Geht auch ganz anders? Digitale Öffentlichkeit als Gestaltungsobjekt

The digital transformation of the public sphere is blamed for many of today's ills: from the polarisation of societies to the radicalisation of individual groups, for private or state surveillance, for censorship and a toxic culture of discussion. But couldn't there be another way? How could the public sphere be organised and institutionalised so that it increases citizens' opportunities for information and participation, so that it serves the common good rather than commercial imperatives? For many years, proposals have been circulating for a revolutionary redesign of the digital public sphere, which could be federated or organised as a cooperative, which could promote and curate participation differently, which should be more open and at the same time more civil.

In a panel discussion at the University of Erfurt, we are opening up the opportunity to get to know and discuss proposals and ideas for a different digital public sphere. We want to enter into dialogue with four personalities who have decisively shaped the discussion about the digital public sphere and its transformation in various places in recent years. The panellists are: Paul Nemitz (Principal Advisor for Digital Transformation Strategies at the EU Commission), Svea Windwehr (Assistant Director for EU Policy at the Electronic Frontier Foundation), Philipp Schild (Programme Director of funk) and Professor Christian Petzold (University of Leipzig, project manager at molo.news). The evening will be hosted by: Professor Dr Thorsten Thiel (Professorship for Democracy Promotion and Digital Policy) and Professor Dr Leyla Dogruel (Professorship for Communication Studies with a focus on Social Communication).