Ethics in IT : Department of Informatics : University of Hamburg

Photo: Bru-nO from Pixabay, cropped

Welcome!

This is the homepage of the research group Ethics in Information Technology at Universität Hamburg. Our team researches the ethical, legal, social and political implications of contemporary information technologies and big data practices.

Here you can learn more about our research group and interdisciplinary team, the research, and teaching we do within and beyond the department of informatics and find latest news about activities from members of the research group.

Photo: Alina Constantin / Better Images of AI / Handmade A.I / CC-BY 4.0

EIT Public Lecture Series: TAMING THE MACHINES

... takes a break and will be back in summer semester with six more exciting talks. Confirmed speakers are Prof. Dr. Jan-Christoph Heilinger (Universität Witten/Herdecke), Prof. Dr. Henning Schmidgen (Bauhaus-Universität Weimar), Prof. Dr. Anna-Verena Nosthoff and Prof. Dr. Tilo Wesche (both Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg). Join us in Hamburg or online. Updated program coming soon.

Please also browse our past programs and stream previous talks. The lectures by José van Dijck, Sven Ove Hansson and Jocelyn Maclure are now available for streaming.

News

the image is a critique of genAI and its toolmen, forcing genAI into our lives, families and homes. It frames genAI as a power(ful) tool to control and influence behaviour.

Photo: Bart Fish & Power Tools of AI / https://betterimagesofai.org / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, cropped

22 January 2026|Event

Einstein Forum: Gegen KI – Zur Notwendigkeit der Auseinandersetzung für Wissen, Beziehungen und Demokratie

Die starke Nutzung insbesondere Generativer KI, bspw. von Chatbots oder Bildgeneratoren, hat innerhalb kürzester Zeit dazu geführt, dass etablierte gesellschaftliche Praktiken einer Neubewertung unterzogen wurden und werden. Das Einstein Forum hat Prof. Dr. Judith Simon eingeladen, um darüber zu sprechen.

Photo: Aric

22 January 2026|Event

ARIC Brown Bag Session: Hype, Hope und Statistik: GenAI aus ethischer Perspektive

GenAI ist in aller Munde: Als Zukunftstechnologie, als Next Big Thing, in Gestalt enttäuschter Erwartungen, oder als Gesellschaftsdystopie. Dr. Jan-Philipp Kruse wird diese Wahrnehmungen sortieren und aufzeigen, wo der Einsatz Generativer KI erhebliche ethische Herausforderungen mit sich bringt (und wo vermutlich eher...

Photo: Alina Constantin / Better Images of AI / Handmade A.I / CC-BY 4.0

14 January 2026|Event

Public Lecture: Implicit Knowledge in Human-Machine Relationships. A Philosophical Investigation

In her lecture on Januar 14, 2026, Prof. Dr. Gabriele Gramelsberger (RWTH Aachen) examines the naturalization of digital technology as envisioned by Mark Weiser, focusing on how miniaturization and intuitive access bring the digital closer to emotions and everyday life. From a philosophical perspective, it analyses the...

Photo: Jocelyn Maclure, cropped

7 January 2026|Event

Public Lecture: AI, Explainability and Epistemic Dependence

In his lecture on Januar 7, 2026, Prof. Dr. Jocelyn Maclure (McGill University, Canada) explores the debate about whether people deserve to know how AI systems make decisions that affect their lives. He addresses new challenges to the “right to explanation” and shows why transparency and accountability remain essential.

Gäste der Talkshow sitzen in einer Runde und diskutieren

Photo: ZDF/Hertrich

16 December 2025|Event

Talkshow "Markus Lanz" zu Künstlicher Intelligenz

In seiner Sendung am 16.12.2025 spricht Markus Lanz mit seinen Talkshow-Gästen über Künstliche Intelligenz. Eingeladen sind Judith Simon, Katharina Zweig, Sascha Lobo und Leon Windscheid. Die Sendung kann über die ZDF-Mediathek abgerufen werden.

Photo: Meacham, cropped

26 November 2025|Event

Public Lecture: What, if Anything, Are Convivial Technologies?

In his lecture on November 26, 2025, Prof. Dr. Darian Meacham (Maastricht University) will focus on the distinction between “convivial” and “monopolistic” technologies, first introduced by Ivan Illich. He will discuss how this distinction, particularly as it relates to concepts of ‘autonomy’ and ‘heteronomy’, can support a...

Photo: Misselhorn, cropped

19 November 2025|Event

Public Lecture: AI, Art and Authorship. Perspectives From Ethics and Aesthetics

In her lecture on November 19, 2025, Prof. Dr. Catrin Misselhorn (Universität Göttingen) explores the question of whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) can truly create art, or if there is an essential “human factor” in art production. Against the background of AI’s growing capabilities, traditional concepts in art theory...

Giant QR code-like patterns dominate the cityscapes, blending seamlessly with the architecture to suggest that algorithmic systems have become intrinsic to the very fabric of urban life.

Photo: Elise Racine & The Bigger Picture / https://betterimagesofai.org / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, cropped

14 November 2025|Event

VEIL: Immer mehr vom Immergleichen? Künstliche Intelligenz und die Zukunft der Demokratie

Mit den als „Künstliche Intelligenz“ bezeichneten Technologien haben sich von Anfang an hochfliegende Hoffnungen und zugleich dystopische Befürchtungen verbunden. Dr. Jan-Philipp Kruse ist zu Gast bei der Virtual Ethical Innovation Lecture der Universität Lübeck, um darüber zu sprechen.

Photo: Alina Constantin / Better Images of AI / Handmade A.I / CC-BY 4.0

5 November 2025|Event

Public Lecture: Risk Ethics and Big Tech Business

We are looking forward to welcoming Prof. Dr. Sven Ove Hansson (Uppsala University) at "Taming the Machines" public lecture series on November 5, 2025 with his lecture "Risk Ethics and Big Tech Business".

Archive of current news