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A breath of fresh air.

Our new research focuses are
available for exploration!

A breath of fresh air.

Our new research focuses
are available for exploration!

NEWS FROM THE INSTITUTE

Dossier: How metaphors shape the digital society

Cloud, big data, piracy, virus are common terms in the debates about digital technologies. At the same time they are methaphors that originate from…

Blockchain for Science – Hack’n’Share Weekend

This Hack’n’Share Weekend aims at bringing the blockchain tech community together with scientists, create engagement and hope to win talent for the living knowledge network. There…

Manuel Castells kicks off new academic lecture series

How is power constituted in the digital society? In his inaugural lecture on 12 December, Manuel Castells will revisit the development of the last…

Digitaler Salon: iCare for you

Plush robots, smart walking aids and digital conversation partners: Could machines possibly relieve the nursing sector and simulate feelings? And should they do so?…

Dossier: Germany goes digital?

How parties envision the process of digitalisation is becoming a more important factor in the fight for political power. Various online tools shed light…

Digitaler Salon: World White Web?

Inside the once utopian web, colonialism and social injustice continue to exist. Which resistance is being put up against white male supremacy? Is technology…

UPCOMING EVENTS

Further events

  • March 25
    Digitaler Salon: Beziehungsstatus kompliziert
    19:00 - 20:00 | Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society | Everyday Life
  • April 28
    DSA Research Network: Fourth Meeting of the Circle of Friends 
    15:00 - 16:30 | Online |

    • More to come soon.

    Explore our current issues
    while we reshape our research agenda…

    More to come soon.

    Explore our current issues
    while we reshape our research agenda…

    RESEARCH ISSUES IN FOCUS

    Platform governance

    In our research on platform governance, we investigate how corporate goals and social values can be balanced on online platforms.
    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

    We develop robust data governance frameworks and models to provide practical solutions for good data governance policies.
    Du siehst Eisenbahnschienen. Die vielen verschiedenen Abzweigungen symbolisieren die Entscheidungsmöglichkeiten von Künstlicher Intelligenz in der Gesellschaft. Manche gehen nach oben, unten, rechts. Manche enden auch in Sackgassen. Englisch: You see railway tracks. The many different branches symbolise the decision-making possibilities of artificial intelligence and society. Some go up, down, to the right. Some also end in dead ends.

    Artificial intelligence and society

    The future of artificial Intelligence and society operates in diverse societal contexts. What can we learn from its political, social and cultural facets?

    Digitalisation and sustainability

    In terms of sustainability, digitalisation faces countless opportunities and challenges. We explore how technology is used responsibly.
    Du siehst eine Bibliothek mit einer runden Treppe die sich in die höhe schraubt. Sie steht sinnbildlich für die sich stetig weiterentwickelnden digitalen Infrastrukturen unserer Wissensgesellschaft. You see a library with a round staircase that spirals upwards. It symbolises the constantly evolving digital infrastructures of our knowledge society.

    Open higher education

    We explore the use of open higher education & edtech to create, share and disseminate knowledge for all in our knowledge society.
    Man sieht einen leeren Büroraum ohne Möbel und braunen Teppichboden. Das Bild steht sinnbildlich für die Frage, wie die Arbeit der Zukunft und digitales Organisieren und Zukunft unseren Arbeitsplatz beeinflusst. You see an empty office room without furniture and brown carpeting. The image is emblematic of the question of how the work of the future and digital organising and the future will influence our workplace.

    Digital future of the workplace

    How will AI and digitalisation change the future of the workplace? We assess their impact, and the opportunities and risks for the future of work.

    Experts for Media

    HIIG Expertise – Startseite - Micro - single

    Here you will find our experts on current press topics relating to the Internet and digitalisation.

    AI Compass

    KI Kompass Startseite

    Everyone is talking about artificial intelligence (AI). But what is all the hype? Find out with this card game.

    Data Governance Guide

    smart city_startseite

    Our new handbook provides guidance on the legally compliant and efficient use of data for administrations.

    DIGITAL SOCIETY BLOG

    Further articles

    A volcanic eruption resembling an explosion, used to illustrate the metaphor of AI as a destructive "killing machine".

    Forget the “killing machine”: why AI is a question of responsibility, not apocalypse

    The authors challenge the metaphor of artificial intelligence as a “killing machine” that will one day surpass its human creators.

    Matthias C. Kettemann, Frederik Efferenn on 18 March 2026
    Blurred red face on a dark background symbolizing how AI agents construct digital identity.

    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.

    J. Nörz, M. Wiechert & W. Schulz on 11 March 2026
    The photo pictures a basketball hoop, symbolising the Human in the Loop in automated credit lending.

    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?

    Philipp Mahlow, Katharina Mosene on 8 December 2025