Saving social media
as a democratic force
Reclaim the internet,
strengthen alternatives!
What it´s all about
Everyone shall have the right freely to express and disseminate his opinions in speech, writing and pictures and to inform himself without hindrance from generally accessible sources.
The freedom of the press and the freedom of reporting by radio and film are guaranteed.
—Grundgesetz (Germany), Article 5 Para. 1 S. 1 and 2
The fundamental right to freedom of opinion and information, freedom of the press and broadcasting is at risk – and with it our democracy.
In the digital space, a few predominantly US and Chinese tech companies1 control information and public debate. Their platforms do not allow unrestricted access, as users have to disclose their most personal data in order to access them. At the same time, algorithms intransparently filter what users get to see and what they don’t – algorithms that only follow the laws of the attention economy, freed from the common good and journalistic quality standards. With a flood of hate, malice, agitation and disinformation, a few monopoly platforms are destroying our democracies and endangering everyone.2
Meanwhile, independent services are increasingly losing their audience and their financial basis through their own distribution channels: journalism is becoming a loss-making business because big tech companies are capturing the majority of advertising revenue. Journalists and media companies have to subordinate themselves and their content to the platforms and their algorithms. Individual creatives and other stakeholders are also becoming increasingly dependent.
The rapid introduction of generative AI3 is accelerating this process. Users have little reason to visit the websites of an original source because AI-supported search engines summarise the content – on the basis of non-transparent technical processes that change the tenor or statements, often in breach of copyright. These AI services are likely to cement the supremacy of the platform companies and further marginalise journalistic media before they die out.
The free internet is being abolished – it has been taken over by the big tech monopolies. The growing dominance of platform companies for information and exchange is leading to a concentration of opinion power that is jeopardising our democracy.
But the internet belongs to all of us, we must free it from the dominance of the monopolies: The signatories see an urgent need for action for everyone, for companies, associations, social institutions and politics at national and European level. Democracy-enhancing offerings must be expanded, and platform monopolies that are harmful to democracy should lose their massive privileges immediately.
What we propose
Our society needs other platforms for social networking, exchange and debate than those provided by Chinese and US monopolistic corporations. Over the past 15 years, such alternative networks and services have emerged (for example Mastodon or Friendica in Fediverse4). They can strengthen our democracy because they promote social exchange and debate on the basis of open and recognised standards5 in decentralised structures. Politics and society must strengthen and expand these services:
We strengthen alternatives with good content
Content financed with public funds must also be fully available at least on those platforms, which are based on open and recognised standards and protocols. Politicians, public authorities, universities, research institutions, libraries and public broadcasters are obliged to make all content available on these platforms without exception. They must open up their own services, such as media libraries, to these platforms via protocols.
We strengthen alternatives structurally
Public institutions (politics, authorities, universities, libraries, public broadcasters and others) currently produce exclusive content for Instagram, TikTok and other monopolistic platforms at great expense. In future, they will be obliged to invest at least the same financial and structural effort in the production of content and its distribution for these open digital platforms. Supervisory bodies will examine at regular intervals whether the proportion of expenditure on open platforms can be increased without jeopardising the required reach of the services.
We invest in the development and usability of alternatives
The federal and state governments are obliged to massively expand their investments in the development and strengthening of these open platforms and protocols as well as services based on them. In particular, the aim is to improve their usability, enable growth through sufficient technical infrastructure and increase market penetration through marketing. In addition, the federal and state governments are creating citizens‘ committees to define and monitor the requirements for such democracy-enhancing offerings.
We enable services that benefit from a commitment to the common good
A legal framework will be created for operators of democracy-enhancing platforms and services in which they can operate on a non-profit basis.6
We improve media education
Educational institutions, especially schools and providers of media literacy programmes, are obliged to primarily teach the use of open and democracy-enhancing platforms and networks. At the same time, the use of hardware and services offered by mEonopolistic platforms in educational institutions will be restricted with the aim of avoiding them altogether wherever possible. In addition, teaching and learning content from the state education system is to be made available on open platforms, provided that the authors have granted the necessary rights.
Enabling open dialogue,
ensuring freedom of expression
In order to strengthen our democracy, the monopolistic platforms should also enable fair, non-discriminatory exchange for all. A wide range of instruments of competition, tax and copyright law can help to achieve this:
We create diversity and transparency
Upper market share limits are introduced for large platforms, above which parts of the company must be sold or content and distribution channels must be separated. A digital tax will be levied on tech giants7 to finance an information and discussion infrastructure that strengthens democracy as well as quality journalism.
We open up platforms
Large platforms must introduce open standards and interoperability between services8 so that users can utilise content regardless of the manufacturer and do not lose their own content when switching services. Such a change of service must also be facilitated by complete download options for own content.
We enable visibility
Today, monopolistic platforms penalise links that refer to content outside of these platforms, such as own websites, for example through lower reach or less visibility. In future, such outlinks must no longer lead to a disadvantage in the distribution of content so that users can link to content outside the platforms without disadvantages. Large platforms must transparently disclose their algorithms for verification purposes.
We give communities a real voice
Independent supervisory bodies must monitor compliance with the above measures with the aim of curbing monopoly positions, criminal statements and targeted disinformation and election manipulation. The platforms must employ easily accessible contact persons via several channels who act quickly in the event of account blocking, hate speech or defamation.
Anyone who earns money with content must take responsibility
To this day, platforms are even allowed to monetise criminal content (racism, discrimination, Holocaust denial, etc.). The liability privilege for particularly large platforms9 must be scrutinised. Just as media groups are responsible for content under press law, platforms must assume responsibility and liability for their content.
Who supports the appeal
Campact e. V.
digitalcourage e. V.
dju – Deutsche Journalistinnen- und Journalisten-Union in ver.di
DJV – Deutscher Journalisten-Verband
DVD – Deutsche Vereinigung für Datenschutz e.V.
FREELENS e. V. – Berufsverband der Fotograf*innen
Greenpeace e.V.
IO – Illustratoren Organisation e.V. – Berufsverband für Illustrator:innen in Deutschland
Teilenswert e. V.
unisono – Deutsche Musik- und Orchestervereinigung e. V.
wechange eG
Michel Abdollahi, Künstler
Alfons (Emmanuel Peterfalvi)
Martin Andree, Autor und Medienwissenschaftler
Melanie Bartos, Wissenschaftskommunikatorin und Öffentlichkeitsarbeiterin, Universität Innsbruck
Markus Beckedahl – Mitgründer re:publica, digitalpolitik.de
Thomas Bodmer, Stellv. Vorstandsvorsitzender, DAK-Gesundheit
Isabel Bogdan, Schriftstellerin
Christian Bollert, Journalist & Mitgründer Podcast-Radio detektor.fm
Jan Bosse, Regisseur
Roberto Cappelluti, Journalist und Moderator
Ralph Caspers, Autor & Moderator
Frederik von Castell, Chefredakteur Medium Magazin
John Cohen, cohen+dobernigg BUCHHANDEL GbR
RA Prof. Dr. jur. Herta Däubler-Gmelin, Bundesministerin der Justiz a. D.
Justus von Daniels, Chefredakteur CORRECTIV
Dr. Astrid Deilmann, Geschäftsführende Vorständin Campact e.V.
Jan Delay, Musiker
David Diwiak, Videojournalist
Daniela Dobernigg, cohen+dobernigg BUCHHANDEL GbR
Prof. Dr. Leonhard Dobusch, Universität Innsbruck, Co-Gründer Momentum Institut, Mitglied ZDF Verwaltungsrat
Anette Dowideit, Chefredakteurin CORRECTIV
Matthias Drobinski, Chefredakteur Publik-Forum
Britta Duah, Leiterin der Komödie Winterhuder Fährhaus
Stine Eckert, Associate Professor, Wayne State University, Detroit
Dr. Henning Eichler, Hessischer Rundfunk, Medienwissenschaftler
Achim Engstler, Autor, Mitglied PEN Berlin und NDR Rundfunkrat
Horst Evers, Autor und Kabarettist
Maria Exner, Intendantin Publix – Haus für Journalismus und Öffentlichkeit
Prof. Dr. Thorsten Faas, Otto-Suhr-Institut für Politikwissenschaft, Freie Universität Berlin
Sascha Foerster, Geschäftsführender Gesellschafter Bonn.digital eGbR
Prof. Dr. Claudia Frick, Institut für Informationswissenschaft, Technische Hochschule Köln
Leon Fryszer, Vorstand Krautreporter
David Gaedt, Gründer Good News Magazin
Dirk von Gehlen, Director Think Tank SZ-Institut
Natascha Geier, Filmemacherin und Journalistin für ARD, NDR und arte
Nina George, Schriftstellerin, Ehrenpräsidentin des European Writers’ Council (EWC)
Gabi Glasstetter, Journalistisches Seminar der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Sandra Goldschmidt, Landesbezirksleiterin ver.di Hamburg und stv. Vorsitzende NDR Rundfunkrat
Ute Gottschaar, Stv. Landesbezirksleiterin ver.di Niedersachsen-Bremen, Mitglied im NDR Rundfunkrat
Ulrich Haider, Musiker (Münchner Philharmoniker), Vorstand Orchester des Wandels e.V.
Dr. Jörg Haßler, Institut für Kommunikationswissenschaft und Medienforschung, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Ulla Heinrich, Geschäftsführung Missy Magazine
Ellen Heinrichs, Geschäftsführerin Bonn Institute
Johannes Heisig, Maler und Grafiker
Prof. Dr. Andreas Hepp, Kommunikationswissenschaftler und Sprecher des ZeMKI, Universität Bremen
Steffen Herrmann, Verleger Junius Verlag
Nora Hespers, freie Journalistin, Autorin und Podcasterin
Dr. Eckart v. Hirschhausen, Wissenschaftsjournalist und Gründer der Stiftung Gesunde Erde-Gesunde Menschen
Richard Höchner, Mitgründer Republik Magazin (Schweiz)
Jon Hoekstra, SOCIAL SOCIAL
Prof. Dr. Gabriele Hooffacker, HTWK Leipzig
Nikola Huppertz, Autorin, Mitglied PEN Berlin
Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. Klaus Hurrelmann, Hertie School – University of Governance
Lars Jessen, Regisseur
Stefan Johannesberg, Vorstand RiffReporter eG
Dr. Pablo Jost, Institut für Publizistik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Eva Karl Faltermeier, Kabarettistin, Moderatorin
Gavin Karlmeier, Journalist, Autor, Digitalberater, Podcaster „Haken dran“
Dota Kehr, Sängerin
Prof. Ulrich Kelber, Bundesbeauftragter für den Datenschutz und die Informationsfreiheit a.D.
Dr. Agata Klaus, Geschäftsführerin Deutsche Nationalstiftung
Sebastian Klein, Mitgründer Karma Capital & Neue Narrative
Luise Klemens, Landesbezirksleiterin ver.di Bayern, Mitglied BR Rundfunkrat
Marc-Uwe Kling, Autor
Gereon Klug, Autor
Dietmar Knecht, Landesvorsitzender dbb m-v und Stv. Vorsitzender NDR Rundfunkrat
Robert Koall, Chefdramaturg und Stv. Generalintendant am Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus
Elena Kountidou, Geschäftsführerin Neue deutsche Medienmacher*innen
Anja Kramer, Vorstand Bildungswerk verdi und stellv. Vorsitzende ARD Programmbeirat
Henning Krause, Wissenschaftskommunikator, Scientists for Future
Dr. Leif Kramp, Forschungskoordinator ZeMKI, Universität Bremen, Gründungsvorstand VOCER
Sebastian Krumbiegel, Musiker (Die Prinzen)
Prof. Dr. Anna Sophie Kümpel, Professorin für Kommunikationswissenschaft
Kai Lüftner, Kreativtäter
Marco Maas, Datenjournalist, Geschäftsführer Datenfreunde GmbH
Axel Martens, Fotograf
Anna Meyer, Künstlerin
Johannes Mirus, Geschäftsführender Gesellschafter Bonn.digital eGbR
Hanna Möllers, Justitiarin, Deutscher Journalistenverband
Glen Mulcahy, Founder Mojofest (Ireland)
Christian Nähle, Geschäftsführer Do-FOSS – Dortmunder Initiative für Freie und Open-Source-Software
Paul Nemitz, Visiting Professor Of Law, College of Europe
Frederik Obermaier, Mitgründer und Direktor Paper Trail Media GmbH
Bastian Obermayer, Mitgründer und Direktor Paper Trail Media GmbH
Prof. Dr. Uwe Ohler, Max Delbrück Centrum und Humboldt Universität zu Berlin
Heike Ollertz, Fotografin und Geschäftsführerin FREELENS e.V.
Lisa Ortgies, Autorin, Moderatorin, Podcasterin
Martin Oswald, Leiter Regionalmedien, Galledia (Schweiz)
padeluun, Gründer und künstlerischer Leiter digitalcourage e. V.
Sascha Pallenberg, Blogger
Kai Pannen, Kinderbuchautor, Illustrator
Matthias Pfeffer, Gründungsdirektor Council for European Public Space
Laura Pooth, Vorsitzende DGB Nord, Mitglied NDR Rundfunkrat
Stefan Proksch, Podcaster
Dr. Klaus Radke, ehem. Programmgeschäftsführer phoenix
Kai Rüsberg, Hörfunk und TV-Journalist
Ralph Ruthe, Cartoonist und Filmemacher
Natalie Sablowski, Journalistin, Co-Vorstandsvorsitzende Neue deutsche Medienmacher:innen
Dimitrij Schaad, Schauspieler und Drehbuchautor
Rocko Schamoni, Schriftsteller, Regisseur, Musiker, Künstler
Christoph Schmitz-Dethlefsen, Mitglied des ver.di-Bundesvorstandes
Hans Schöpflin, Stifter und Beiratsvorsitzender Schöpflin Stiftung
David Schraven, Publisher CORRECTIV
Katja Schroeder, Co-Leitung Arthur Boskamp-Stiftung, Mitglied im NDR-Rundfunkrat
Prof. Dr. Tanjev Schultz, Journalistisches Seminar der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Prof. Dr. Katja Schupp, Journalistisches Seminar der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Andreas Spiegler, Produktmensch & Komplize
Saša Stanišić, Schriftsteller
Jessica Staschen, Presseförderung & Kommunikation, ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS
Björn Staschen, Herausgeber thenewsocial.de, Autor „In der Social Media Falle“
Ralf Stockmann, Direktor Digitale Entwicklung an der Zentral- und Landesbibliothek Berlin
Alexander von Streit, Journalist, Mitgründer Krautreporter
Rena Tangens, Gründerin und politische Geschäftsführerin Digitalcourage e. V.
Lina Timm, Geschäftsführerin Medien.Bayern GmbH
Uwe Timm, Schriftsteller
Erik Uden, Gründer mastodon.de, Administrator troet.cafe
Wytse Vellinga, Coordinator Journalistic Responsibility Dutch Public Broadcasters (NL)
Prof. Dr. Harald Wehnes, Sprecher Präsidiumsarbeitskreis „Digitale Souveränität“ der Gesellschaft für Informatik e. V.
Stephan Weichert, Journalist, Gründungsvorstand VOCER-Institut für Digitale Resilienz
Prof. Dr. Felix Welti, Lübeck/Kassel
Andrea Wemheuer, Landesbezirksleiterin ver.di Niedersachsen-Bremen
Nadia Zaboura, Kommunikationswissenschaftlerin, Publizistin und Medienkritikerin
Sign the appeal
Reclaiming the Internet together: Due to the great response even before publication, we decided to collect supporters via the WeAct platform. Unfortunately, the appeal is only available in German on that platform, but the content is identical to the English version here. We´re happy if you sing.
Would you like to support us in another way? Then we look forward to hearing from you via our contact page.
More on this and that:
- such as Meta (with Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp), X (formerly Twitter), Microsoft (LinkedIn), ByteDance (TikTok) or the Swedish Spotify. ↩︎
- increasing dependency, false body images, the spread of hatred and hate speech and the intensification of social polarisation ↩︎
- such as Chat-GPT, Perplexity AI, Microsoft AI or Google Gemini, Dall-E2, Llama-3 or others ↩︎
- on the Fediverse and its various services: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fediverse ↩︎
- Among other protocols, the W3C has recognised the ‘ActivityPub’ protocol for online social interaction, which enables networking and exchange in a decentralised structure. Offerings such as Mastodon, Friendica and Peertube are based on this protocol. ↩︎
- Mastodon lost its non-profit status in Germany in 2024 and founded a non-profit organisation in the USA. ↩︎
- based on the French model ↩︎
- such as RSS, CardDAV, ActivityPub, JSON etc. ↩︎
- In the USA, a regulation was laid down in 1996 in the Communications Act of 1934 under ‘Section 230’, which, as the ‘Communications Decency Act’, generally provides immunity for online computer services with regard to third-party content generated by their users. This rule should no longer apply to ‘very large platforms and search engines’ under the European Union’s Digital Services Act. ↩︎