GermanyOwnership & classification
Founded: 1996
Ownership
heise online is the technology news portal of Heise Medien, the Hanover-based publishing house founded in 1949 by Heinz Heise (the heise.de news site itself launched in 1996). The company is still privately owned and run by the founding Heise family, with third-generation owner Ansgar Heise leading it since 1999. Its stable of titles includes the computing magazines c't and iX as well as Technology Review.
Funding
Financed as a private, family-owned publisher through advertising, magazine and digital sales and a heise+ subscription offering, with no external venture funding, party or state subsidy.
Affiliation & stance
heise online is a specialist tech/IT outlet with a broadly centrist editorial stance (strong on digital rights and privacy), and it is owned outright by the Heise family with no party, state or corporate-group control. That private family ownership makes it INDEPENDENT, consistent with the site's center lean.
Editorial lean
- Our estimate
- Center
- Measured from coverage
- Centerbased on 547
82/100
Factual
80/100
Objective
1081
Articles
1071
reports
Factual: How accurately its articles report the facts, judged against primary sources and the cross-outlet consensus. Only articles that cite their sources are counted.
Objective: How neutral the writing is — whether reporting keeps the writer’s own preferences and opinions out of the article.
Recent coverage
Effects of low water: Port of Duisburg under stress
The article discusses the ongoing low water levels in the Rhine River affecting the Duisburg port and related industries. The port operator Duisport reports that despite recent rainfall, the river level remains below normal, with the current level at 1.49 meters, lower than during the severe drought of 2018. Officials warn that this situation poses risks to shipping and industrial supply chains, particularly for inland waterway transport. Federal and state authorities, including NRW Minister Oliver Krischer, have met to discuss urgent measures, criticizing the slow progress of initiatives aimed at improving river navigability. The federal government has reduced funding for transforming inland shipping by half, leaving only 37 million euros available, which officials argue is insufficient. There is also pressure to implement planned improvements to the river channel. The Duisburg port, Europe’s largest inland port, handles over 20,000 ships and 25,000 trains annually, supporting around 52,000 jobs directly and indirectly, making it a critical economic pillar in the region.
The heart of thermal management: the secret of Porsche's electric car
The article discusses Porsche's advanced thermomanagement system for electric vehicles, focusing on how it ensures efficiency, performance, and comfort under extreme conditions. It highlights the challenges faced by Porsche engineers in maintaining battery performance in high temperatures, such as those experienced in Dubai and Oman. The system must manage heat generated during aggressive driving on racetracks while still allowing efficient charging and maintaining range. The piece explains how predictive thermomanagement, software optimization, and waste heat recovery contribute to achieving these goals. Porsche customers demand exceptional performance and reliability even in extreme climates, making this technology a critical component of their electric vehicles.
Bühl as a pioneering model: Bosch relies on robots from the Black Forest
Bosch, ein Automobilzulieferer mit Sitz in Baden-Württemberg, plant ab 2027 in seinem Werk Bühl die industrielle Fertigung von KI-gesteuerten humanoiden Robotern in Zusammenarbeit mit dem britischen Startup Humanoid. Dieses Projekt markiert einen Wendepunkt in der Unternehmensentwicklung, da es nach jahrelangen Sparmaßnahmen und Arbeitsplatzabbau eine Investition in Zukunftstechnologie darstellt. Die Robotergeneration Gamma wird in der Werklogistik getestet und soll später in der Pflege und im Haushalt eingesetzt werden. Bosch wird für Humanoid die Fertigung übernehmen und könnte zukünftig eigene Komponenten liefern. Das Unternehmen prüft zudem, ob es eigene Produkte entwickelt. Obwohl die Produktion zunächst klein bleibt, hat das Werk potenziell genug Kapazität für zukünftige Ausweitung. Internationale Konkurrenten wie chinesische Anbieter und US-Unternehmen arbeiten ebenfalls an ähnlichen Projekten.
China's sprinting robots are running faster than Usain Bolt
The article discusses advancements in humanoid robotics, particularly highlighting China's progress at the World Humanoid Robot Games. During the event, a robot developed by the Chinese team X-Humanoid set a new record by completing a 100-meter sprint in 9.39 seconds, surpassing the human world record held by Usain Bolt (9.58 seconds). Another robot from the Chinese smartphone manufacturer Honor previously broke this record further, achieving a time of 9.32 seconds. The competition includes various disciplines such as long jump, weightlifting, table tennis, football, and everyday tasks like household chores and rescue operations. Over 660 teams from 16 countries are expected to participate, with most coming from China. Additionally, the article notes the growing interest in robotic technology in China, with companies like Unitree experiencing significant stock market success after their initial public offering.
Top 10: The best insect sting healer in the test Heat it in front of Beurer and Bite Away
The article presents a comparison test of insect sting relievers, focusing on their effectiveness through heat application. It highlights different models available, such as the Heat it Classic, Beurer Bite X Max, and Berrcom IBR40, discussing their features, price points, and performance. The Heat it Classic is named the clear winner due to its simplicity and effectiveness, while the Beurer Bite X Max is praised for its large contact area and built-in battery. The Berrcom IBR40 is noted as the best value for money at around 9 euros. The article aims to inform consumers about which products perform well based on testing.
Lower Saxony data protection officer complains about police law
The Lower Saxony Data Protection Commissioner, Denis Lehmkemper, strongly criticizes the planned amendment to the Lower Saxony Public Security and Order Act (NPOG), which would expand police powers through new surveillance technologies like AI and biometrics. The proposed law, introduced by the state government in haste, includes provisions for 'smart' video surveillance, real-time biometric identification, data matching with internet sources, automated data analysis, drone use, and expanded electronic ankle bracelets for domestic abuse cases. The commissioner warns of significant violations of fundamental rights, arguing that the measures lack clear legal frameworks, fail to address privacy concerns, and could enable harmful AI practices. He highlights the absence of guidelines to prevent prohibited AI methods and calls for stricter oversight, especially regarding the potential misuse of personal data from witnesses, victims, and bystanders.
LinkedIn users report a number of posts as AI slop
LinkedIn users have reported over a million posts as potentially AI-generated 'AI-slop,' prompting the platform to take action. According to an internal analysis, more than 40% of longer user posts on LinkedIn are fully generated by AI. The platform uses software called Pangram to detect AI-generated content. In response, LinkedIn introduced a feature allowing users to report suspicious posts directly. Product Chief Hari Srinivasan mentioned that AI-generated content has seen a 40% reduction in reach and hinted at future measures like informing users whose posts were flagged. The rise in AI-generated posts is attributed to the professional tone and self-presentation style common on LinkedIn, which AI can replicate effectively.
Samsung to release 300-hertz OLED for notebooks
Samsung Display has unveiled a 16-inch OLED display for notebooks at the International Meeting on Information Display (IMID) in Busan, South Korea. The display reportedly supports a 300 Hz refresh rate, which is higher than the current maximum of 240 Hz for similar OLED displays used in gaming laptops like the Razer Blade 16. However, Samsung did not provide detailed specifications such as resolution, HDR support, or color gamut coverage. The company also showcased a 34-inch UWQHD monitor using QD-OLED technology with a 360 Hz refresh rate, as well as a 31.5-inch 4K QD-OLED monitor previously introduced at Computex in June.
Campaign via social media: Weizenbaum Institute is asking for donations of TikTok data
The Weizenbaum Institute in Berlin has launched a new data collection round for its research project 'Dein Feed, Deine Wahl' ahead of regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and the Berlin State Election in September 2026. The study invites TikTok users aged 18 and above to voluntarily share their usage data through a citizen science initiative. The goal is to analyze how TikTok’s recommendation algorithm curates political content in individual feeds and how these information spaces differ by region, age, and political orientation. The project focuses specifically on eastern Germany, excluding data collection for local elections in Lower Saxony. Researchers aim to compare findings with previous data from the 2025 federal election, where over 900 participants contributed. They emphasize that they do not assume TikTok acts as a 'decision-making machine,' but rather examine information mechanisms and potential correlations with user attitudes and voting behavior without asserting direct causality.
Lenovo Idea Tab Pro Gen 2 in the test: powerful tablet with 13 inches and 144 Hz display
The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro Gen 2 is a high-end tablet featuring a 13-inch 3,5K-resolution display with a 144Hz refresh rate, powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor. It has a large 10,200 mAh battery, promising long usage times. The device has a premium aluminum body with a matte gray finish, weighing around 600 grams. Its design includes a centrally placed Lenovo logo on the back, a raised main camera at the top-left corner, and a front-facing camera within the frame. The tablet has a well-crafted build with seamless edges and a high-quality feel. The display is highlighted as the standout feature, offering sharp visuals, vibrant colors, and smooth motion due to its high refresh rate.
Mega-vehicle recall in China: Tesla and other brands affected
A major vehicle recall involving Tesla and eight other automakers has been mandated by the Chinese government, affecting approximately 4.27 million electric vehicles. Around three million of these are Tesla models, which have been linked to several accidents where occupants suffered severe burns or fatalities due to malfunctioning electric door handles. The issue arises when power supply is interrupted during crashes, preventing occupants from exiting the vehicle. Affected vehicles are those manufactured and registered in China. According to reports from the Chinese Ministry of Transport cited by Bloomberg, the electrical door handles could become dangerous if they fail during high-speed collisions, trapping occupants inside burning cars. The recall includes various models across different manufacturers, with Tesla facing an additional separate recall of 2.7 million vehicles related to driver assistance technology monitoring systems. Similar issues have been reported with Xiaomi vehicles in China, prompting a ban on such door handles. In Germany, a similar incident occurred in Schwerte, North Rhine-Westphalia, where a family was trapped in a burning Tesla after an accident.
High fuel prices: Klinghoff pushes for tax on oil companies' profits
On August 22, 2026, German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, representing the SPD, initiated a new push at the European Union level alongside five other European finance ministers to introduce a windfall tax on oil companies. The proposal comes amid high fuel prices driven by the Iran conflict, which has led to increased public dissatisfaction over rising living costs. The ministers argue that previous state measures have not sufficiently stabilized energy prices and call for a coordinated approach to ensure those profiting from the crisis contribute to reducing the burden on citizens. They propose an EU-wide framework to tax excessive profits from oil firms and seek results from ongoing European investigations into refinery margins. The initiative reportedly originated from Klingbeil’s insistence and is expected to be discussed at a September meeting of EU economic and finance ministers in Dublin. Meanwhile, Germany’s federal government remains divided on the issue, with the SPD supporting the tax while Economy Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) opposes it.
heise-offer: NIS2 and KRITIS: How SMEs are building cyber resilience
The article discusses the importance of cyber resilience for mid-sized businesses, focusing on how they can build digital sovereignty amid increasing cybersecurity threats. It highlights the upcoming IT-Sicherheitstag Dortmund conference on September 16, 2026, which addresses challenges and opportunities in a world driven by AI. The event emphasizes practical approaches to security, including technological measures, employee awareness, and compliance with regulations like NIS2 and KRITIS. The conference features talks on topics such as KI-Resilienz, LangSec, and the implementation of security strategies tailored for the middle market. The event includes networking breaks, an expo area, and interactive Q&A sessions with experts.