Alternative Futures

In the digital age, threats to privacy from surveillance and data misuse are becoming more prevalent. Recent developments like the use of police data and the proposed EU-level chat control raise critical questions. In this interview, Rainer Rehak from the Weizenbaum Institute discusses the risks of these developments and speaks about the urgent need for measures to protect digital freedom.

How can artificial intelligence help address the pressing challenges of climate change? In this interview with Dona Mathew, an expert at the Digital Futures Lab, we explore the various ways AI can be utilized in areas such as weather forecasting, climate-resilient agriculture, and energy efficiency. Dona shares her insights on the potential and challenges of AI, as well as the ethical considerations that should be taken into account when implementing AI in climate-related initiatives.

As climate change accelerates, AI technologies are increasingly seen as part of the solution. But how effective are these tools, and at what cost? Pia, Policy & Advocacy Manager at AlgorithmWatch, offers a critical perspective on the role of AI in climate action. From environmental impacts to the ethics of AI deployment, she discusses the need for inclusive, sustainable approaches and accountability within the industry.

Disinformation today goes far beyond spreading falsehoods—it’s about strategic precision. Nazifa Raidah, a journalist from Bangladesh, discusses the intricate tactics of modern disinformation campaigns and the role of journalists in countering their disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups, while also highlighting the challenges faced in South Asia.

In this interview, Elisa, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Superrr Lab, delves into the German discourse on Digital Media and Democracy and explores the impact of disinformation, hate speech, and digital violence and the need to prioritize the public interest and societal well-being

In this interview, Erik Tuchtfeld as the co-chair of D64, sheds light on the unintended consequences of digital platforms, the pressing need for regulation to ensure inclusivity and safety, and D64's robust advocacy for a democratic organization of the digital public sphere.

Bias is an inescapable feature of our daily lives and it affects everything from the songs we like to the presents we receive. As the use of AI becomes more omnipresent in our daily lives, we have to consider the implication of personal and societal bias creeping into AI systems and how it impacts us.

Freedom of expression is an essential pillar of democracy. But what if the most important source of information and space for free speech – the internet – is used to pursue anti-democratic goals?
 

Human rights lawyer and author Maureen Webb explains how “technical fixes” can exacerbate bias and discrimination, and how hackers are fighting to protect our democratic rights in the digital space.
 

What has been the impact of digital platforms over the last two decades? The author, drawing from personal insights, navigates through the landscape of social media, shedding light on concerns like data hunger, privacy threats, and the quest for user control.

Is it possible to control the power of the big social media platforms using democratic processes? Cultural scientist Michael Seemann talks about the shaping of public opinion in the digital space.
 

Nowadays most countries in the world have a democratic constitution, on paper at least. But how democratic are the democracies of today? And what does it even mean: democracy?

 

In the past, whenever cultural heritage was destroyed by natural disasters or wars, that destruction was irremediable. But it doesn’t have to be that way anymore: here’s how digital technologies can preserve cultural heritage for posterity.