Laptop generals and bot armies: The digital front of Russia’s Ukraine war Analysis Digital technology plays a key role in the armed conflict in Ukraine – as a tool for cyberattacks and digital protest, and as an accelerator for information and disinformation. By Zora Siebert and Sabine Muscat
Proposals for detoxifying the debate culture: Less disinformation and hate in the election campaign Analysis The German parliamentary election campaign played out on the internet as never before. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, this was certainly necessary, but it brought with it all the evils we have previously seen in US election campaigns: disinformation campaigns and hate speech were used to discredit candidates, paid political online advertising and foreign influence circumvented basic democratic values. By Vérane Meyer and Zora Siebert
Senegal: “If I don’t know, I ask – if I know, I share.” Interview The internet increasingly enables people in Senegal to express their opinions and be part of democracy – this has become clear in digital initiatives such as Sunu 2012 or #FreeSenegal. Senegalese activist Cheikh Fall explains in an interview how important (pan-African) networking is in this context. By Dr Selly Ba and Maria Kind
Quality, not speed, is what we need - A case for a sustainable transformation of digital education German schools have been slower to embrace digital education than US schools over the past decade, due to concerns about the influence of commercial players and data protection. The Covid-19 pandemic has now significantly increased reform pressure in Germany. By Sigrid Hartong
Privacy is key: Holding EdTech accountable Schools made a quick pivot to online teaching in spring 2020 as the pandemic sent kids home to learn. But educators soon faced a host of data sharing issues, as classrooms moved to platforms neither designed for education nor in compliance with privacy laws. By Joe Jerome
More devices, insufficient skills: Digital literacy gap adds to educational inequity in Germany The Covid-19-related switch to online learning in German schools could exacerbate existing educational inequalities, due to wide variations in access and digital literacy at home. By Julia Gerick
A Democratic Counteroffer to China’s Digital Power Commentary The EU and the US have to navigate bilateral differences and work with like-minded countries to formulate a response to China’s techno-authoritarianism. This effort should go beyond industrial policy towards shaping a positive and inclusive digital agenda. By Sabine Muscat
Digital Sovereignty - The EU in a Contest for Influence and Leadership Background The concept of ‘digital sovereignty’ has become more prevalent over the last few years, although its meaning remains diffuse. Between Chinese techno-authoritarianism and the U.S. model of surveillance capitalism, Europe is heading towards a third way. By Zora Siebert
Digital Policy Referat The digital transformation has changed the way we learn, work and communicate. However, the increase in automated and autonomous decisions, the formation of monopolies and the enormous consumption of resources through digitalisation also present us with regulatory challenges. The Heinrich Böll Foundation sees itself as an impulse generator for design approaches: The digital transformation must be shaped in a participatory, confident and sustainable way.
Smart Green World? In their book, Steffen Lange and Tilman Santarius investigate how digitalization influences environmental and social sustainability. Add to cart
