Day 2 at re:publica — Labor Minister Andrea Nahles wants to talk the audience out of a cherished vision. Also featured: A European Digital Charter with Sascha Lobo, Hate Bingo, and puppies.
Yesterday we reported from Berlin, that re:publica is actually a social conference and not just a digital conference. After all, digitalization has long since affected all areas of society. However, many speakers specifically seek contact with a digitally savvy audience to introduce themselves and their projects. This was the case with Federal Labor Minister Andrea Nahles with her proposal for a "Personal Employee Account" — as an alternative to the vision of an Unconditional Basic Income (UBI). At the beginning of the event, the moderator asked those present in the packed lecture hall who supported the idea of a UBI — and around half of those present raised their hands. When asked in return, only a few listeners declared themselves opposed to the idea. No home game for Nahles.
The minister said she deliberately entered the "lion's den" and tried to convince the audience of her model. Anyone who embraces the UBI is actually thinking about the world of work of tomorrow—they have, in a sense, the same problem. Meanwhile, Nahles listed the reasons why she rejects the UBI: Too expensive, too low a monthly amount for those truly in need, not a suitable instrument for raising minimum wages, and:
“I don’t want that!”
said Nahles, because she finds dependence on the state just as repugnant as dependence on her husband or her parents.
Her alternative idea: Everyone would receive a fixed amount on their 18th birthday into a dedicated "account." Nahles suggested a sum of 15,000 to 20,000 euros. Citizens could then use this amount over the course of their lives: for start-up support, subsidizing volunteer work, or personal development. The account would complement existing funding opportunities and operate independently of all other instruments. She then invited the audience to discuss the issue.
The audience welcomed the minister's offer of a discussion with friendly applause. However, some viewers who spoke insisted that Nahles' proposal was pointless: Digitalization is ending traditional paid work. In the medium term, human labor will simply no longer be needed. An account that is once again aimed at employed people won't help. Only the UBI is the solution. Nahles commented:
"I don't believe in the end of paid work. There will still be wage-paying work in 30 years!"
If less work is really necessary, the weekly working hours of workers and employees could be reduced.
The subsequent comments also repeatedly revolved around this question. The future of wage labor ultimately depends on the appropriate political solution: UBI or business as usual—perhaps soon with an additional buffer for personal development.
A Digital Charter for Europe
The project of a European Charter of Digital Fundamental Rights seeks the creative breeding ground of re:publica. As a conference within the conference, several workshops and discussions took place with the goal of jointly developing the Digital Charter.
The document aims to regulate the digital rights of European citizens, companies, and government agencies, even in the digital age. With slight references to "Liquid Democracy" from the Pirate Party, the internet is invited to comment and participate: https://digitalcharta.eu/
Hate speech: That’s a bingo!
Experimentation has its own space at re:publica in an adjacent building: the labore:tory. Various projects are presenting their more or less experimental applications—still with a strong focus on VR. Microsoft is also there with its HoloLens, which we unfortunately couldn't try out. WDR is showing its terrifying VR documentary "Inside Auschwitz."
Here are some impressions from the labore:tory:
In the entrance area of labore:tory, there is a lounge with a stage. One notable event there: "Hate Bingo." The audience is given a completed bingo card. Instead of numbers, the boxes contain anti-Semitic, racist, and other insults. Then, as the event title adds, a Jewish woman (blogger) Juna Grossmann), a feminist (author and editor Lydia Meyer), a journalist (Patrick Stegemann) and a black, homosexual man (video columnist Tarik Tesfu) place. The speakers read out hate comments they received online and describe how they dealt with them. The audience crosses off the insults on their slip of paper. The reward for a bingo game (i.e., a complete row on the slip of paper): peppermint schnapps. The fun event also has a therapeutic effect: Talking about the horrors online might make them less unbearable.
Police puppies
A panel on police social media presence will focus on a completely different form of digital communication. Law enforcement officers have long sought contact with citizens on social networks. This promotes the legitimacy of the police and thus their work, according to the communications scientist. Katharina Kleinen-von Königslöw. The community manager of the Frankfurt police André Karsten sits next to her on the podium and explains why he makes posts like this for his employer:
https://www.facebook.com/PolizeiFrankfurt/posts/1900964093460473:0
Other social media managers can only dream of the reach and interaction rate. However, baby animals are known to work in almost any context.
Of course, says Karsten, social media niceties are not always appropriate — for example, in the run-up to demonstrations where the police expect clashes.
Love out loud
We have so far left out the conference’s omnipresent motto: Love out loud. Means: When hate takes over the public, then we talk about the positive, be it puppies, ball pools or bingo. It remains to be hoped that the past few days in Berlin might have provided some inspiration for a more pleasant future.
