Something happened in Switzerland in mid-November that hardly anyone expected in this form: The country's data protection commissioners passed a clear, almost historic resolution. The message behind it is simple - and at the same time highly controversial: public authorities should no longer outsource their most sensitive data to international cloud services such as Microsoft 365 without hesitation. Why is that?
Society
This section contains social developments, observations and tensions in the center - topics that affect our coexistence, our values and our cultural orientation. Some of these articles address current debates, others question long-established structures or look back at historical contexts. Often, it is not about making quick judgments, but about pausing, taking a closer look - and asking the question: where do we actually want to go as a society?
Those who read here will not find loud opinion theater, but calm analyses, clear words and an eye for what often lies between the lines. Especially in a time of increasing polarization, a differentiated view of social issues can help you to choose your own point of view more consciously - and to question it if necessary.
Immortality through technology: how far research and AI have really come
Ever since humans have existed, there has been a desire to prolong life - or preferably extend it indefinitely. In the past, it was myths, religions, alchemists or mysterious rituals that gave people hope. Today, it is no longer magicians sitting over ancient parchments, but some of the richest people in the world sitting over state-of-the-art biology and AI technology. At first glance, it sounds like science fiction: is it possible to stop ageing? Can you „preserve“ yourself digitally? Can you transfer your thinking to a machine?
But the topic has long since left the ivory tower. Big tech billionaires are now investing billions in projects that are seriously investigating precisely these questions. Not because they want to become immortal gods - but because they can afford to research the limits of what is possible. This article explains quite simply what is behind this idea, what technical developments already exist today, where the limits lie - and why this topic will become increasingly important over the next 20 years.
The new EU censorship laws: What Chatcontrol, DSA, EMFA and the AI Act mean
In an increasingly digitalized world, we spend a lot of time online: Chatting, shopping, working, informing ourselves. At the same time, the rules on how content is shared, moderated or controlled are changing. The Digital Services Act (DSA), the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), the planned Regulation to Prevent and Combat Child Sexual Abuse (CSAR, often referred to as „chat control“) and the AI Act are key pieces of legislation proposed by the European Union (EU) to regulate the digital environment.
These regulations may seem far away at first glance - but they have an impact on you as a private individual as well as on small and medium-sized companies. This article will guide you step by step: from the question „What is planned here?“ to the background and timelines to the change of perspective: What does this mean for you in everyday life?
The silent danger of wearables: when convenience becomes surveillance
Wearables are now part of everyday life. Many people now wear a smartwatch as a matter of course, count their steps, monitor the quality of their sleep or set reminders to take breaks during the day. And I'm happy to admit it: I also have a Apple Watch myself, and I find this technology absolutely fascinating in its own way. It can do things that would have been pure dreams of the future just a few years ago. Nevertheless, I rarely use my Apple Watch.
And just now, after the latest reports and statements from experts, I realize once again that this reticence is not so wrong. After all, many modern headphones and wearables now contain sensors that can measure far more than you might think at first glance. Not all headphones do - but the trend is clear: more and more technology is moving inconspicuously into small devices that we wear close to our bodies.
Dieter Bohlen in plain language: Why Germany is failing because of its own bureaucracy
This article highlights a recent, remarkably candid conversation between Dieter Bohlen - the longtime music producer, entrepreneur and one of the most recognizable faces of German pop culture - and Dominik Kettner, a precious metals expert, YouTuber and financial entrepreneur who has been studying wealth protection and economic trends for years.
At first glance, the meeting of the two seems unusual: here the entertainer with decades of international experience, there the financial analyst who primarily addresses security-conscious savers and entrepreneurs. But it is precisely this mixture that makes the interview so exciting. Bohlen speaks freely, without a PR filter, while Kettner drills down and makes complex developments tangible. Together, they create a space in which undesirable political developments, economic risks and personal experiences are interwoven - clearly, directly and without excuses.
Where does SARS-CoV-2 come from? A factual overview of all corona theories
Als die ersten Berichte über eine ungewöhnliche Lungenkrankheit in Wuhan auftauchten, war das für die meisten von uns nur eine Randnotiz. Ein neuer Erreger, irgendwo in China – so etwas hörte man ab und zu. Doch innerhalb weniger Wochen veränderte sich die Lage dramatisch. Grenzen schlossen, Schulen machten dicht, Veranstaltungen fielen aus. Es herrschte Verunsicherung, und plötzlich betraf dieses Virus alle – ganz unmittelbar.
Mit etwas Abstand spürt man heute, dass unter der Oberfläche noch vieles arbeitet. Viele Menschen haben das Gefühl, dass damals nicht alles offen, nicht alles klar und nicht alles vollständig kommuniziert wurde. Wer versucht, objektive Informationen über den Ursprung des Virus zu finden, stößt schnell auf Widersprüche, Lücken und gegensätzliche Darstellungen. Genau aus diesem Grund lohnt es sich, das Thema einmal ruhig und in aller Klarheit zu sortieren – ohne Hast, ohne Polemik, ohne Schubladen.
The EU's digital ID: linking, control and risks in everyday life
Wenn man von „digitaler ID“, „europäischer Identitäts-Wallet“ oder „EUDI-Wallet“ hört, klingt das zunächst abstrakt – fast wie ein weiteres kompliziertes IT-Projekt aus Brüssel. Viele Menschen haben noch nie bewusst von „eIDAS 2.0“ gehört, dem zugrunde liegenden EU-Regelwerk. Und doch betrifft dieses Projekt langfristig nahezu jeden Bürger der Europäischen Union.
Im Kern geht es um etwas, das wir seit Jahrzehnten auf Papier oder als Plastikkarte im Alltag mitführen: den amtlichen Nachweis unserer Identität. Bisher besitzen wir verschiedene Dokumente – Personalausweis, Führerschein, Krankenversicherungskarte, Steuer-ID, Konto-Login, Versichertennummer. Jedes System arbeitet getrennt, jedes mit eigenen Abläufen, oft verwirrend und manchmal ärgerlich.
The EU is now pursuing the goal of merging these scattered areas of identity into a standardized digital solution.
A fact check on the electronic patient file (EPR): risks, rights and objections
Die elektronische Patientenakte, kurz ePA, ist eines der ambitioniertsten Digitalisierungsprojekte im deutschen Gesundheitswesen. Sie soll medizinische Informationen zentral bündeln – von Befunden und Laborwerten über Medikationspläne bis hin zu Impfungen und Krankenhausberichten. Ärzte, Therapeuten, Apotheken und Patienten sollen dadurch besser miteinander vernetzt, Doppeluntersuchungen vermieden und die Behandlungsqualität verbessert werden.
Was auf dem Papier modern und effizient klingt, wirft in der Praxis zahlreiche Fragen auf: Wer hat Zugriff? Wie sicher sind die Daten? Und vor allem: Will ich überhaupt, dass all meine Gesundheitsinformationen zentral gespeichert und zugänglich sind – auch dann, wenn ich nicht darum gebeten habe?