Research Foci
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Digital Technologies in Society
In this research focus, the connection between digitalization, participation and inequality is to be researched, the use of digital technologies for participation opportunities is to be tested and interventions against new inequalities are to be made. To this end, perspectives from business informatics, design research and computer science will be brought together.
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Digital Markets and Public Spheres on Platforms
In recent years, markets and publics have emerged on digital platforms, which are investigated in the four research groups of the focus area. Normatively, these platforms are in tension between public good orientation and economic imperatives. For their investigation, the perspectives of communication science, political science, economics, and computer science are brought together.
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Organizing Knowledge
Within this research focus we deal with questions about the workplace, the education system, and science. Above all we examine questions of openness and exclusion in the processing and organization of data and knowledge. In doing so, we draw on perspectives from computer science, business informatics, sociology, and innovation research.
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Digital Infrastructures in Democracy
This research focus examines the development of digital infrastructures and the resulting structural change in society. Special attention is given to tensions between security and freedom from the perspectives of law, sociology, computer science, and political science.
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Weizenbaum Digital Science Center
With the new Weizenbaum Digital Science Center, the Weizenbaum Institute establishes scientific offerings that create research, networking, orientation, and infrastructure services for interdisciplinary digitalization research and strengthen the coherence of research at the Weizenbaum Institute.
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Events
09/02/2026
06:30 PM - 08:00 PM | Einlass ab 18:00 Uhr, Weizenbaum-Institut, Kassenhalle, Hardenbergstraße 32, 10623 Berlin
Panel Discussion
Offene Wissenschaft im Wandel – für und mit der Gesellschaft
Im Mittelpunkt dieser Paneldiskussion stehen aktuelle Herausforderungen für Open Science sowie mögliche Perspektiven für eine zukunftsfähige wissenschaftliche Praxis.
09/03/2026
06:00 PM -
08:00 PM
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Weizenbaum-Institut,
Hardenbergstraße 32,
10623 Berlin
Book Presentation
Panel Discussion
Sarah Ciston, David M. Berry and Team: Inventing ELIZA. How the First Chatbot Shaped the Future of AI
Book Talk and Panel Discussion as part of the anniversary “60 years of ELIZA, 50 years of computer criticism”
09/14/2026 - 09/17/2026
BIFOLD Campus, Technische Universität Berlin, Franklinstr. 28-29, 10587 Berlin
Conference
BIFOLD Summer School on Artificial Intelligence and Society
The summer school invites researchers and practitioners to explore the parameters which have to be considered when AI systems are designed to act autonomously.
09/16/2026
02:00 PM - 03:30 PM | online
Colloquium
Nach dem digitalen Omnibus: Was bleibt, was verändert sich, wie geht es weiter?
Im Rahmen der Dialogreihe „Digitalpolitik auf Kurs“ laden wir Sie zu der 1. Ausgabe ein, in der wir uns mit dem „digitalen Omnibus“ beschäftigen, der von der Europäischen Union angestoßen wurde. Mit der Dialogreihe schaffen wir einen Raum, um aktuelle Digitalgesetze und Debatten einzuordnen,…
09/21/2026 - 09/22/2026
Weizenbaum-Institut, Hardenbergstraße 32, 10623 Berlin
Symposium
DigiSem 2026 | Balancing Digital Safety between Risks, Rights, and Regulation
The Bavarian Research Institute for Digital Transformation (bidt), the Center for Advanced Internet Studies (CAIS), Leibniz Institute for Media Research – Hans Bredow Institute (HBI) and the Weizenbaum Institute (WI) invite doctoral and postdoctoral researchers to present their work at the joint…
09/30/2026
07:00 PM -
08:30 PM
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Kinosaal der Rotor Film GmbH
August-Bebel-Str. 26-53/Haus 4, 14482 Potsdam
Weizenbaum Debate
Weizenbaum Debate – How To Debate: Zusammenhalt stärken statt Gräben vertiefen
Bei der diesjährigen Weizenbaum Debate wollen wir den Blick auf das richten, was uns verbindet, und gemeinsame Grundlagen für eine konstruktive Debatte schaffen. Was hält uns zusammen – und wie können wir das Miteinander stärken?
10/08/2026
07:00 PM -
08:30 PM
|
Weizenbaum-Institut,
Hardenbergstraße 32,
10623 Berlin
Panel Discussion
Symposium
Souveränität im Netz – Wie eine europäische Webdateninfrastruktur Freiheit, Wirtschaft und Demokratie stärkt
Im Rahmen des Open Search Symposiums 2026 diskutieren Expertinnen und Experten aus Politik, Gesellschaft und Wissenschaft über Chancen und Herausforderungen für Europas Unabhängigkeit im Netz.
11/17/2026
06:00 PM - 07:30 PM | Weizenbaum-Institut | Hardenbergstraße 32 | 10623 Berlin
Book Presentation
Panel Discussion
Sarah Sharma: Insufferable Tools. Feminism Against Big Tech
Book Talk and Panel Discussion as part of the anniversary “60 years of ELIZA, 50 years of computer criticism"
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