Democratic_Support Data

This study investigates how information environment quality (IEQ), encompassing misinformation, online censorship, and cybersecurity capacities, shapes citizens’ attitudes toward democracy and digital freedoms. Employing multilevel models with World Values Survey and Digital Society Project data, we find that support for digital democracy aligns with broader democratic values. Furthermore, the findings reveal an indirect pathway: while IEQ dimensions do not directly impact individuals’ general democratic support, a significant indirect pathway was identified: IEQ influences general democratic support by first affecting individuals' attitudes toward digital democracy. Reduced online censorship and enhanced cybersecurity capacities robustly strengthen citizens’ support for digital democracy. However, a counterintuitive but statistically insignificant result is that less misinformation is linked to weaker support for digital democracy attitudes. These complex patterns underscore the importance of safeguarding online civil liberties and maintaining an open information environment to reinforce digital and general democratic values.