On March 24, 2025, AmerikaHaus NRW, in cooperation with the Center for Advanced Internet Studies, hosted a virtual discussion on "The Influence of Big Tech: Politics in the Digital Age." The event featured insights from Marietje Schaake, former Member of the European Parliament and Non-Resident Fellow at Stanford University’s Cyber Policy Center; Steven Feldstein, Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; and Prof. Dr. Christoph Bieber, Research Professor at the Center for Advanced Internet Studies.

The discussion focused on the dominance of U.S. tech companies in shaping digital infrastructure and political discourse. Marietje Schaake argued that while the EU’s Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act were steps in the right direction, they were insufficient and failed to address rapid technological changes, including AI. She stressed the need for Europe to strengthen its technological sovereignty and develop independent alternatives to U.S. platforms in order to protect European security, its economy and democracy.

Steven Feldstein highlighted how technology had shifted from a tool of liberation to one of political manipulation. It was important, he underlined, to consider not only social media but also rapid advances in AI, including chatbots and large language models. He pointed to the ties between Big Tech and political power and warned that digital tools were increasingly being used for surveillance, posing risks to democratic governance.

Christoph Bieber reflected on how digital platforms had transformed political communication. He noted that the Obama campaign’s early use of social media opened the door to new political strategies, albeit through a grassroots approach. Today, activism remained heavily dependent on these platforms despite concerns over their influence. He called for independent public service media to establish a stronger presence in the digital space to counterbalance corporate power.

In closing, the panelists agreed on the urgent need for stronger regulation, greater transparency, and proactive public engagement to ensure that technological advancements do not undermine democracy. We thank our speakers and the Center for Advanced Internet Studies for their cooperation as well as the Federal Foreign Office for kindly supporting this event.