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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

Out now: HIIG Quarterly

2018 has gotten off to an exciting start! Read HIIG’s Quarterly newsletter to learn more about our plans for this year, digital research mining,…

Kick-off: Digital REseArch Mining (DREAM)

How can we facilitate accessing scientific literature in the digital age? The aim of our new project with FZI Forschungszentrum Informatik is to develop…

Special Issue on political micro-targeting

Since Cambridge Analytics, micro-targeting is hyped as a tool capable of tailoring political messages to individuals. Shifting the focus away from the US, Internet…

Dossier: Algorithmic decisions and human rights

From smart assistants in the justice, over systems in the administration sector to highly developed portable devices: Innovations in AI are impacting nearly every…

Workshop: AI & governing communication online

Artificial intelligence technology has increasingly found applications in the area of content moderation and communication governance on digital platforms. What are the risks for…

Democracy and public sphere in the digital society

What happens with our central democratic values like freedom, equality and truth in the digital society?How does the public sphere fulfill its function of…

UPCOMING EVENTS

Further events

  • November 03
    Automated content moderation – Power, law, and the role of human decisions
    15:30 - 17:00 | Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society |
  • November 03
    Humans & machines in (dis)harmony? – A walk through content moderation
    15:30 - 17:00 | Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society |
  • November 04
    Train-the-Trainer: Dealing with hostility towards science in public communication (V)
    8:45 - 16:45 | 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

    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
    Semi-transparent glass floor with only footprints visible, symbolising partial insight like the DSA's transparency reports that show traces but not the full picture.

    Counting without accountability? An analysis of the DSA’s transparency reports

    Are the DSA’s transparency reports really holding platforms accountable? A critical analyses of reports from major platforms reveals gaps and raises doubts.

    Jella Ohnesorge on 25 September 2025