My guardian angel has never replied to me but my computer surely did. It has always been there. To it we entrust our happiness, success and sorrow, we confide our deepest secrets and we seek the answers we fear to voice elsewhere. It offers us the space we need to connect with thy neighbor and allows both proximity and anonymity while hiding behind a made-up username–haunted still by the shame of our trespassing. During a time of widespread uncertainty, highlighted by collective feelings of dread and pessimism, we often seek answers and reassurance in the most unusual places.

IViR is pleased to introduce our new visiting researcher Andrei Pop. Andrei is a PhD candidate in Philosophy of Law at the University of Milan (Statale di Milano), where his research bridges the gap between constitutional tradition and technological disruption. 
The post Introducing our new visiting researcher: Andrei Pop appeared first on IVIR.

“Artificial Intelligence” in Switzerland 2024: Rapid Diffusion and Increasing Digital Inequality

Vortragsreihe: Wie Digitalisierung und Künstliche Intelligenz unsere Gesellschaft verändern

Generative AI is Taking Over Everyday Life in Switzerland: From Experimentation to Regular Use

Daniela Jaramillo-Dent wins Best Seminar Award for outstanding teaching

Two Awards at SACM 2025 for the Media Change and Innovation Division

Michael Reiss successfully defended his cumulative dissertation  

New publications on techno-religion, human augmentation technologies, internet use in Switzerland

Internet Use as Everyday Religion on the Rise, Cyborgization Still in its Early Stages

Kiran Kappeler successfully defended her dissertation

Meta’s removal of the end-to-end encryption (E2EE) technology for its Instagram Direct Messages (DMs) could pose serious risk to internet users, including children, warn cybersecurity experts at SMEX. 

Earlier last week, Meta quietly announced in an update to the Instagram Help Center that E2EE will no longer be supported on the platform starting May 8, 2026. 

Sonja Bidmon25th International Marketing Trends Conference (IMTC) in Berlin
The 25th International Marketing Trends Conference took place at ESCP Business School Berlin from January 16 to 17, 2026. This year’s conference, marking the 25th-anniversary, was held under the theme “Marketing and Chaos: Restoring Clarity, Trust, and Meaning in Turbulent Times.” The Research Group Marketing and International Management at the newly founded Department of Management was represented by Sonja Bidmon.

Once again, Lebanon’s telecom infrastructure is under pressure as the war with Israel escalates. Israel’s bombing on residential neighborhoods caused a massive wave of displacement, and residents are worried that telecoms may not be able to keep the country connected.

Despite the lessons learned during the 2024 war, Lebanon’s Ministry of Telecommunications still appears to lack a clear emergency plan to maintain connectivity during bombardment, mass displacement, and the mounting strain on so-called “safe” areas now absorbing growing populations.

The Policy Innovation Lab recently participated in a Sustainable Development Goals Initiative II (SDGi) partners’ workshop in Pretoria on 16 and 17 March 2026.

Rendering SnøhettaThe development of the 22nd Century Center (22CC) at the University of Klagenfurt is making significant progress. During an intensive workshop with the architectural firm Snøhetta and the Federal Real Estate Company (BIG) on 17 March, agreements were finalised regarding the new campus building’s spatial and functional design.

Dans le cadre de la Semaine de la recherche étudiante de la Faculté de droit de l’Université de Montréal, a eu lieu le 1er concours de présentations des recherches des étudiant.es du Centre de recherche en droit public.
Lors de ce concours, Ali Ekber Cinar, Nouwagnon Olivier Afogo, Issouf Ouattara, Jenny Betu Kumeso et Lyndah Randrianarivo ont eu la possibilité de présenter leur mémoire et leur thèse devant leurs pairs et la direction du CRDP qui les félicite pour la qualité et la pertinence de leurs propos.

The authors challenge the metaphor of artificial intelligence as a "killing machine" that will one day surpass its human creators.
The post Forget the “killing machine”: why AI is a question of responsibility, not apocalypse appeared first on HIIG.

Das Bayerische Forschungsinstitut für Digitale Transformation (bidt) der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften (BAdW) stellt sich neu auf: zum 1. April 2026 übernimmt Professorin Sabine Pfeiffer den Vorsitz des Direktoriums von Professor Alexander Pretschner.

ABSTRACT: