Making sense of our connected world
Why access rights to platform data for researchers restrict, not promote, academic freedom
New German and EU digital laws grant researchers access rights to platform data, but narrow definitions of research risk undermining academic freedom.
Two years after the takeover: Four key policy changes of X under Musk
This article outlines four key policy changes of X since Musk’s 2022 takeover, highlighting how the platform’s approach to content moderation has evolved.
Mobility transition in the neighbourhood: Simulating citizen participation in Berlin’s digital administration
How can data and digital solutions drive urban development? In the living lab, we tested citizen participation within Berlin’s digital administration.
There’s no one following me around the supermarket
In the public debate about personalisation there are many misconceptions. The SID project studies user perceptions to develop new approaches.
Navigating platform power: From European elections to the regulatory future
Looking back at the European elections in June 2024, this blog post takes stock of the Digital Services Act’s effect in terms of navigating platform power.
European elections and digital policy: German party positions
To what extent are German parties addressing digital policy in the European elections? A glance at the election programmes reveals different priorities.
Surveillance
The state monitors its citizens, Internet companies monitor their users – and finally we monitor ourselves and each other. Who is monitoring whom and why? What positive effects can surveillance have and when does it become a danger for a democratic society? Questions like these were posed by students of the Humboldt University of Berlin in the seminar “Tracing Surveillance – On the Trace of Surveillance” led by HIIG researcher Thomas Christian Bächle. In the contributions to this dossier they discuss their views on state and economic power and surveillance technologies.
How COVID-19 impacts digital technologies
The current lockdown is boosting online activity – everything is increasingly shifting to the digital sphere. In this dossier we ask if, how and why the Corona pandemic will affect key subjects of digital technologies. What does this mean for the regulation of content on digital platforms? How is Covid-19 activating the digital society? How does it transform our online culture? How safe are tracing apps? What lessons can be learned regarding cyber security? Busy times for our researchers!
