Germany’s Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media Wolfram Weimer has called for tighter oversight of how information is distributed online.
In an op-ed published in De Welt, Weimer argued yesterday that social media platforms and AI systems have become powerful “opinion shapers”. They no longer simply host content but actively influence what people see, he said. Because of that, he added, they should be treated like traditional media institutions.
He pointed to YouTube CEO Neal Mohan’s 2025 description of the platform as “the new television”, suggesting that such a comparison strengthens the case for treating digital platforms as regulated broadcasters.
“When YouTube CEO Neal Mohan said in 2025 that his platform was ‘the new television’, it was intended as a self-description. But it can also be understood as a mandate,” he said.
In his view, algorithmic systems that prioritise engagement tend to elevate sensational or polarising material, which he argues can distort public debate and reduce exposure to a broad range of viewpoints.
“The internet was once a place of genuine openness — more open, more respectful, truer to its original promise. Today, what dominates is noise, polarisation and algorithmically amplified extremes,” he said.
“Platforms are still often described as neutral intermediaries. But that picture no longer holds. Unlike the postal service, which simply carries letters, platforms actively structure content — they curate, prioritise, and recommend,” he added.
Although he does not call for the direct state intervention in online content, he pointed to Landesmedienanstalten, which is the independent regulatory body in Germany responsible for supervising and licensing private radio, television, and online media, as well as promoting media literacy.
According to him, the Landesmedienanstalten “safeguards diversity in commercial broadcasting without political interference. That model offers a template for the digital world”.
Some critics argue that as the European Union Digital Services Act (DSA) is enforced in Germany through Landesmedienanstalten, it raises broader concerns about their independence.
Weimer’s comments come amid broader debates in Germany about media credibility, with a recent case involving manipulated AI-images in state broadcast reporting.
His position echoes similar arguments made by French President Emmanuel Macron, who has previously criticised social media for its “negative impact on democratic discourse”.
Weimer said the states must ensure diversity on content is being seen by audiences online.
“Diversity does not come from content merely existing; it comes from content being visible.
“That is why we need rules governing discoverability — governing prominence. And those rules must apply across media platforms alike,” he said.
