Mirko Tobias Schäfer 🇪🇺

@mtschaefer.bsky.social

Ass. Prof. AI, Data & Society @utrechtuniversity.bsky.social | Sciences Lead at @dataschool.nl | Visiting Professor @helsinkiuni.bsky.social | Teamplayer | Critical Data & AI Studies | #AIEthics | Governance of AI | Action Research | ENG NL GER |

On route to Germany by train, border police is carrying out symbolic politics of Germany's legendary political failure Alexander Dobrindt: all passengers have to show their passports. I'm so busy reading that the officer skips me. I am the only one in this coach who enjoys harrassment-free travel.

"Generative AI, Media & Society" by Katalin Feher We are very proud to appear as one of the case studies, highlighting our work on responsible data practices & AI governance, featuring our Fundamental Rights & Algorithms Impact Assesment (FRAIA) and our Data Ethics Decision Aid (DEDA).

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Duitse journalisten gaan de AfD niet meer klakkeloos aan het woord laten in hun berichtgeving, maar benadrukken dat hun simplistische antwoorden op complexe problemen het publieke debat vergiftigen. Een voorbeeld voor Nederlandse journalisten om te volgen? Want dit geldt ook voor PVV, FvD, ...

Deutscher Journalisten-Verband (DJV)@djv.de · last yr.

Das Bundesamt für #Verfassungsschutz stuft die AfD als gesichert #rechtsextremistisch ein. DJV-Bundesvorsitzende @mikabeuster.bsky.social: "Beiträge der AfD dürfen in politischen Debatten nicht unkommentiert neben jene von demokratischen Parteien gestellt werden". Mehr👉 www.djv.de/news/pressem...

In weißer Schrift auf orangefarbenem Hintergrund steht: „DJV fordert“. Darunter steht in orangefarbener Schrift auf weißem Hintergrund: „Umgang der Medien mit AfD muss sich ändern“. Im Hintergrund ist ein Zeitungsstapel mit orangefarbenen Schatten abgebildet. Fotoquelle: canva.com/billion-images.

The World is Watching" — the theme of #CPDP2025 could not be more fitting. As the EU moves toward implementing the AI Act, the question is: can we make it truly work? Will we close the loopholes, resist the pressure from tech lobbies, and ensure real accountability?

CPDPconferences@cpdpconferences.bsky.social · last yr.

"AI Act in Action: Compliance, Oversight, and Enforcement" Organised by @dataschool.nl with @mtschaefer.bsky.social (moderator), Angela Müller, @arnikazinke.bsky.social, Katja Mayer, Rob Heyman More information: cpdp.be/4657 #CPDP.ai #CPDP2025 #TheWorldisWatching #CPDP #AiAct #Oversight

"AI Act in Action: Compliance, Oversight, and Enforcement"

As the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) approaches implementation, we discuss how this landmark legislation will be effectively upheld in practice and through enforcement. This panel will explore the practices for compliance and critical steps needed to ensure that the AI Act goes from a legislative framework into a practical tool for governing AI use across Europe. We will focus on practical solutions and key mechanisms for ensuring compliance: practices for compliances, the role of oversight bodies and supervisory authorities in monitoring AI systems, to the contributions of NGOs and civil society in holding organizations accountable, and the challenges policymakers face in translating regulation into actionable enforcement on the ground. Arguing against the notion of trickle-down policy, the panel will highlight the collective efforts necessary to transform the AI Act into an impactful and enforceable reality.

Questions to be answered:
- How to translate policy into action?
- What is the role of journalism and media in holding AI systems accountable?
- What are best practices for complying with AI Act?
- Is the AI Act sufficient or can and must we do better?
 
Organised by Utrecht University with Mirko Tobias Schäfer (moderator), Angela Müller, Arnika Zinke, Katja Mayer, Rob Heyman

How to proceed with an #AIAct full of loopholes, lack of effective enforcement & oversight, and the rapid sidelining of public values & fundamental rights? Looking forward to speak with this stellar panel at #CPDP about enabling oversight and critical scrutiny for contesting AI systems.

CPDPconferences@cpdpconferences.bsky.social · last yr.

"AI Act in Action: Compliance, Oversight, and Enforcement" Organised by @dataschool.nl with @mtschaefer.bsky.social (moderator), Angela Müller, @arnikazinke.bsky.social, Katja Mayer, Rob Heyman More information: cpdp.be/4657 #CPDP.ai #CPDP2025 #TheWorldisWatching #CPDP #AiAct #Oversight

"AI Act in Action: Compliance, Oversight, and Enforcement"

As the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) approaches implementation, we discuss how this landmark legislation will be effectively upheld in practice and through enforcement. This panel will explore the practices for compliance and critical steps needed to ensure that the AI Act goes from a legislative framework into a practical tool for governing AI use across Europe. We will focus on practical solutions and key mechanisms for ensuring compliance: practices for compliances, the role of oversight bodies and supervisory authorities in monitoring AI systems, to the contributions of NGOs and civil society in holding organizations accountable, and the challenges policymakers face in translating regulation into actionable enforcement on the ground. Arguing against the notion of trickle-down policy, the panel will highlight the collective efforts necessary to transform the AI Act into an impactful and enforceable reality.

Questions to be answered:
- How to translate policy into action?
- What is the role of journalism and media in holding AI systems accountable?
- What are best practices for complying with AI Act?
- Is the AI Act sufficient or can and must we do better?
 
Organised by Utrecht University with Mirko Tobias Schäfer (moderator), Angela Müller, Arnika Zinke, Katja Mayer, Rob Heyman

Our conference on collaborative research and societal impact was a fantastic experience. If you missed it, here is a recap with a summary of the keynotes, panels and workshops. Thanks to our great workshop hosts and participants; we really want to do this next year again! cdh.uu.nl/2025/04/14/r...

Recap of Data School’s Impact Conference | Centre for Digital Humanities

Two Days of Collaboration, Knowledge Exchange, and Difference Making How can scholars and practitioners join forces to bridge the gap between academic inquiry and urgent societal challenges? What road...

cdh.uu.nl

📣 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 Universities and funding organizations are increasingly calling for research that drives societal impact and effective knowledge transfer. But how do we reliably measure impact?

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There are few seats left at this workshop conference on societal impact through collaborative research. Register now & join us for two days of sharing good practices, developing skills & capacities, and for building networks of action researchers, practitioners & stakeholders impact.dataschool.nl

Making a Difference: Societal Impact through Collaborative Research | Impact Conference

Making a Difference: Societal Impact through Collaborative Research Two-day workshopping conference for those who want to get into the collaborative research game! Dates: April 7–8, 2025Location: De Z...

impact.dataschool.nl

If only Republicans had a fraction of Zelensky’s courage. The US President meanwhile has removed any doubt that he is making the US an adversary to Europe. European leaders must urgently treat the crisis as such. We need war economies in Europe

📣 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝘂𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 How do you effectively collaborate across disciplines to drive real-world change? How do you design a research project that leverages digital technologies to tackle societal challenges?

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