CareNow – A New Socio-Technical Theory of Manipulation and Its Normative Status
Funding: European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant)
Duration: 2026 – 2031
Abstract: CareNow develops a new theory of manipulation for the age of artificial intelligence. Unlike traditional accounts, the project examines how manipulation operates within socio-technical systems such as digital platforms and automated decision-making tools. Combining philosophical theory with empirical research, the project introduces the concept of deliberative care to explain when influence becomes ethically problematic. Its findings will inform debates on trustworthy AI, digital regulation, and democratic resilience.