Self-determination in a digital society

The Grand Challenges of Computer Science - Gesellschaft der Informatik (GI) 2025

On February 5, 2025, the Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI) published a selection of the five major challenges facing computer science in the future. "Grand Challenges 2025: These are the challenges facing computer science."

At the suggestion of the Research Center for Information Systems Design (ITeG) at the University of Kassel, the Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. has identified the topic of "Self-determination in a digital society" as one of the five Grand Challenges 2025 that will significantly shape research in computer science and related research fields. The challenge describes the handling of data and its systematic utilization. On the one hand, this can support people in many areas, but it can also endanger their self-determination.

    Prof. Dr. Gerd Stumme

    We see the key challenge for the future as preserving self-determination of users in a digital society while at the same time continuously developing data-driven digital technologies and leveraging their potential. We combine this - for example in the analysis and design of hybrid valuation platforms - with a critical examination of what key terms such as privacy, self-determination and democracy actually mean.

    Prof. Dr. Gerd Stumme
    Porträtfoto von Professor Doktor Gerd Stumme

    With the spread and use of AI, it is no longer enough to simply react to the consequences of technological developments for people and society. In order to preserve the self-determination of users, strengthen their critical competencies and at the same time further develop data-driven technologies, we need the kind of socially beneficial information systems design that the ITeG has been researching for years.

    The ITeG works in three lines of research: Artificial and hybrid intelligence and their embedding in the social system, privacy and self-determination in the dynamics of the information society, design methods for socially desirable IT design.