Wikipedia

Interface – Tech analysis and policy ideas for Europe

interface – Tech analysis and policy ideas for Europe (Interface) is a German non-profit think tank based in Berlin that specializes in public policy related to technology's effect on society.[1] Until June 2024, its name was Stiftung Neue Verantwortung[2] (SNV).

Interface – Tech analysis and policy ideas for Europe
interface – Tech analysis and policy ideas for Europe
Formation2008; 16 years ago (2008)
Location
Management Board
Anna Wohlfarth and Dr. Stefan Heumann
Websitewww.interface-eu.org/l

Interface deals with the topics of IT security, the data economy, state surveillance, digital fundamental rights and media transformation, as well as other Internet and technology-related topics.[3][4] In 2021, Interface employed 19 experts from many disciplines.[5]

Topics and activities

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Interface concentrates on political and societal topic areas relating to digitization and other technological and societal disruptions. Such topics include digital infrastructure, the automation of human work, IT and cyber security, and digital surveillance.[6] It focuses primarily on current policy developments and ongoing societal debates.[7] Analyses or practical guidelines geared toward policymaking are made available as policy papers, which include suggestions for stricter controls on the German Federal Intelligence Service,[8] broadband policies[9] and IT-security policies.[10] Scenario studies investigate future technological and societal developments, like the transformation of the labor market through automated technologies, robotics and intelligent software.[11] Other publications deal with the effects of technology on social cohesion.[12]

In addition to publications, Interface hosts events for public discussion. Guests have included

The SNV staff regularly participates in public academic debates and contributes to newspapers and online media outlets as guest experts.[16][17][18][19]

Political orientation and positions

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During the reform of the German Intelligence Service Act in 2016 and 2020, Thorsten Wetzling, the head of the SNV "Digital Fundamental Rights, Surveillance and Transparency" project, advocated for stricter controls on the Federal Intelligence Service.[20][21][22] Along with administrative modernization, demands were made for more data from authorities and administrative bodies to be made publicly available to citizens and startups.[23]

In other papers, the project criticized the relaxation of net neutrality rules,[24] and argued for more state intervention in the area of IT security,[25] as well as for greater cooperation between civil society and government.[26] SNV consistently take the positions of strengthening the protection of fundamental rights and privacy.[27][28][29]

Financing

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According to its website, Interface had a budget of approximately 1.62 million euros in 2019, of which a great extent was granted by non-profit organizations, foundations and public institutions. Corporate contributions comprised 12 percent of the total budget. 28 patrons finance the organization in total.

In 2019, the SNV's largest patrons included the Open Society Foundations, Luminate, the Robert Bosch Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the German Federal Foreign Office, and the Mercator Foundation.

Organization and leadership

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The executive board is responsible for the leadership of SNV. Members of the board are Anna Wohlfarth and Dr. Stefan Heumann.

History

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SNV was founded in 2008 with the original goal of offering young professionals from corporations, research institutions and civil-society organizations a platform to work on societal issues, publish and build relationships in Berlin for one year.[30] Among its supporters at the time of its founding were the German Academy of Science and Engineering (Acatech), the Federation of German Industries (BDI), the Union of German Academies of Sciences and Humanities, and the former German Sports Confederation. The organization was financed through donations from corporations, including Friedhelm Loh, Beisheim Holding, EnBW, Bosch and Giesecke & Devrient.[31]

Following a shift in the executive board at the end of 2014,[32] SNV re-established itself as a think tank focusing on digitalization with a permanent, interdisciplinary staff. Financing thereafter was largely provided by grants from non-profit foundations or the public sector.[33]

References

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  1. ^ Klar, Anna. "Bei der Digitalisierung sollen alle mitreden können" (in German). Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  2. ^ "Stiftung Neue Verantwortung is now interface". Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Neue Berliner Denkfabrik will die Digitalisierung praktikabel machen". heise online (in German). 9 July 2016. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  4. ^ "About us". www.stiftung-nv.de. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  5. ^ "Denkfabrik vernetzt Digitalgesellschaft". vdi-nachrichten.com. 2016-07-22. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  6. ^ "Neue Berliner Denkfabrik will die Digitalisierung praktikabel machen". heise online (in German). 9 July 2016. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  7. ^ Klar, Anna. "Bei der Digitalisierung sollen alle mitreden können" (in German). Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  8. ^ Steiner, Falk. "Interview: Nachrichtendienst unter Kontrolle?". blogs.deutschlandfunk.de. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  9. ^ "Breitbandausbau in Deutschland: Die Internet-Lüge" (in German). Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  10. ^ tagesschau.de. "Hacker-Angriffe auf Bundestag - Warten auf das Leak". tagesschau.de (in German). Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  11. ^ Astheimer, Sven. "Zukunft in sechs Szenarien: Was wird, wenn die Roboter übernehmen?". FAZ.NET (in German). ISSN 0174-4909. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  12. ^ "Impulspapier: Erhobene Daten müssen dem Allgemeinwohl dienen". netzpolitik.org (in German). 18 April 2017. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  13. ^ "Podiumsdiskussion: Viele Worte zu Kontrolle, wenig Fragen zur grundsätzlichen Legitimation von Geheimdiensten". netzpolitik.org (in German). 11 July 2014. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  14. ^ Bildung, Bundeszentrale für politische. "Stiftung Neue Verantwortung | bpb". www.bpb.de (in German). Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  15. ^ "German Angstwahl: Die digitale Nervosität der deutschen Parteien". WIRED (in German). Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  16. ^ "IT-Sicherheit: Der Staat gegen das Internet der unsicheren Dinge". ZEIT ONLINE (in German). Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  17. ^ Heumann, Stefan (2016-09-19). "Nationalstaat gegen Internet | NZZ". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in Swiss High German). ISSN 0376-6829. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  18. ^ "Komplizierter als gedacht". DGAP e.V. (in German). 2018-06-22. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  19. ^ Heumann, Gastbeitrag von Stefan (2017-11-10). "Fünf digitale Großbaustellen für Jamaika". sueddeutsche.de (in German). ISSN 0174-4917. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  20. ^ Brkan, Maja (2017). "The Court of Justice of the EU, privacy and data protection: Judge-made law as a leitmotif in fundamental rights protection". pp. 10–31. doi:10.4337/9781784718718.00009. ISBN 9781784718718. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. ^ "Die Frage der Kontrolle". Das Parlament (in German). Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  22. ^ "DER SPIEGEL | Online-Nachrichten". www.spiegel.de. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  23. ^ Knobloch, Tobias (2016-01-06). "Debatte Flüchtlinge und Digitalisierung: Flucht in die Datenwelt". Die Tageszeitung: taz (in German). ISSN 0931-9085. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  24. ^ "Unterschiedliche Regeln zur Netzneutralität könnten Internet fragmentieren". netzpolitik.org (in German). 2 September 2015. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  25. ^ "IT-Sicherheit: Der Staat gegen das Internet der unsicheren Dinge". ZEIT ONLINE (in German). Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  26. ^ Klar, Anna. "Junge Profis: Projektmanagerin in" (in German). Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  27. ^ Manske, Julia (2017-06-04). "Debatte Digitalisierung der Städte: Der Hype um die Smart City". Die Tageszeitung: taz (in German). ISSN 0931-9085. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  28. ^ "NSA und BND - Mühsame Aufklärung der Geheimdienstaffäre". Deutschlandfunk (in German). Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  29. ^ Heumann, Gastbeitrag von Stefan (2017-11-10). "Fünf digitale Großbaustellen für Jamaika". sueddeutsche.de (in German). ISSN 0174-4917. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  30. ^ WELT (2008-07-04). "Neuer Thinktank für junge Eliten in Berlin gegründet". DIE WELT. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  31. ^ ""Herausforderungen" statt "Probleme" - manager magazin". manager magazin. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  32. ^ "Wohlfarth übernimmt alleinige Leitung der snv". Politik & Kommunikation (in German). Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  33. ^ "Neue Berliner Denkfabrik will die Digitalisierung praktikabel machen". heise online (in German). 9 July 2016. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
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