Markus Beckedahl is a journalist and former activist based in Berlin. He is founder of netzpolitik.org, one of the largest non-profit media outlets in Germany. netzpolitik.org reports on digital rights and the evolving digital society and has pioneered many innovations in online journalism. It has been awarded numerous journalistic awards. It is funded entirely by readers’ donations with a record budget of one million euros in 2021.

Markus was editor-in-chief of netzpolitik.org from its beginnings in 2003 until early 2022. In that time, the online medium grew from a hobby blog to a 19-person editorial team. In 2015, Markus and one of his editors were investigated for treason (“Landesverrat”) for reporting on the expansion of internet surveillance by domestic intelligence on netzpolitik.org. After public outcry, the Attorney General was subsequently dismissed and the investigations were dropped.

Markus is the author and editor of several books on net policy issues, such as The Digital Society (2011). He is regularly invited for commentary and analysis on tech policy debates. Markus is also co-founder of re:publica, Europe's leading conference on the Internet and society. He has co-curated the re:publica program since its beginnings in 2007. The upcoming re:publica will take place again in Berlin from June 8-10 after two years in virtual exile. Since 2010, Markus has been a member of the Media Council of the Berlin-Brandenburg State Media Authority.

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