The book launch “fundamental rights in the digital sphere – what they mean and how they work” will take place on September 15, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the ECDF. At the heart of the event lies, which is hosted by Wikimedia e.V., the question of how fundamental rights can be secured, strengthened, and further developed. We use digital services every day. They accompany us in our daily lives, yet we are often unaware of which rights are affected in the process. Our rights to education, privacy, and participation are today shaped—and threatened—not only by state actions, but also by technical systems, data flows, and economic interests. Precisely because digitalization deeply permeates our everyday lives, we don’t need to reinvent fundamental rights, but rather apply them consistently to new contexts and defend them decisively.
This publication brings together the perspectives of over 25 experts from academia, civil society, education, and business. It explores how rights protected by the German Basic Law—such as human dignity, equality, and freedom of expression—take on new meanings and face new threats in digital spaces. Another focus of the publication is on education and schools, on questions of justice, protection, and sustainability, as well as on access to knowledge and digital content as prerequisites for democratic participation and social cohesion. Who controls the digital public sphere? What power do platforms, algorithms, or AI systems hold, and how do they influence public discourse?
The event will begin with short keynote talks on:
- Gender-equitable digitalization, protection needs, and sustainability – Francesca Schmidt (Federal Agency for Civic Education) and
- Power, control, and the political dimension of the digital public sphere – Michael Kolain (Robotics & AI Law Society)
This will be followed by a panel discussion on how fundamental rights function in the digital world and how they can be protected and strengthened in a connected society. The panelists are:
- Dr. Johannes Dimroth, permanent representative of the state secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection (requested participation)
- Anja Bensinger-Stolze, Trade Union for Education and Science (GEW)
- Prof. Dr. habil. Nina Kolleck, professor of educational and socialization theory (University of Potsdam)
- Moderator: Dr. Ulf Buermeyer, legal scholar and political journalist
Venue:
Einstein Center Digital Future
Conference Hall, 1st Floor
Wilhelmstr. 67
10117 Berlin
This event is open to anyone interested in digital fundamental rights and wanting to learn more on this topic. Registration is possible //here.