A broad coalition of artists, authors, journalists, entrepreneurs and associations is calling for platform monopolies to be stripped of their substantial privileges, and for the expansion of online services that strengthen democracy. In a statement*, the more than 100 signatories of the ‘Save Social’ initiative propose ten concrete steps to strengthen alternative networks and ensure fairer and more open exchanges on Big Tech corporations’ monopoly platforms.
The demands
At a launch event in Berlin on Tuesday, 11 February 2025, the initiative presented its key demands, including that public institutions should make their content available on open platforms. The EU, the German federal government, and the federal states are urged to invest more heavily in developing and improving the user-friendliness of alternative platforms, and to create opportunities for such platforms to be operated on a not-for-profit basis.
Furthermore, the signatories are calling for market share caps on tech giants. Links pointing to content outside the monopoly networks (so-called ‘outlinks’) should no longer be disadvantaged in terms of reach and visibility. Large platforms should also introduce open standards and interoperability between services, and curb disinformation and electoral manipulation through independent supervisory bodies.
Voices from the coalition
Journalist Björn Staschen, one of the co-authors of the appeal, explains at the launch of the initiative:
Fake news, hate speech, incitement and polarisation are threatening our democracy. We must work together to ensure that online platforms facilitate free and unbiased discussion.
In order to strengthen our democracy, monopoly platforms must facilitate fair and non-discriminatory exchanges for all. A wide range of instruments under competition, tax and copyright law could help achieve this, and they should be implemented as a matter of urgency.
Marc-Uwe Kling, author of The Kangaroo Chronicles and Quality Land, emphasises the importance of open debate in the fields of art and culture.
The internet is the largest platform for sharing views in human history. However, unless we take it back from the digital oligarchs, our democracy will cease to function.
Prof. Dr. jur. Herta Däubler-Gmelin, former Federal Minister of Justice, emphasises the freedom of expression and freedom of the press guaranteed by the German constitution:
Algorithmic automation is having an increasingly significant influence on public debates on online platforms. We must prevent it from allowing discrimination and polarisation to take hold in our society, for example by influencing elections.
The musician Dota Kehr is calling for a review of the privileges enjoyed by platform monopolies:
Newspapers, magazines and broadcasters in Germany are responsible for the content they publish, whereas Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X are not. This privilege must be scrutinised: anyone who makes money from content must also take responsibility for it.
Peter Freitag, co-chair of the German Union of Journalists (dju) within ver.di, describes the consequences of platform dominance for the media:
In the long term, journalism is at risk of becoming a loss-making business because Big Tech companies are pocketing the lion’s share of advertising revenue. However, we must not allow the platforms to dictate the rules; rather, we must ensure the independent dissemination of quality journalism.
The petition
On Tuesday (11 February), ‘Save Social’ launched a petition on the WeAct platform to gather public support for its objectives. The petition can be signed via the campaign page or directly at weact.campact.de/p/save-social (external link) (external link).
Who we are
‘Save Social’ is supported by, amongst others, the musicians Rocko Schamoni, Dota Kehr, Jan Delay and Sebastian Krumbiegel; the authors Marc-Uwe Kling, Saša Stanišić, Nina George, Uwe Timm and Isabel Bogdan, journalists such as Dr Eckart von Hirschhausen, Ellen Heinrichs and Natalie Sablowski, the entrepreneur Sebastian Klein, the philanthropist Hans Schöpflin, the tech blogger Sascha Pallenberg, the former Federal Data Protection Commissioner Ulrich Kelber, the media scholar Martin Andree, the trade unions Deutscher Journalisten-Verband (DJV), the German Journalists’ Union (dju) within ver.di, unisono (German Music and Orchestra Association), as well as Freelens, the professional association for photographers, Greenpeace e. V., and the organisations Campact e. V., digitalcourage e. V. and Teilenswert e. V. The full list of signatories can also be found at savesocial.eu.
Press Images
Photographs are available savesocial.eu/download
Press contact
For enquiries:
- Save Social Björn Staschen presse@savesocial.eu
