Netzpolitik.Org

Founded in 2004 by internet activist Markus Beckendahl, netzpolitik.org has become a key institution in media and digital rights circles.

The platform covers news, background research, and independent investigations concerning data security, surveillance, networks, user rights, new technologies, scientific findings and their impact on culture, democracy, and the public. Through this, it aims to ensure that technological change is implemented in the interest of society. The organisation sees itself as a journalistic offer but without being neutral: "Our stance is: we are committed to digital freedom rights and their political implementation".

With frequent investigative pieces, its most well-known political action concerned the leaked documents on the government’s planned surveillance expansion on social networks in 2015 - which motivated public protests with up to 2,000 activists. The resulting treason charges against netzpolitik.org were dropped, with only those against the unknown whistleblower investigated further.

Its community of supporters can discuss and provide input and questions according to strict guidelines. The 26,441 articles published over the last 16+ years have received over 263,310 comments. The organisation also has two podcast series available.

Financially, netzpolitik.org started with donations, advertising, and cross-financing through founder Markus Beckendahl’s agency Newthinking. Since 2016, the media outlet has been registered as an NGO; it is fully funded through donations, with a smaller revenue coming from merchandise sales and from its press monitor. In 2021, the organisation reached its annual goal of 1 million euros - though it was still 40% short of the 2022 goal at the time of writing (November 2022). The media outlet publishes a monthly transparency report outlining its cash flow and spending.

Founder Beckendahl passed on his role as editor-in-chief to his two successors, Anna Biselli and Daniel Leisegang, in 2022. Netzpolitik.org is currently made up of 17 people. The team has been awarded with or nominated for more than 28 awards.