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A breath of fresh air.

Soon, our new research focus areas
will be available for exploration.

A breath of fresh air.

Soon, our new research priorities
will be available for exploration.

NEWS FROM THE INSTITUTE

Early Stage Researchers Colloquium 2015

We are are pleased to announce our fourth annual ESRC on September 24th. The colloquium wishes once again to gather early stage researchers from all…

Vote for Opening Science – Land of ideas Competition

Pleading for opening science, our team of doctorants needs your support to win the audience award 2015 in the last round of the Land…

Digitaler Salon: Virtual Past

How do digital tools change the way we represent and how we interact with history. Digitaler Salon travels to the past this time – virtually….

Opening Science – a Landmark in the Land of Ideas

The jury of the “Landmark in the Land of Ideas” competition by Deutsche Bank and the  “Germany – Land of Ideas” place branding initiative honour the…

Jeanette Hofmann: The Netzpolitik.org affair is a turning point

How increasingly contested the relationship between freedom of expression, democracy and national security in a digital society is, shows HIIG director Jeanette Hofmann in an op-ed…

Join us!

We are looking for three motivated student employees (m/f). — Apply now!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Further events

  • November 28
    Spotlight: Lost in our chat history?
    12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom |
  • December 16
    XXth Interdisciplinary Workshop “Privacy, Data Protection & Surveillance”
    12:00 - 18:00 | Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society |
  • January 28
    From consent to control: A new tool for effective self-determination over your data
    16:00 - 18:30 | 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…

    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

    The photo shows fighting white and black pelicans on the water, symbolising the spread of disinformation by German politicians and parties.

    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.

    Sami Nenno on 10 November 2025
    A colourful digital collage showing a pixelated, fragmented human figure split across multiple screens, symbolising the complex interplay behind content moderation work.

    Inside content moderation: Humans, machines and invisible work

    Content moderation combines human labour and algorithmic systems, exposing global inequalities in who controls what we see online.

    M. Stenzel, K. Mosene, F. Efferenn on 29 October 2025
    A train conductor with a orange mohawk hairstyle directs train traffic, symbolising the idea of platform alternatives.

    Beyond Big Tech: National strategies for platform alternatives

    China, Russia and India are building national platform alternatives to reduce their dependence on Big Tech. What can Europe learn from their strategies?

    Alina Kontareva on 15 October 2025