The landscape of election observation is changing rapidly. While traditional monitoring methods remain essential, today’s observers face an increasingly complex array of hybrid threats to election integrity. From artificial intelligence and platform manipulation to foreign interference and data protection risks, the challenges demand new skills and approaches from election observers.

Recognising the urgency of this shift, EPDE’s ElectLab Academy 2025 focused on innovating methodology and preparing observers to meet these challenges.

“Recent elections have shown a new level of sophistication in attacks on election integrity, powered by AI, cyber operations, and foreign interference through third parties. At EPDE, we’re equipping observers with the skills and tools they need to detect, disclose, and ultimately help deter these hybrid threats.” – Adam Busuleanu, EPDE Senior Program Officer.

This year’s program introduced next-generation monitoring tools, aiming to equip our network members with the capacities needed for both current and future election environments. Leading experts in open-source intelligence (OSINT), generative AI, data protection monitoring, and cybersecurity led participants through collaborative sessions and real-time simulation games on how these tools can be integrated into election observation and applied under real-world conditions.

This year also marked a milestone in international collaboration: for the first time, ElectLab welcomed participants from the African Electoral Observation Network (AfEONet), who joined EPDE members in cross-continental training and exchange. This growing international exchange reflects a shared understanding that today’s hybrid threats to election integrity affect countries across Africa and Europe and require collective responses.

Looking ahead, EPDE will continue to refine and scale these tools into field-ready, adaptable methods that can be used across diverse electoral settings. ElectLab Academy 2025 demonstrates that civil society can adapt rapidly to technological change. By leveraging innovative tools and techniques, citizen election observers are better prepared to safeguard democratic processes.