New pledge to strengthen alternative platforms

Copenhagen, November 12, 2025 – Good Commons commits to raise EUR 1.5 million to support communities around the world that are redefining how technology serves the public. In contrast to Big Tech and Big AI models built on user surveillance and profit, these communities are creating safe, participatory digital spaces rooted in journalistic values, public trust and civic collaboration.

“Alternative platforms must be nurtured, replicated and scaled while remaining anchored in the communities they serve. That is why we built Good Commons”, said Rishad Patel, co-founder of Splice, a Singapore-based media start-up and one of the founding organisations behind Good Commons.

The pledge to raise funds was made during the Copenhagen Conference on Information Integrity. Co-organised by IMS (International Media Support), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and the Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI), the conference was convened as Denmark holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union.  

“In Tanzania we decided not to go Big Tech’s way of ‘one solution fits the world.’ We built and scaled JamiiForums, a local platform that helps people make informed decisions. Now we want to help other communities do the same,” said Maxence Melo founder and executive director from JamiiAfrica, another founding member of Good Commons and the organisation running JamiiForums – one of Tanzania’s most popular websites.

On Thursday in Copenhagen, Good Commons is bringing together alternative platforms from Colombia, Denmark, India, Moldova, Tanzania and the United Kingdom to learn and grow more resilient together under the headline Common Ground.

The funds that Good Commons is pledging to raise will provide seed grants and scale grants for communities building or scaling their own digital platforms; training, technical support and peer-to-peer learning; and a recurring Common Ground festival, where community builders, public interest technologists, community media, researchers, designers and funders can learn and grow together.

A dedicated portion of the funds will be reserved for initiatives led by women and non-binary founders, helping correct long-standing imbalances in the technology and media sectors. The funds will be handled by IMS.

“Based on 25 years’ experience, we know that lasting resilience and democratic progress comes from strong local communities and alliances. As AI and autocratic governments are showing no mercy for our information systems, a defining challenge of our time will be our ability to scale the local solutions that work to the point where they collectively have global impact,” said Magnus Ag, Head of Public Interest Tech at IMS.

Good Commons is a collective run by IMS, JamiiAfrica and Splice, developed with initial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and indirect support from SIDA, Norad, the EU Commission and in collaboration with communities around the world.

Join our community at Good Commons: Let’s build strong communities.

PRESS CONTACT:

IMS: lwn@mediasupport.org, +45 52107800; Jamii: office@jamii.africa; Splice: rishad@splicemedia.com

PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Maria Gerey Bak: mgb@mediasupport.org; +45 6170 2905