The Media Lab for Digital Sovereignty (MLDS) develops approaches to digital governance and tests responsible stewardship of democratic ownership models. The Media Lab has three main areas of focus:
- Interdisciplinary basic research on digital sovereignty
- Artistic-scientific analysis and development of digital infrastructures, protocols, and platforms that empower actors in science, art, and culture
- Science communication through events and publications (local workshops, international conferences, podcasts, and other publication formats)
Digital sovereignty encompasses not only control over digital systems and their data, but also their governance. This includes not only economic ecosystems, but also legal and regulatory frameworks that encompass trust in legal systems, as well as forms of social organization with their mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion. While platform capitalism raises fundamental questions about the handling of personal data, AI-generated content poses a challenge for the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.
The Media Lab has therefore set itself the goal of strengthening digital sovereignty in science, art, and culture. Project work involves basic research as well as the analysis and development of innovative digital solutions. An interdisciplinary working group is developing a strategy paper for GLAM and educational institutions. This is intended to strengthen media literacy in dealing with AI and Web3, digital governance, and creative media use. The Media Lab seeks to collaborate with other universities, GLAM institutions, start-ups, and the private sector. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or are interested in collaborating with us.
