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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

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…

Wahlkompass Digitales: Online-Tool to compare election programmes

How do we use data purposefully and justly? How should we react to populism and social bots? How can we protect ourselves against cyber…

UPCOMING EVENTS

Further events

  • August 11
    3rd Workshop on ‘Public Interest AI’
    All Day | Messe Bremen (Exhibition Center) |
  • September 01
    Workshop: Sicher im Datenverkehr – Von der Forschung in die Anwendung
    14:00 - 16:00 | Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society |
  • September 18
    Workshop: Academic freedom under pressure
    9:00 - 15:00 | Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society |

    • 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…

    Featured Topics

    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

    Rows of empty blue chairs in a plenary hall, symbolizing the question of whether AI can strengthen democracy.

    Can AI strengthen democracy? A data collection on AI projects aiming to serve democratic processes

    This article introduces a dataset of 98 AI projects claiming to serve democracy, built to help researchers test these claims.

    S. Youssef, T. Züger, L. Winter on 13 July 2026
    The photo shows the Statue of Liberty's law tablet as a symbol of the freedom of expression in the transatlantic DSA debate.

    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.

    Matthias Kettemann, Wolfgang Schulz on 7 July 2026

    Democracy at the ballot: Results from our voting booth at the Long Night of Sciences

    We invited Berliners to share their feelings and opinions about democracy in Germany. The results will be published here soon.

    A. Watolla, M. Stenzel on 29 June 2026