Stiftung Neue Verantwortung

Stiftung Neue Verantwortung
Name	Stiftung Neue Verantwortung
Native name	Stiftung Neue Verantwortung e.V.
Type	Think tank
Founded	2011
Founder	Michael Hintze?
Headquarters	Berlin
Focus	Technology policy, digital rights, security studies

Stiftung Neue Verantwortung

Stiftung Neue Verantwortung is a Berlin-based policy research organization focused on the intersection of technology policy, digital rights, security studies, and public policy. Founded in the early 2010s, it has become a visible actor in debates involving data protection, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and surveillance within the European Union and German policy circles. The organization produces reports, convenes experts, and engages with institutions such as the Bundestag, European Commission, and international forums.

History

The organization was established amid debates following the Snowden disclosures, the expansion of cloud computing services, and legislative shifts after the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty. Early work engaged with cases influenced by rulings of the European Court of Human Rights and regulatory changes like the General Data Protection Regulation. Over the 2010s the institution broadened from analysis of telecommunications architecture to include questions raised by advances at companies such as Google, Facebook, Amazon (company), and Microsoft. Key milestones include public briefings tied to inquiries in the Bundestag, participation in consultations around the Network Enforcement Act (NetzDG), and involvement in transatlantic dialogues after the Schrems II decision.

Mission and Activities

The stated mission emphasizes evidence-based policy recommendations addressing technological change affecting civil liberties and national resilience. Activities range from commissioned studies and peer-reviewed analysis to public convenings, workshops, and policy briefs aimed at stakeholders like the Federal Ministry of the Interior (Germany), Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection (Germany), European Parliament, and multinational enterprises such as SAP SE. The organization engages with academics from institutions including Humboldt University of Berlin, Technical University of Munich, Freie Universität Berlin, and policy networks linked to think tanks like Chatham House and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Research Areas

Research spans multiple domains: algorithmic transparency and regulation touching on projects concerning artificial intelligence and machine learning frameworks used by entities like OpenAI and DeepMind; data governance studies influenced by the General Data Protection Regulation and cases involving Cambridge Analytica; cybersecurity analyses referencing incidents such as the NotPetya attack and vulnerabilities exploited in the SolarWinds intrusion; and infrastructure policy including analyses of submarine cable geopolitics that intersect with actors like Huawei and Nokia. Work also addresses election integrity in contexts involving European Parliament elections and broader debates about disinformation related to Twitter and YouTube platforms.

Policy Influence and Advocacy

The organization produces policy recommendations intended for legislative audiences, regulatory authorities, and multinational companies. It has provided testimony in hearings before bodies such as the Bundestag Committee on Digital Agenda and contributed to consultations at the European Commission Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology. Outputs have been cited in reports by institutions including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, think tanks like Rand Corporation, and academic venues such as Oxford Internet Institute. It also engages in advocacy on standards-setting processes in arenas like the Internet Governance Forum and collaborations with standardization bodies including ETSI.

Organization and Funding

Operational structure includes research fellows, policy analysts, communications staff, and an executive board. Funding sources historically combine philanthropy, project grants, and commissioned research from foundations such as the Bertelsmann Stiftung, international organizations like the Open Society Foundations, and competitive grants from bodies like the European Research Council. The organization discloses funding lines in public reports and adheres to registration requirements under German association law, engaging auditors and legal counsel from firms recognized in Berlin legal circles.

Partnerships and Collaborations

Collaborative projects span universities, industry partners, and civil society. Academic collaborators include research groups at Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition, Fraunhofer Society, and departments at University of Oxford and University of Cambridge. Civil society partnerships involve organizations such as Electronic Frontier Foundation, Reporters Without Borders, and German NGOs like Digitale Gesellschaft e.V.. Industry dialogues have included roundtables with representatives from Deutsche Telekom, Siemens, and cloud providers, as well as participation in joint initiatives with consortia linked to the European Cybersecurity Organisation (ECSO).

Criticism and Controversies

Critiques have focused on potential conflicts of interest tied to funding relationships with corporate actors and foundations. Commentators in outlets including Der Spiegel and Süddeutsche Zeitung have interrogated the balance between independent analysis and commissioned work. Debates have also arisen over positions taken on surveillance law reform in Germany, with civil liberties groups such as Digitale Gesellschaft e.V. and Chaos Computer Club raising concerns about policy recommendations perceived as favoring expanded law enforcement access. Academic critics from institutions including Berlin Social Science Center have questioned methodological approaches in certain commissioned studies, prompting methodological clarifications and revisions.

Category:Think tanks based in Germany