Demokratie-X
Analysis of the feasibility of a privacy-preserving and public interest-oriented platform for news.

Analysis of the feasibility of a privacy-preserving and public interest-oriented platform for news.
The project is part of the Plattform Privatheit.
Motivation
Today, the digital news market in Germany is dominated by a few large platforms that belong to global technology groups. This leads to a high concentration of media power. The platforms control which news is presented to users and can influence the democratic formation of opinion. Many platforms process users' personal data on a large scale. There is, therefore, a need for an alternative platform that is oriented towards the common good and supports European values such as privacy and self-determination.
Goals and approach
The “Demokratie-X” project aims to develop a new decentralized and independent non-profit news platform. The researchers are pursuing an interdisciplinary approach that combines expertise from the fields of economics, computer science, sociology, and law. This makes it possible to comprehensively analyze the viability of such a platform. The end result should be a viable concept for a news platform that guarantees informational self-determination, democratic values, and a diverse information landscape. Finally, design and action recommendations for implementation will be given.
Innovations and perspectives
Demokratie-X offers an alternative to the dominant news platforms and promotes the independence and neutrality of news through decentralization. It also provides media companies in this country with an alternative business model based on privacy, fairness, and a focus on the common good, which creates trust and achieves broad acceptance. For users, the new platform offers a safe place for news consumption and interaction without having to worry about the misuse of personal data. The project can, therefore, contribute to a more diverse information landscape based on democratic values.
The “Demokratie-X” project is being carried out by an interdisciplinary consortium consisting of four universities and two practice partners. The aim is to develop a privacy-friendly, fair and public interest-oriented news platform that focuses on European values and democratic principles.
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) is coordinating the project and investigating the economic viability of the platform, including the development of a sustainable business model and appropriate governance. The University of Kassel is contributing with two institutes: one is analyzing structures and practices for democratic and fair platform design, while the other is focusing on the technical design parameters of the front end. The Technical University of Munich (TUM) is responsible for the development and design of the backend, and the University of Passau is researching the legal protection of the platform.
Two practice partners are contributing their expertise to the development: SWISS TXT, in cooperation with the European Broadcasting Union, and the Bavarian Industry Association (vbw). This collaboration enables a design science approach with direct evaluation of the platform concept by the business community.
The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and is integrated into the "Plattform Privatheit".
SWISS TXT / EBU
vbw - Vereinigung der Bayerischen Wirtschaft
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung