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DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics

DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics

Will Germany stand up to the big tech bros?

May 29, 2026 · 34 min · 12 segments

Berlin Briefing host Michaela Küfner unpacks the Pope's call for responsible AI regulation and asks what Germany’s plans are to avoid a sell-out to big tech interests. She is joined by tech regulation…

Berlin Briefing host Michaela Küfner unpacks the Pope's call for responsible AI regulation and asks what Germany’s plans are to avoid a sell-out to big tech interests. She is joined by tech regulation expert Matthias Kettemann from the Leibniz Institute for Media Research and DW's tech policy correspondent Maximiliane Koschyk.

Berlin Briefing host Michaela Küfner unpacks the Pope's call for responsible AI regulation and asks what Germany’s plans are to avoid a sell-out to big tech interests. She is joined by tech regulation…

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Speakers: Maximiliane KoschykMichaela KüfnerHostMatthias KettermannGuest

Top entities: Germany×77 Digital Services Act×6 Lars Klingbeil×8 Europe×25 United States×20

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasCenterAudience≈6.4M followers

Opening & Guest Introductions0:00 – 0:57

Michaela KüfnerHost

0:00

It's Berlin briefing time.

Michaela KüfnerHost

0:01

Today we ask whether Germany and Europe will stand up to big tech and the algorithms that they are designing.

Michaela KüfnerHost

0:07

Just after the current government came into office just over a year ago, German Chancellor Merz labeled the question of big tech regulation and taxation a question of Europe's sovereignty.

Michaela KüfnerHost

0:19

Now, the Pope just told politicians to get a grip on AI and big tech or lose their grip on keeping societies humane.

Michaela KüfnerHost

0:29

So let's take stock how the German government is performing on the digital front, and with me to lend me their expertise are Professor Dr. Matthias Kettermann from the Leibniz Institute for Media Research.

Michaela KüfnerHost

0:40

He's a legal expert on AI and big tech regulation.

Michaela KüfnerHost

0:43

And with me in the studio is DW's very own digital tech policy correspondent, Maximiliane Koschyk.

Michaela KüfnerHost

0:49

She closely monitors and analyzes all things digital while maintaining the best thing about her, being real.

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GermanyCountryCountry in Europe
99%77 mentions
Digital Services ActBook
97%6 mentions
Lars KlingbeilPersonVice-Chancellor of Germany
96%8 mentions
EuropeContinentContinent
94%25 mentions
United StatesCountryCountry in North America
92%20 mentions
Artificial intelligenceEntityProfessional field
91%6 mentions
J. D. VancePersonVice President of the United States
89%9 mentions
Matthias C. KettemannPersonLegal scholar
87%7 mentions
Democratic Socialists of AmericaOrganizationPolitical party
85%4 mentions
Artificial Intelligence ActBook
84%4 mentions
FranceCountryCountry in Europe
82%6 mentions
European UnionAdministrative AreaSupranational political union
80%25 mentions
Max HofmannPersonGerman broadcaster
78%3 mentions
Donald TrumpPerson45th and 47th U.S. President
77%4 mentions
Michaela KuefnerEntity
75%4 mentions
Vatican CityCountryCountry in Europe
73%2 mentions
BerlinCityCapital of Germany
72%7 mentions
Sam AltmanPersonCEO of OpenAI
70%5 mentions
Big TechEntity
68%2 mentions
PopeEntityReligious leadership title
66%6 mentions
EuropeansEntityEthnic group
65%1 mention
Christoph TrebeschPersonEconomist
63%3 mentions
BrusselsEntityCapital of Belgium
61%5 mentions
XEntitySocial networking service
59%5 mentions
NewsletterEntityPeriodical format
58%1 mention
Deutsche WelleCompanyTelevision network
56%3 mentions
Amazon.comCompanyE-commerce company
54%2 mentions
Silicon ValleyPlaceRegion in California
53%4 mentions
Digital Markets ActBook
51%2 mentions
General Data Protection RegulationBook
49%1 mention
NvidiaCompanyCompany
47%2 mentions
Digital Fairness ActBook
46%1 mention
TikTokSoftware ApplicationWebsite
44%2 mentions
Green Party of the United StatesOrganizationPolitical party
42%1 mention
Social Democratic Party of GermanyOrganizationPolitical party
41%4 mentions
Christian Democratic Union of GermanyCompanyPolitical party
38%1 mention
Christian Social Union in BavariaOrganizationPolitical party
38%1 mention
European CommissionGovernment OrganizationAdministrative body
35%1 mention
United KingdomCountryCountry in Europe
34%1 mention
ChristianityEntityReligion
32%1 mention
IrelandPlaceIsland in Europe
30%1 mention
BrexitEvent
28%1 mention
AustriaCountryCountry in Europe
25%1 mention
DenmarkCountryCountry in Europe
25%1 mention
SwedenCountryCountry in Europe
25%1 mention
Reichsbürger movementEntity
22%1 mention
ChinaCountryCountry in East Asia
20%1 mention
GoogleCompanyTechnology corporation
17%1 mention
MetaCompanyTechnology company
17%1 mention
RussiaCountryCountry
14%1 mention

Society
Impact of TechnologySociety > Digital Society
Ethics in TechnologyTechnology > Artificial Intelligence
Digital RegulationPolitics > Regulation
Public DiscourseSociety > Digital Society > Impact of Technology
Data ProtectionGovernment > Legislation
Digital SocietySociety
Corporate RegulationBusiness > Big Tech
Big TechBusiness
AI RegulationPolitics > Regulation > Digital Regulation
RegulationPolitics
Digital Services ActGovernment > Legislation > Data Protection
European UnionPolitics > Regulation > Digital Regulation > AI Regulation
Moral AuthorityTechnology > Artificial Intelligence > Ethics in Technology
Papal InfluenceTechnology > Artificial Intelligence > Ethics in Technology > Moral Authority
Market FairnessBusiness > Big Tech > Corporate Regulation
Digital Markets ActBusiness > Big Tech > Corporate Regulation > Market Fairness
Media InfluenceSociety > Digital Society > Impact of Technology > Public Discourse
Transparency in TechGovernment > Legislation > Data Protection > Digital Services Act
Politics
Technology
Government
Business
Artificial IntelligenceTechnology
LegislationGovernment

Opening & Guest Introductions0:00 – 0:57

Michaela KüfnerHost

0:00

It's Berlin briefing time.

Michaela KüfnerHost

0:01

Today we ask whether Germany and Europe will stand up to big tech and the algorithms that they are designing.

Michaela KüfnerHost

0:07

Just after the current government came into office just over a year ago, German Chancellor Merz labeled the question of big tech regulation and taxation a question of Europe's sovereignty.

Michaela KüfnerHost

0:19

Now, the Pope just told politicians to get a grip on AI and big tech or lose their grip on keeping societies humane.

Michaela KüfnerHost

0:29

So let's take stock how the German government is performing on the digital front, and with me to lend me their expertise are Professor Dr. Matthias Kettermann from the Leibniz Institute for Media Research.

Michaela KüfnerHost

0:40

He's a legal expert on AI and big tech regulation.

Michaela KüfnerHost

0:43

And with me in the studio is DW's very own digital tech policy correspondent, Maximiliane Koschyk.

Michaela KüfnerHost

0:49

She closely monitors and analyzes all things digital while maintaining the best thing about her, being real.