Democracy AR
Democracy AR is an award-winning AR app created in response to Israel's 2023 judicial reform crisis. When the government announced plans to neutralize the judiciary branch, the tech industry mobilized with initiatives to protect democracy. DemocracyAR emerged from this movement, winning two hackathons and uniting concerned activists determined to defend democratic values.
AR Activism Innovation
Led by Royi Rozen and Yotam Katz, a team of 15 developers, designers, and product managers created an AR experience that transformed street signs into names of far-right extremists. This simple visualization helped turn abstract concerns about "dictatorship" into something relatable and actionable, shocking and amusing viewers while conveying a powerful message.
Viral Impact
Throughout the nine-month protest period, DemocracyAR built, collaborated on, and prototyped AR projects with one goal: mobilizing people to take to the streets. The app reached 50,000 users and generated 20,000 shares in its first week alone, directly contributing to increased protest participation.
Technical Achievement
Built with WebXR and Three.js, Democracy AR worked in any mobile browser—no downloads needed. Custom computer vision made it fast and reliable for everyone.
