The Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) is a Berlin-based research institute that studies how digital technologies shape public life. Founded in 2011, it describes its mission as examining the development of the internet from a societal perspective and better understanding the digitalisation of all areas of life. The institute was established as the first German research centre with a focus on internet and society, and its work sits at the intersection of law, governance, technology, and social change.
HIIG is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, at Französische Straße 9. Its research agenda covers platform governance, data governance, artificial intelligence and society, digitalisation and sustainability, open higher education, and the future of work. The institute combines academic research with public communication and knowledge transfer, including publications, podcasts, events, and fellowships.
A recurring feature of HIIG’s work is its interdisciplinary approach. It brings together legal, social science, and policy perspectives to address questions such as how online platforms should be regulated, how data governance can be made more robust, and how AI affects democratic, social, and labour-market structures. The institute also works on practical formats that translate research into public debate, including its “Digitaler Salon” event series and the “Exploring digital spheres” podcast.
Recent highlighted work includes a project on AI and gender equality, which looks at structural disadvantages for women in AI systems and aims to derive policy and practice recommendations. HIIG also hosts workshops and public events on topics such as “Public Interest AI,” reflecting its interest in the governance of emerging technologies.