Digital Platforms: Alternative Models and Designs
The Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society organises a five-part impulse series on the topic of digital platforms together with the Bertelsmann Stiftung's Upgrade Democracy Team. Topics like current governance challenges and alternative solutions for the democratisation of online communication platforms will be discussed.
The Deep Dives tackle the following questions: How can we ensure that the rules and guidelines of digital platforms are fair, inclusive and safe for all users? What alternative models can be used to moderate content on social platforms to meet the requirements of freedom of speech and expression? How can stakeholders in society be involved in public interest decision-making processes on digital platforms?
Deep Dive Format
The discussions will be conducted under Chatham House Rules. For each Deep Dive, we will invite two keynote speakers and approximately 15 participating experts. After each event, an impulse paper will be published that summarises the most important aspects of the discussion.
Impulse Papers (German)
Impulse #1 – Decentralization as Democratization: Mastodon instead of Platform Power
Impulse #2 – Potentials of Small Tech: What can we learn from the small platforms?
Impulse #3 – Advice from the advisory board: Potential of platform advisory boards
Impulse #4 – Threats to democracy: Climate misinformation and gendered disinformation
Impulse #5 – The EU Elections 2024: How to build resilience against disinformation campaigns on social platforms
Activities
The first Deep Dive deals, among other things, with how decentralised networks should be financed in the future and how spaces can be created for marginalised groups.
18 April 2023 – Zoom
The second Deep Dive focuses on smaller platforms (Small Tech) in order to shed light on the requirements of freedom of speech and expression on the internet.
16 May 2023 – Zoom
The third Deep Dive discusses the potentials of platform councils as a meaningful advisory tool for private platform companies. The following variables are emphasized: the inclusive design of the process and the multi-stakeholder approach.
27 June 2023 – Zoom
The fourth Deep Dive explores which strategies and tactics can be successful in addressing gender-based and climate misinformation, on a legal, societal, corporate, or community level.
20 July 2023 – Zoom
22 August 2023 – Zoom
12 September 2023 – Zoom
Katharina MoseneResearcher: AI & Society Lab
Matthias C. Kettemann, Prof. Dr. LL.M. (Harvard)Head of Research Group and Associate Researcher: Global Constitutionalism and the Internet
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Vincent HofmannFormer Researcher: AI & Society Lab
Working paper
Berger, C., Freihse, C., Hofmann, V., Kettemann, M. C., Mosene, K. (2023). Dezentralisierung als Demokratisierung: Mastodon statt Plattformmacht. Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society & Bertelsmann Foundation. Publication details
Berger, C., Freihse, C., Hofmann, V., Kettemann, M. C., Mosene, K. (2023). Potenziale von kleineren Plattformen: Was können wir von ihnen lernen? Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society & Bertelsmann Foundation. Publication details
Berger, C., Freihse, C., Hofmann, V., Kettemann, M. C., Mosene, K. (2023). Rat beim Beirat: Potenzial von Plattformbeiräten. Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society & Bertelsmann Foundation. Publication details
Berger, C., Freihse, C., Hofmann, V., Kettemann, M. C., Mosene, K. (2023). Bedrohungen für die Demokratie: Klima-Fehlinformationen und geschlechtsspezifische Desinformation. Humboldt Institut for Internet and Society & Bertelsmann Foundation. Publication details
Berger, C., Freihse, C., Hofmann, V., Kettemann, M. C., Mosene, K. (2023). EU-Wahlen 2024: Wie wir resilienter gegen Desinformationskampagnen auf sozialen Plattformen werden. Humboldt Institut for Internet and Society & Bertelsmann Foundation. Publication details
Organisation of events
The EU Elections 2024: How to build resilience against disinformation campaigns on social platformsThe EU Elections 2024: How to build resilience against disinformation campaigns on social platforms. 22.08.2023. Online, Berlin, Germany. Co-Organised by: Bertelsmann Stiftung (National) Further information
Vincent Hofmann, Katharina Mosene, Matthias C. Kettemann
Threats to democracy: Climate misinformation and gendered disinformationThreats to democracy: Climate misinformation and gendered disinformation. 20.07.2023. Online, Berlin, Germany. Co-Organised by: Bertelsmann Stiftung (National) Further information
Vincent Hofmann, Katharina Mosene, Matthias C. Kettemann
Rat beim Beirat: Potenzial von PlattformbeirätenRat beim Beirat: Potenzial von Plattformbeiräten. 27.06.2023. Online, Berlin, Germany. Co-Organised by: Bertelsmann Stiftung (National) Further information
Vincent Hofmann, Katharina Mosene, Matthias C. Kettemann
Potenziale von kleineren Plattformen: Was können wir von ihnen lernen?Potenziale von kleineren Plattformen: Was können wir von ihnen lernen?. 16.05.2023. Online, Berlin, Germany. Co-Organised by: Bertelsmann Stiftung (National) Further information
Vincent Hofmann, Katharina Mosene, Matthias C. Kettemann
Cooperation & Duration
Katharina Mosene
Matthias C. Kettemann, Prof. Dr. LL.M. (Harvard)
PART OF THE RESEARCH GROUP
