GermanyOwnership & classification
Founded: 2002
Ownership
netzpolitik.org is a non-profit digital-rights news site founded in 2002 by Markus Beckedahl, who led it until 2022; it is now run by co-editors-in-chief Anna Biselli and Daniel Leisegang. It is organised as a non-profit registered association (eingetragener Verein) and is not owned by any media group, company or investor.
Funding
It is financed almost entirely by reader donations (its budget passed roughly one million euros), deliberately avoiding advertising and paywalls to preserve independence; it takes no party or state funding.
Affiliation & stance
Editorially it advocates for digital civil liberties, privacy and transparency, a stance that reads as progressive/centre-left, but it is reader-funded and association-run with no party, corporate or state owner. That independent, donor-supported structure makes it INDEPENDENT, consistent with the site's INDEPENDENT type and CENTER_LEFT lean.
Editorial lean
- Our estimate
- Lean Left
- Measured from coverage
- Lean Leftbased on 60
66/100
Factual
63/100
Objective
66
Articles
66
reports
Top stories
Most covered right now
KW 25: The week in which Saxony called its Landtag to reason
Alternative to Visa, Paypal and others: MEPs vote for digital euro
The crisis of freedom of expression: the offended
AI could become one of the biggest water consumers on the planet.
Moritz Hennemann: New Federal Commissioner for data protection and freedom of information elected
Green: Palantir is not, data analysis is
Zorin OS in the test.
The Court of Justice ruled that age verification and flash warnings were legally reinforced.
Palantir largely fails with counter-narratives against "Republic" research
Recent coverage
Previous EU State Trojan investigations: Committee member repeatedly infected with Pegasus software
The article reports that Stelios Kouloglou, a member of the EU’s PEGA committee investigating the use of state-sponsored spyware like Pegasus, was himself infected with Pegasus malware twice between October 2022 and March 2023. The Canadian Citizen Lab conducted a forensic analysis of his iPhone and confirmed the infections, which occurred during critical phases of the committee’s work. While the attacks were not attributed to a specific client of the NSO Group, the analysis suggests a possible connection to actors targeting Russian and Belarusian journalists and activists. The report highlights concerns about the security of parliamentary processes and calls for further investigation by the EU and national parliaments.
Debate on the firewall: the AfD asks no one these questions
The article discusses two contrasting situations involving the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The first involves a friendly interaction between AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund and CDU politician Guido Heuer during a public event in Halberstadt, where they appear to have a cordial relationship despite their political differences. This moment sparked controversy, with some criticizing such interactions during the election campaign. Heuer later had to publicly reaffirm his commitment to the 'Unvereinbarkeitsbeschluss' (incompatibility decision), which prohibits cooperation with the AfD. The second situation involves Hans-Thomas Tillschneider, a deputy leader of the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt, who stated in a podcast that the AfD would not consider forming a coalition with the CDU. However, this statement received no significant reaction, unlike similar actions by CDU politicians, which face scrutiny. The article highlights that while the AfD appears divided on the issue of cooperating with the CDU, the public does not hold them accountable in the same way as the CDU.
UN: 'We can no longer say we knew nothing'
The United Nations' independent scientific panel on artificial intelligence has released a preliminary report highlighting both the potential benefits and risks of AI. The report notes that while AI could drive significant advancements in medicine, agriculture, and other fields, there is a growing gap between the rapid development of AI technologies and current regulatory frameworks. This gap poses serious risks, particularly in areas like biotechnology and cybersecurity. The report emphasizes the need for evidence-based governance but warns that regulations often lag behind technological progress. It also highlights global inequalities, noting that developing countries face greater environmental and social impacts from AI, and marginalized groups are disproportionately affected by biased algorithms. The panel, composed of 40 international experts, aims to provide knowledge rather than direct policy recommendations. The report serves as a foundation for upcoming discussions at the Global Dialogue on AI Governance.
Government transparency: Attack on freedom of information continues to draw sharp criticism
The black-yellow coalition government in Germany has proposed reforms to the Freedom of Information Act (IFG), which have sparked significant criticism from civil society organizations, journalists, and politicians. The proposed changes would require individuals seeking information to demonstrate a 'legitimate interest' in the documents they request, shifting the burden of proof from the state to the requester. This move has been described as a major threat to transparency and could lead to a two-tier system where only certain citizens have access to public information. Critics argue that these reforms undermine democratic principles by limiting transparency and enabling secretive decision-making. The reforms also aim to restrict the right to information to German and EU citizens, excluding others. Prominent figures such as the Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, Louisa Specht-Riemenschneider, and Left Party politician Sonja Lemke have condemned the plans, citing past instances where freedom of information requests exposed wrongdoing by officials.
Selected software to monitor Berlin: Behavioural scanner on Kotti to be launched in summer
The Berlin police have selected new software to monitor public spaces, which categorizes human behavior as either 'neutral' or 'problematic.' This system includes specialized cameras that provide images for analysis. The first camera is expected to be installed at Kottbusser Tor by the end of September, marking the beginning of automated, warrantless surveillance in public areas. Critics argue that such systems shift crime rather than reduce it and raise concerns about discrimination against homeless individuals, as the technology may trigger alerts for harmless activities like lying down. Similar systems are already in use in cities like Mannheim and Hamburg, and several German states have approved or plan to approve this type of automated behavioral monitoring. The software vendor remains undisclosed.
Why Many Immigrants Leave Germany Again
The article discusses a study conducted by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) that examines reasons why immigrants leave Germany. The research surveyed individuals aged 18 to 65 who migrated to Germany before April 2025, revealing that family-related factors and experiences of discrimination are significant contributors to their decision to leave. The study highlights that many factors influencing migration are politically controllable, such as bureaucracy, housing, and language acquisition. Younger migrants tend to return to their home countries or move to other European nations like Spain, Switzerland, Italy, and Croatia. The report criticizes bureaucratic inefficiencies, including lengthy processing times for citizenship, residence permits, and recognition of foreign qualifications, which hinder long-term planning and integration. Language proficiency is identified as another critical factor affecting integration success.
Internal documents: EU states want to bring back the chat control zombie
The European Union member states are seeking to reintroduce a temporary exception to the ePrivacy Regulation, allowing internet service providers to scan user content voluntarily to combat child sexual abuse online. This measure was previously in place from 2021 until April 2026 but expired after the European Parliament rejected its extension. Germany supports the reinstatement of this exception, with the federal government emphasizing the urgency of restoring the legal framework to prevent a decline in reports of child abuse. The Council has approved a new proposal, which will now be voted on by the European Parliament. However, some members of parliament oppose the move, criticizing it as an unfair maneuver. Meanwhile, negotiations over a permanent chat control regulation continue without resolution.
Freedom of information: Black and Red plans frontal attack on journalism and transparency
The article discusses Germany’s coalition government’s plans to significantly restrict the right to information under the Federal Information Act (IFG). Currently, citizens, civil society organizations, and media can request state documents, ensuring transparency and uncovering scandals. However, the current ruling coalition—composed of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Christian Social Union (CSU), and Social Democrats (SPD)—intends to weaken this right by requiring applicants to demonstrate 'legitimate interest' before making requests. This would exclude many individuals and groups from accessing information. The proposed changes include removing cost caps, allowing higher fees, restricting requests to natural persons, and excluding non-German citizens. Additionally, names of public officials would be redacted, hindering accountability. Civil society groups like FragDenStaat and organizations such as the German Environmental Agency (Deutsche Umwelthilfe) have expressed strong opposition to these measures.
The dangers of age controls: the experts are confused
The article discusses the growing debate around age verification systems in Germany, highlighting concerns over privacy, discrimination, and mass surveillance. Experts warn that mandatory age checks could lead to increased data collection and tracking, undermining anonymity and privacy. The German Ethics Council has raised alarms about these risks but still allows for some form of age control. A commission appointed by the Ministry of Family has issued 56 recommendations for online child protection, acknowledging the dangers of certain methods while still advocating for age verification. These include facial recognition technology and document verification, which critics argue disproportionately affect marginalized groups. The article points out contradictions in the experts' reasoning, noting that their warnings about privacy and discrimination are undermined by their support for similar technologies.
Millionaire deal with surveillance firm: Austrian government wants to be able to track people with illegal data
The Austrian government has extended a license for surveillance software called Webloc, developed by the U.S. firm Penlink, which collects location data from up to 500 million mobile devices worldwide. This information includes precise GPS locations and unique advertising identifiers used by apps. The data is typically collected for advertising purposes but flows through the ad industry ecosystem to data brokers and then to surveillance companies. Experts argue this violates the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), as personal data being traded purely as a commodity is incompatible with privacy laws. Research by netzpolitik.org and other outlets has shown how popular mobile apps transfer user data to third parties, enabling authorities to track individuals' movements, including sensitive locations like medical facilities or religious sites. Austria’s Interior Ministry did not directly comment on the use of Webloc, stating it would not disclose specific software solutions due to legal constraints.
Cyber slavery in scam factories: 'Escape the tiger and meet the crocodile'
The article discusses the growing issue of cybercrime through 'scam factories' in Southeast Asia, particularly focusing on forced labor and human trafficking. It highlights how these operations, often run by organized criminal networks, exploit vulnerable individuals, including young people from Africa and other regions, who are lured with false job offers and then trafficked into scam centers. The article references reports from Amnesty International and the United Nations, which document the scale of the problem and the lack of effective action by authorities despite awareness since 2022. It also notes that while some progress has been made, many scam facilities remain operational, and victims are treated as criminals after being freed.
Surveillance of journalists: is the BND allowed to hack journalists?
The German foreign intelligence agency, BND, is facing scrutiny over whether it is allowed to hack journalists and install surveillance software on their phones. The organization 'Reporters Without Borders' argues that current laws governing the BND violate fundamental rights, including privacy and freedom of expression. After failing to win a constitutional court case in Karlsruhe, the group has turned to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg, which has indicated it will consider the complaint and potentially treat it as an 'impact case,' meaning it could set a precedent for surveillance practices across Europe. The ECtHR oversees compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights, which is part of the Council of Europe, not the EU. Reporters Without Borders claims that Germany’s legal framework fails to adequately protect journalists from surveillance, creating a chilling effect that deters potential whistleblowers and limits access to reliable information. They also criticize the lack of transparency and effectiveness of parliamentary oversight of the BND.
Cash regulation: how the EU wants to strengthen the role of cash
The European Parliament has agreed on a legislative package including the Digital Euro, but also aims to strengthen cash as legal tender. The proposed regulation defines cash as a legally recognized payment method, aiming to clarify its status within the eurozone. Legal expert Sebastian Omlor highlights the lack of clarity around cash acceptance and the need for clear rules on when businesses can refuse cash payments. While the Commission proposes exceptions for small change and other scenarios, critics argue this does not significantly change the current situation compared to the Digital Euro, which would face stricter rules against refusal. The debate centers on balancing innovation with the continued role of physical currency.
Overlooked
Under-reported & one-sided
