Clifton van der Linden
Associate Professor, Political Science

Dr. van der Linden’s academic interests centre on the implications of technology for both the practice and study of politics. His research examines the relational dynamics between digital technologies and democratic participation. He leverages technological advancements in areas such as artificial intelligence to develop novel approaches to the study of political behaviour and public opinion.

Dr. van der Linden is the director of the Digital Society Lab, an interdisciplinary research centre dedicated to the study of the complex societal transformations that have accompanied the digital age, an is the academic director of the Master of Public Policy in Digital Society program. He is also a visiting fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute,

In addition to his academic work, Dr. van der Linden has founded and led numerous tech companies—from non-profits to Silicon Valley start-ups. He is presently the founder and chief executive officer of Vox Pop Labs, a social enterprise best known for producing Vote Compass—an online application run during election campaigns that surveys users and then calculates their alignment with candidates running for office. To date Vote Compass has been featured in more than 50 elections and referenda worldwide and has garnered more than 30 million users.

Dr. van der Linden is the recipient of numerous awards and honours, including the Adel S. Sedra Distinguished Graduate Award from the University of Toronto, the Clarkson Laureateship for Public Service from Massey College, and the Arch Alumni Award from McMaster University. His entrepreneurial endeavours were recognized with the Toronto Region Board of Trade's Entrepreneur of the Year Award and he was named one of Toronto’s Top Innovators by Post City Magazine. He has been a visting fellow at the Free University Amsterdam and the European University Institute.

Dr. van der Linden has advised various governments on matters related to technology and public opinion. He is also a regular media contributor on issues pertaining to elections and public policy.
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