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Publications by Thorsten Benner
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Commentary 12 Dec 2016
The Fight Against Filter Bubbles Needs to Start Offline
German Chancellor Angela Merkel aims to be as uninteresting as possible in public speeches, observed The New Yorker a few years ago. By this standard, her November speech in parliament outlining government priorities started with a big bang: liberal democracy is increasingly under threat in a… -
Commentary 12 Dec 2016
Der Kampf gegen Filterblasen fängt offline an
Ein Reporter des amerikanischen Magazins The New Yorker hielt in einem Porträt von Angela Merkel einmal fest, dass die mächtigste Frau der Welt sich bei öffentlichen Reden augenscheinlich darum bemühe, so wenig interessant wie möglich zu erscheinen. Gemessen an diesem Maßstab eröffnete die… -
Commentary 19 May 2016
The Encryption Debate We Need
In late March, the FBI announced that it would drop its lawsuit against Apple because it was able to unlock the iPhone of Syed Rizwan Farook, a gunman in the December shooting in San Bernardino, California, without the tech giant’s help and using an undisclosed vulnerability. Apple remains alarmed –… -
Commentary 19 May 2016
In der Kryptofalle
Während in den USA heftige Auseinandersetzungen um Verschlüsselungsmethoden und die daraus resultierenden Herausforderungen für Sicherheitsdienste toben, herrscht in Deutschland Ruhe. Offiziell gilt das Regierungsmantra der "Digitalen Agenda": "Wir unterstützen mehr und bessere Verschlüsselung",… -
Commentary 13 Apr 2016
How Europe Can Get Encryption Right
While Europe has taken a great interest in the “crypto war” between the US government and Apple as well as other Silicon Valley behemoths, it has yet to wake up to the gathering storm of encryption policy within its own borders. Various EU governments have proposed unilateral measures on how to deal… -
Commentary 01 Feb 2015
Digitale Souveränität: Blinde Wut auf Amerika reicht nicht
Die „technologische Souveränität“ sei dabei, „zu den wichtigsten und umstrittensten Doktrinen des Jahres 2015 aufzusteigen“, schreibt Evgeny Morozov in der F.A.Z. vom 15. Januar. In der Tat: Die digitale Hegemonie der Vereinigten Staaten in Gestalt von Geheimdiensten, Militär und den übermächtigen… -
Commentary 01 Feb 2015
Technological Sovereignty: Blind Rage Against the US is Not Enough
“The concept of technological sovereignty is poised to emerge as one of the most important and contentious doctrines of 2015”, predicts Evgeny Morozov in a recent op-ed. Indeed, the digital hegemony of the US in the form of the NSA, the military and the Silicon Valley behemoths has triggered… -
Commentary 05 Jan 2015
Blinded By Rage Against US Digital Hegemony: What Morozov Gets Wrong About “Technological Sovereignty”
“US tech hegemony is making ‘technological sovereignty’ one of the top geopolitical issues of 2015.” So goes Evgeny Morozov’s prediction for the new year. And true to form, the serial provocateur serves up an op-ed to trigger a debate on the topic. Unfortunately, Morozov is so in love with his own… -
Commentary 02 Dec 2014
Beware the Siren Song from IT Nationalists
We can use national technology to protect the data of citizens, companies and governments from foreign surveillance and espionage and at the same time build up a strong and competitive IT industry in Germany and Europe. This is the promise of the advocates of proposals to regain “technological… -
Commentary 18 Nov 2014
Den Dschihadisten nicht auf den Leim gehen
Am Sonntag veröffentliche die Terrorgruppe, die sich "Islamischer Staat" (IS) nennt, ein weiteres Enthauptungsvideo einer Geisel: dieses Mal eines US-amerikanischen Entwicklungshelfers. Binnen Minuten dominierte dies die westlichen Medien: Eilmeldung auf Sendern wie CNN und N24, Hauptmeldung von… -
Commentary 17 Nov 2014
How Not to Lose the Media War Against IS
On Sunday, the group that calls itself the "Islamic State" (IS) released another video of the beheading of a hostage, this time an American aid worker. Within minutes, Western media was all over the story. From CNN to N24, It was breaking news on all channels. From Deutsche Welle to the New York… -
Commentary 06 Jun 2014
Para globalizar o marco da internet
"A internet que queremos só é possível num cenário de respeito aos direitos humanos, em particular à privacidade e à liberdade de expressão". Foi com essas palavras que a presidente Dilma Rousseff abriu o encontro global NETMundial sobre o futuro da governança da internet, em São Paulo, no final de… -
Commentary 05 Jun 2014
Tickende Zeitbombe BND
Vor einem Jahr begannen die Enthüllungen Edward Snowdens über das bis zu diesem Moment kaum vorstellbare Ausmaß der weltweiten Überwachung durch den US-Geheimdienst NSA. Deutschland steht seitdem an vorderster Front im Kampf gegen die Verletzung der Privatsphäre der Bürger. Im November brachte die… -
Commentary 04 Jun 2014
Berlin Must Practice What it Preaches
A year ago this week, Edward Snowden started his leaks revealing that the NSA conducted mass surveillance of citizens across the globe on a scale and with a technological sophistication few had dared to imagine. Germany has been at the forefront of pushing back against the violation of privacy… -
Commentary 28 Apr 2014
Brazil and Germany Must Lead on Free Internet
When President Dilma Rousseff signed Brazil's landmark 'Marco Civil Da Internet', a comprehensive new law that safeguards citizens' digital rights on key fronts and the result of a broad participatory process, it marked the decisive coming out of Brazil as a progressive player on digital rights on… -
Commentary 22 Aug 2013
Frei, offen und sicher: Deutschland sollte sich für mehr Datenschutz im Internet einsetzen
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Commentary 12 Jun 2013
Keeping Tabs on the New Hi-Tech Warriors
The Brandenburg gate as a backdrop. A reference to the John F. Kennedy's "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech from almost exactly 50 years ago. A few warm words on the continuing relevance of the transatlantic alliance. It could be so easy for President Barack Obama to win over the German public and… -
Commentary 01 May 2013
The Awakening of the German Netizen?
As of May 2, Deutsche Telekom (DT), Germany's former state monopolist turned stock-listed telecommunication provider, will no longer sell flat-rate Internet access packages. Users who exceed a monthly data allowance will face severe cuts to the quality of their service - in the worst case throwing… -
Commentary 07 Feb 2013
The EU’s Cyber Hodgepodge
"We want a peaceful strategy because you don't want to play with fire by developing cyber weapons." This is how EU Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes, a driving force behind the new EU "cyber security strategy" that was unveiled in Brussels on Thursday, sums up the EU approach to cyber defense.… -
Article 31 Dec 2012
Internet. Wer regiert das World Wide Web und nach welchen Prinzipien?