Dear friends and fellow researchers,

It’s spring – time to clean up! If you’re in an unhappy relationship with your data, a detox could do you some good: reduce your online footprint and regain control over your digital self by changing passwords, checking privacy settings, deleting old files, or by blocking spying ads and invisible trackers.

With the European Union’s new General Data Protection Regulation coming into force on 25 May 2018, this is becoming an issue for everyone. Our researchers have tackled GDPR’s opportunities and challenges theoretically; now they have to practically apply it at the institute. HIIG’s most current issue in focus provides an overview of the new data protection and what's beyond. And while we’re on the subject of spring cleaning: have you had a look at our brand new website yet? As an internet institute, we thought it was about time to polish our online presence!

In case you can’t get enough – we're looking forward to meeting you at one of our upcoming events. Now, we hope you enjoy reading the latest issue of our Quarterly Newsletter.

Jeanette Hofmann | Ingolf Pernice | Björn Scheuermann | Thomas Schildhauer | Wolfgang Schulz

RESEARCH AND ACTIVITIES

The Evolving Digital Society | On A Mission

How can you dive into debates on digitisation without getting lost? Our research programme on “The evolving digital society“ focusses at the relevant concepts, discourses and structures. After an enlightening workshop on content moderation and AI in March, the next event – organised by Christian Katzenbach and our guest researcher Astrid Mager – looks behind the role of future imaginaries in the governing of digital technology.

| Tomatoes can be organic. But search results?

Take Five | Expanding Our Board Of Directors

We are glad to welcome a new, fifth member to our board of directors: as a professor and chair of computer engineering at the Humboldt University of Berlin, Björn Scheuermann will enrich our institute with his technical expertise in informatics. In his new role at HIIG, Scheuermann intends to conduct research in the fields of data protection and the social dimension of IT security.

| Is your bowtie really a camera? Björn Scheuermann knows...

New Members | Advisory Council

Our Advisory Council – which provides advice on the institute’s scientific development and guides it in strengthening its international relationships – is getting reinforcements! José van Dijk, Robin Mansell and Volker Markl will be joining the council to help shape HIIG’s research agenda.

| Who’s who?

PUBLICATIONS

New Publication | Purpose Limitation in Data Protection

Max von Grafenstein, HIIG research programme lead, provides an answer to the question of how the GDPR should be interpreted with respect to the openness of data-driven innovation and the data subject’s autonomous exercise of fundamental rights. In doing so, Max’s work focuses on the principle of purpose limitation. Better hurry up, you have until 25 May to read the over 670 pages!

| Find a free version of the dissertation here.

Issue in Focus | GDPR – and beyond?

When you’re surfing the web, in most cases you don’t pay with money, but by sharing your data. Does the EU’s new General Data Protection Regulation have the potential to reshape the web as we know it? In terms of protecting privacy, it means new rights for consumers, but also new obligations for institutions and businesses. If Trump’s CLOUD Act doesn’t spoil it all...

| Dig deeper into #GDPR!

New Study | The Path Of The Smart

There is great potential for smart energy in Germany. A significant number of users, many of whom are dissatisfied with existing product solutions, are becoming innovators themselves. The biggest problem is that their ideas often remain undiscovered treasures. This has led HIIG researchers Matti Große, Hendrik Send and Tanja Loitz from co2online to call for an improved framework for collaboration. Read more about

| … further steps towards a transformation in energy policy and user innovation.

Special Issue | Networked Publics

What happens to the public sphere when digital platforms are regulated? At the end of October 2017, scholars from various disciplines gathered at the 18th annual AoIR conference in Estonia to discuss the role of networked publics. Internet Policy Review, our open access and peer-reviewed journal on internet regulation, publishes a special issue on AoIR 2017 in the beginning of May. Stay tuned!

| Sneak preview: Neutrality, fairness or freedom?

New Publication | Entrepreneurial Innovation and Leadership

How can countries and companies stay competitive in an ever-changing digital environment? In a brand-new book by HIIG researchers Nancy Richter and Thomas Schildhauer together with Paul Jackson from Edith Cowan University, Australia, the authors investigate the role of entrepreneurship for a national innovation system. The publication includes the final results of our year-long startup clinics program and adopts a comparative approach between Germany and the USA.

| Continue reading.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Ranking Digital Rights | 2 May 2018

In our daily communications, we rely on technologies that are controlled by large corporations. In light of developments such as Germany’s new internet hate speech law and the GDPR, it’s time to examine these company’s approaches to privacy and freedom of expression. On 2 May 2018, RDR is launching its 2018 Corporate Accountability Index at HIIG, which evaluates 22 of the world’s most powerful internet companies.

| See who’s speaking at the event.

Social Order In The Digital Society | 7 May

What if the dystopian future portrayed in the TV show Black Mirror is closer than we think – a world where algorithms define human value and shape future lives? On 7 May, Marion Fourcade will ask how social order is constituted and legitimated in a society ruled by digital classifiers. What does that mean for fundamental principles such as equality and fairness? The event is part of our lecture series Making Sense of the Digital Society.

| Secure one of the limited spots here!

Mistgabel 4.0 | 30 May 2018

Once a month, we publicly discuss the impact of digitisation on society at Digitaler Salon. We invite special guests, engage in a dialogue with the audience and the Twitter community and broadcast it on YouTube. On 30 May 2018, we ask about agricultural drones, automated farms and smart breeding. How can digitisation make food production more sustainable for both humans and animals?

| A fuss about nothing or a second green revolution?

Long Night Of The Sciences | 9 June 2018

Do you dream about spending the smartest night of the year with us? Then come and join us on 9 June for Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften! Learn more about metaphors of the digital society while discovering out institute, play open access minigolf, dress up as your future dream job, 3D-print your favourite internet meme or listen to enlightening talks on artificial intelligence, blockchain technology or Tinder for science.

| Find out more about #LNDW at HIIG!

Beyond HIIG | Events that Caught our Eye

2 – 4 May | re:publica 2018 – POP, STATION, Berlin

11 – 15 June | CEBIT, Deutsche Messe, Hannover

18 – 29 June | Internet L@w Summer School, University of Geneva