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      • Digitalization and Democracy
        • Democracy 2.0 – Strengthening Liberal Values in the Ages of Digital Disruption
        • Digital Dish Series
        • Disinformation and the Role of Influencers in Times of Conflict  
        • ENGAGING GERMAN INFLUENCERS INITIATIVE
        • COVID-19 and Tech Virtual Conversation Series
        • Media Literacy Initiative
        • Tech and the Worker Series: Overcoming the Conundrums of the “Great Decoupling”
      • Digitalization and Ethics
        • Aspen Berlin AI Conference 2021
        • Aspen Berlin AI Conference 2020
        • Aspen Berlin AI Conference 2019
        • Aspen Berlin AI Conference 2018
      • Digitalization and European Sovereignty
        • A Transatlantic Perspective on Digital Sovereignty
      • Digitalization and Geopolitics
      • Digitalization and Transatlantic Relations
        • German-American Trade and Tech Dialogue
    • Europe Program
      • Aspen Initiative for Europe
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      • The Future of Europe
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      • Berlin Policy Hub for Think Tanks from the Western Balkans
      • Visegrad 4 – Germany Forum
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      • Publication Series Transatlantische Impulse
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      • America’s Choice – Der USA-Podcast
      • Future Cities – A Transatlantic Townhall Project
      • Laboratories of Democracy Initiative
      • State-to-State: German-American State Legislator Dialogue
      • U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture
      • Berlin Transatlantic Forum
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Digital Program

The digital transformation is one of the most profound societal challenges of the 21st century. Social participation, economic prosperity, and the quality of work increasingly depend on the possibilities offered by new technologies. In this context, cloud computing, cross-border supply chains, as well as the “Internet of Things” and the “sharing economy” are giving rise to new ways of living, working, and communicating together. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly accelerated digitalization, enabling new forms of economic and social resilience while also exposing aspects of profound inequality. At the same time, authoritarian regimes are using artificial intelligence, big data, and disinformation campaigns to consolidate their rule at home and undermine democratic institutions and decision-making abroad. Against the backdrop of the interplay of opportunities and challenges posed by digitalization, the Aspen Institute Germany works to address the most pressing questions about new technologies and their impact on digital life in Germany, Europe, and around the world. In doing so, it focuses on five key areas: (1) Digitalization and Democracy, (2) Digitalization and Ethics, (3) Digitalization and European Sovereignty, (4) Digitalization and Transatlantic Relations, and (5) Digitalization and Geopolitics.

Digital Focal Areas

Digital developments increasingly influence the core aspects of democratic life. They can strengthen or undermine democratic processes and social participation. The Digitalization and Democracy focal area explores how democracy changes in digital constellations.

The Digitalization and Ethics focal area accompanies the development of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics with discussions and debates to develop groundbreaking answers in the field of tension between ethics and digitalization.

In the area of data protection as well as the regulation of big tech companies, the European Union strives to be a pioneer in setting international norms. The Digitalization and European Sovereignty focal area focuses on European priorities in the global competition for digital standards.

Democracies are coming under increasing pressure in the development and use of new technologies. The Digitalization and Geopolitics focal area addresses the political and societal priorities for promoting democratic values in the digital space.

The Digitalization and Transatlantic Relations focal area promotes exchange on the future of the technology partnership, focusing on topics such as technological standards, export and investment controls, and cybersecurity.

Digitalization changes every part of our society, no matter how small, at all levels and in all disciplines. This enormous impact requires an ongoing debate about the values and principles that should guide our digital society. The Digital Program contributes to this by facilitating an inclusive dialogue on the most pressing issues of digitalization and technology.

Publications

Humanity Empowered: Building Resilience with AI 

In this report, the authors present the key findings and results of the Aspen Berlin AI Conference. The conference focused on the role of artificial intelligence in making societies and economies more resilient.

Engaging German Influencers – Call for Action 

This action report contains recommendations for influencers, social media platforms and policy-makers regarding the responsible use of social media. 

Medienkompetenz meistern – Tipps von Schüler*innen für Schüler*innen 

The guide contains background information on media literacy and strategies on how to strengthen it in an informative and concise way summarizing the results of the digital student conference on Media Literacy.  

See all

Contact

Eva Mattes

  • Program Officer
  • Phone: +49 (0) 30 804 890 20
  • mattes@aspeninstitute.de

Elisabeth Nöfer

  • Program Officer
  • Phone: +49 (0) 30 804 890 19
  • noefer@aspeninstitute.de

Driss Köhler

  • Program Assistant
  • Phone: +49 (0) 30 804 890 21
  • koehler@aspeninstitute.de

Lena Bühring

  • Program Assistant
  • Phone: +49 (0) 30 804 890 20
  • buehring@aspeninstitute.de
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Aspen Institute Deutschland e.V.

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Phone: +49 (0) 30 804 890 0
Email: info@aspeninstitute.de

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