Standing for democracy in an age of rising authoritarianism

Three years ago, on 24 February 2022, the world watched in horror as the Russian Federation launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It was not just a territorial incursion; it was a challenge to the fundamental principles of sovereignty, democracy and self-determination.

At Link Digital, we responded by making it clear that we stand with Ukraine. Our commitment was not just symbolic. It was real, personal and professional—our team includes many Ukrainian colleagues whose lives were upended by the war, yet who continue to work and build a future despite it. We chose to support them not because it was easy or convenient but because it was right.

Now, on this third anniversary, the fight for Ukraine’s future continues. But so too does another battle: a battle over the direction of the world’s liberal democracies, their institutions and the fragile trust that underpins them. And on this front, we are facing a growing threat—one that is not coming from Moscow, but from within some of the very nations that have long stood as beacons of democratic governance.

The rising tide of illiberalism

In many ways, the Russian invasion of Ukraine was an expression of a broader shift, away from democracy, accountability and international cooperation toward coercion, force and rule by authoritarian decree. What we see in Ukraine is the visible, violent edge of a struggle that is playing out across the world.

The institutions that have sustained democracy for decades—the rule of law, free and fair elections, independent media and multilateral cooperation—are under strain. Disinformation, deliberately manufactured distrust and the rise of ‘strongman’ politics are eating away at them.

In Australia, in Europe, in the United States—this struggle is being fought not on battlefields, but in political arenas. This includes courtrooms and in the contested spaces of public discourse, such as the media and elections. And one of the most destabilising forces in this struggle is the return of fascism, not just as an ideology of a minority on the political extreme but as a very real and present mainstream force.

A fracturing world order

Let me be clear: this is not about partisanship. It is about whether we, as citizens of liberal democracies, can expect our institutions to operate in ways that are rational, accountable and rooted in the principles that have underpinned global stability for decades.

The executive branch of the United States Government, which shows with every act the evolving steps of an openly fascist coercive force, is not simply about a different economic or social policy vision for the United States. It is pursuing a forced and non-consensual geopolitical realignment, one in which power is being wielded with reckless disregard for alliances, legal constraints and the will of the governed.

We are witnessing a presidency that:

Abandons its allies and wilfully casts doubt on long-standing security commitments, emboldening adversaries of liberal democracies like Russia and China.

Undermines trust in democracy, not just within the US but globally, by spreading baseless positions and deliberate misinformation about political parties, candidates, policies and elections.

Attacks the very institutions meant to provide checks and balances, from the judiciary to independent law enforcement.

The current US presidency is accelerating us toward a fractured and thrustless alliance of weakened democratic nation states. And, as we are watching, the most powerful democracy in the world is slowly ceasing to function as one. It is a time for principles, values and civic action because the consequences of non-action will be profound, not just for the United States, but for all of us.

The direct impact on Ukraine and beyond

For Link Digital, this is not an abstract concern. It is deeply personal. A US administration that aligns itself—explicitly or implicitly—with authoritarian interests is having direct consequences for our colleagues in Ukraine. The shift toward isolationism and an outright appeasement of Moscow is undermining the support that has helped keep Ukraine in the fight for its own sovereignty.

But the impact goes beyond Ukraine. If this kind of ‘dumb-arm’ power—where force, deception and the sheer weight of political will override democratic process—becomes normalised, it affects the trust that citizens everywhere can place in their governments.

It means that Australia, Canada, the UK and Europe can no longer rely on the world order that has long provided security, economic stability and a framework for global cooperation. It means that businesses, like Link Digital, operating across borders and working in civic tech, must navigate a world where institutional trust is no longer a given.

Why this matters to all of us

This is not a call to despair. It is a call to clarity.

In response to concern for the future of public Federal data in the US, the Harvard Law School Library Innovation Lab has proactively launched a project to safeguard and preserve public interest datasets. This initiative has successfully archived over 311,000 datasets, totaling 16 terabytes, from data.gov between 2024 and 2025, ensuring their continued accessibility through the Source Cooperative.

Such efforts are vital in countering regimes that undermine truth and propagate false narratives for power consolidation. Making open data from public institutions readily available can empower the public to highlight facts, especially when leaders promote unfounded worldviews and lack moral direction.

What we are facing is not just a political contest. It is a deeper question of values. Off whether the institutions we rely on will hold, or whether we are entering a period where power is defined solely by those willing to take it, regardless of law or principle.

As business leaders, as technologists, as citizens of liberal democracies, we must be prepared to meet this moment.

This means:

Speaking out: Not as partisans, but as those who recognise the fundamental stakes for democratic governance.

Supporting the structures that hold democracy together: Independent journalism, the rule of law, transparent governance and international cooperation.

Backing those on the frontlines of democracy’s defense: Ukraine, yes, but also civic institutions, election monitors and all those fighting disinformation.

Making this issue local: It is easy to see these shifts as distant. They are not. The erosion of trust in institutions is happening everywhere, and it must be actively countered.

This is not a moment for neutrality. The forces seeking to erode democracy are not waiting for us to make up our minds. They are moving relentlessly towards a world where force overrides law, where disinformation replaces knowledge and where institutions that took generations to build are dismantled in a matter of months.

On this anniversary, let us reaffirm what we stand for. Not in blind optimism, but in clear-eyed determination.

We will not be bystanders to democracy’s decline. We will be part of the effort to defend it.