Wolfgang Schulz Member of Committee of Enquiry “Internet and Digital Society”
Dr. Wolfgang Schulz, Managing Director of the Hans Bredow Institute, will join the committee of enquiry “Internet and Digital Society” as an independent expert. In the upcoming two and a half years, the commission will concern itself with the opportunities and challenges of the “digital society”. It will develop political guidance in order to further improve the general conditions of the information society in Germany and, based on its research results, phrase the national and international call to action.
17 members of parliament and 17 experts are on the commission. The parliamentary party of CDU/CSU appointed six members, SPD four, the parliamentary parties of the FDP three, LINKE and BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN two members each. Wolfgang Schulz was appointed by the SPD.
Commission of Enquiry "Internet and Digital Society“ (German)
Proposition CDU/CSU, SPD, FDP, BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN: Appointment of a commission of enquiry “Internet and Digital Society” (PDF, German)
On the initial situation and the assignment of the commission, the proposition includes among other things:
“The internet is the most liberal and efficient information and communication forum in the world and decisively contributes to the development of a global society. The digital society offers new development opportunities for every single person as well as new chances for a democratic advancement of our body politic, for economic activity and the information society. The utilisation of these communication and information options has long been part of the everyday life of the overwhelming majority of people in our country. However, the internet is no longer just a technical platform, it is becoming an integral part of the lives of many people, because social changes take place on and with the internet. [...]
The forming of a “digital society” goes with great opportunities and challenges. This applies, for example, to civil rights and particularly personality rights and the right to informational self-determination, which have to be maintained in the digital society. A central issue is the question of law enforcement in worldwide networks. The global development of the internet reveals that new national and international approaches are required in order to answer the political questions of digitalisation. Challenges arise for all social areas, for the democratically constituted society as a whole and its media and communication system as well as for numerous legal areas – from the protection of civil rights and copyright to consumer protection. [...]
Until Easter 2011, the commission of enquiry is supposed to present a preliminary report and submit the final report until the parliamentary summer break 2012.