New project Democracy-X: Independent news for everyone!

New project Democracy-X: Independent news for everyone!

The “Democracy-X” project plays a central role in the discussion about the future of the digital news market in Germany. The aim of this initiative is to develop a decentralized and independent non-profit news platform that will be able to make a diverse range of voices and opinions heard. Digital University of Passau reports that the project will receive state funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research amounting to 1.69 million euros over three years. The duration of the project extends from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2028.

Particular attention is paid to the increasing concentration of media power in Germany, which is characterized by a number of large platforms. These platforms, which are often operated by global technology companies, are criticized because they do not adequately protect the privacy of users. Looking for a solution, the need for a common good-oriented platform that safeguards European values ​​such as privacy and self-determination becomes clear. Research IT security communication systems highlights that Democracy-X offers an alternative to these dominant news platforms and thus promotes independence and neutrality.

Interdisciplinary team and project structure

The University of Passau, the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and the University of Kassel are joining forces in this interdisciplinary approach. The project management is the responsibility of Prof. Dr. Kai von Lewinski, who works at the Chair of Public Law, Media and Information Law. Research assistants, such as Benedikt Leven and Lukas Köllnberger, concentrate on examining existing regulations and developing a legally secure foundation for the project. Your work is supported by specialist knowledge from economics, computer science, sociology and law.

A central concern of the project is the challenge of finding a balance between private interests and the common good. In this context, the focus is on creating a design that ensures a diverse information landscape while respecting the informational self-determination of users. Research IT security communication systems emphasizes that the project aims to develop a viable concept that not only includes the technical basis of a decentralized data infrastructure such as Gaia-X, but also takes into account social and legal aspects.

Future-oriented recommendations

At the end of the project period, design and action recommendations should be presented that are based on the developed concept. These recommendations are essential for the implementation of the platform and its operation. The objective of Democracy-X is clear: it should not only act as a safe place for news consumption and interaction, but also as a model for a new business model for media companies that is based on privacy, fairness and an orientation towards the common good. The creation of such a framework could make a significant contribution to a more diverse and democratic information landscape.