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Digital Society Blog

Making sense of our connected world

There are piles of colourful stones stacked on top of each other. They symbolise the debate among Bundestag members about wealth taxation on social media.
Sami Nenno | 9. October 2026

#TaxTheRich: How do members of the German Bundestag debate wealth taxation on social media?

Germany’s Constitutional Court is reviewing the inheritance tax. A study shows how members of the Bundestag argue online.

A black, white and ginger cat peeking out from behind a wall, symbolising the cat and mouse game surrounding the Digital Services Act.
Daniel Pothmann | 6. October 2026

Enforcing the Digital Services Act: A cat & mouse game?

The Digital Services Act has been in force for two years. Is it working as expected? A look at enforcement progress and geopolitical influences.

The photo shows yellow lockers, symbolising data protection.
Max Lukat | 3. August 2026

Why data protection doesn’t protect data, but people

This article explains why “data protection” is something of a misnomer, and why the main responsibility for making it work doesn’t rest with users alone.

The photo shows the Statue of Liberty's law tablet as a symbol of the freedom of expression in the transatlantic DSA debate.
Matthias Kettemann, Wolfgang Schulz | 7. July 2026

Between accusations of censorship and platform power: What the Digital Services Act actually regulates

The DSA is increasingly attacked as “censorship law”. This article argues: Its core purpose is to protect freedom of expression online.

A. Watolla, M. Stenzel | 29. June 2026

Tick-box democracy: What a polling booth reveals about our personal beliefs

We invited Berliners to share their feelings and opinions about democracy in Germany. Find the results here.

A person climbing a steep rock face, symbolising the effort AI observatories make to scrutinise and challenge the structures of algorithmic power.
Paola Cantarini Guerra | 10. April 2026

Algorithms under scrunity: AI observatories as democratic infrastructure

Algorithms have a profound impact on people’s lives. This article explores why AI observatories are essential for democratic governance.

Blurred red face on a dark background symbolizing how AI agents construct digital identity.
J. Nörz, M. Wiechert & W. Schulz | 11. March 2026

The bot that bit back: AI agents, defamation and the digital construction of identity

A real case of an AI agent publishing a smear piece raises new legal questions about responsibility and digital identity.

The photo pictures a basketball hoop, symbolising the Human in the Loop in automated credit lending.
Philipp Mahlow, Katharina Mosene | 8. December 2025

The Human in the Loop in automated credit lending – Human expertise for greater fairness

How fair is automated credit lending? Where is human expertise essential?

The photo shows fighting white and black pelicans on the water, symbolising the spread of disinformation by German politicians and parties.
Sami Nenno | 10. November 2025

Who spreads disinformation, where, for what purpose, and to what extent?

How much disinformation do German politicians and parties actually spread? On which platforms and to what ends? Two new studies provide systematic answers.

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Platform governance

How can the goals of corporations and the values of society be reconciled on online platforms?

Dossier erkunden
Du siehst eine Tastatur auf der eine Taste rot gefärbt ist und auf der „Control“ steht. Eine bildliche Metapher für die Regulierung von digitalen Plattformen im Internet und Data Governance. You see a keyboard on which one key is coloured red and says "Control". A figurative metaphor for the regulation of digital platforms on the internet and data governance.

Data governance

How can the technical, organisational and regulatory mechanisms of data sharing and use serve the public interest?

Dossier erkunden