Estonian community leaders took part in our fresh new training programme.

12 digital changemakers successfully upskilled.

21 January 2021 - Becca Melhuish

After ten enriching days on our co-led Digital Innovation Program, an international group of twelve young students are now ready to apply their newly-learned skills to the benefit of their communities.

The Ultimate Winter School for Digital Change-makers.

22 October 2020 - Becca Melhuish

We’ve teamed up with Tallinn University to deliver an engaging and enriching Winter School course, focused specifically on digital innovation and civic engagement.

Join India’s Participatory Youth Leadership Network.

13 October 2020 - Becca Melhuish

We’re launching a new community of practice in India, the Participatory Youth Leadership Network, which will bring together youth leaders and youth organisations in India and beyond.

The dawn of participatory e-democracy in India?

24 September 2020 - Sara Sinha

Open Society Technologies scholar Sara Sinha fills us in on the participatory e-democracy scene in India, the academic research in this area, and her hopes for the future of this field in her homeland.

The 34 Islands Project–for a Greener Indonesia.

18 September 2020 - Becca Melhuish

Grassroots community decision-making is combating waste pollution in Indonesia.

Democracy is impossible without reasoned debate.

15 September 2020 - Margo Loor

Our CEO Margo Loor on why public discussion yields the best decisions, as published in the Good Citizen magazine.

The key to online democracy is trust.

5 August 2020 - Margo Loor, CEO and Product Manager / Edited by Becca Melhuish

Online voting systems need solid security measures. We keep the Citizen OS platform up-to-date with new laws and best practice—our CEO and Product Manager, Margo Loor, explains how.

Turning citizen ideas into action on waste—Bintan, Indonesia.

29 July 2020 - Indonesian team, edited by Becca Melhuish

Let’s Do It Indonesia have announced the success of their first 34 Island Project governmental meeting—turning local people’s wishes into reality with the help of Citizen OS.

Come and participate in a new participation-service pilot project!

8 June 2020 - Anett Linno, Liina Guiter

Citizen OS Foundation is developing a participation service to help successfully carry out initiatives in society.

Challenges in the Field of Participatory e-Democracy.

25 May 2020 - Becca Melhuish

Founding members of the new global Civic Hacktivist Community share their thoughts on the challenges facing the emerging field of participatory e-democracy, and their vision for its future.

The Civic Hacktivist Community — Who and Why?

14 May 2020 - Becca Melhuish

Who’s at the helm of the Civic Hacktivist Community, and what’s it for? Members of the community’s founding organisations share their hopes for the future of this new participatory e-democracy network.

My Mistake - My Best Lesson.

5 May 2020 - Agustina Iskandar

Agustina Iskandar, leader of civic movement Let’s Do It Indonesia, recounts a candid and heartfelt story of a leadership mistake, and how she regained trust with the help of the Citizen OS platform.

Team Decisions in the Time of Corona.

28 April 2020 - Becca Melhuish

Still haven’t found the perfect tool for remote group decision-making? Our free co-decision platform might be just what you’re looking for.

Estonia’s Richness Of Life Party - a recipe for post-ideology participatory politics?

20 April 2020 - Becca Melhuish

A radically different approach to party politics – paving the way for a bottom-up digital eco-state led directly by the people.

Digital Signing through Smart-ID - our open source gift

27 February 2020 - Becca Melhuish

Here at Citizen OS, we’ve been busy writing two free, open source sets of code in JavaScript, which act as interfaces for using Estonia’s Smart-ID and Mobile-ID services. They’re yours if you want them!

Where is participation heading and how can each of us change it?

20 December 2019 - Questions by Gertha Teidla-Kunitsõn, written answers by Margo Loor.

Gertha Teidla-Kunitsõn from the Estonian Youth Work Center asked our CEO about the status of participation in society today and where is participation heading in the future.

Le Ciel and Citizen OS join forces for the planet.

2 December 2019 - Becca Melhuish

"The Twelve", a new documentary revealing indigenous communities’ wisdom to inspire global collective action, is being supported by Citizen OS through the creation of an online community platform.

Is the time of representative democracy over - Estonia without a parliament?

13 November 2019 - Margo Loor

Political events across the democratic world have created a ghost – the ghost of direct democracy. Populist movements everywhere demand that the people’s voice be heard more, mostly in the form of Swiss-style referendums.

GMB Indonesia - empowering Youth Leaders for unity and peace.

8 November 2019 - Anett Linno, edited by Becca Melhuish

Our CEO, Anett Linno, walks us through her experiences at our partner GMB Indonesia's Youth Adventure and Leaders Forum, in this personal blog and in-depth photo story.

AFoorum - Widening the scope of the Opinion Festival in Estonia.

5 September 2019 - Becca Melhuish

This annual democracy festival's mission to improve debate culture and enhance civic education is supported by Citizen OS’s open source platform for the second year running.

The unexamined life is not worth living - On Socrates and Citizen OS.

18 July 2019 - Paul Emmet

Socratic discourses are no longer the privilege of the scholars and the intellectuals — now concerned citizens can propose, discuss, and learn from others, with the Citizen OS e-democracy platform.

Meet The Team - Localisation lead Oksana Naidjonova

4 July 2019 - Oksana Naidjonova answered, Becca Melhuish asked

Citizen OS’s localisation lead on her childhood translation profession, coffee-addicted eagles, and a cunning plan to take over the world.