In this episode, we explore how open source solutions are revolutionizing the way governments work, from collaboration and knowledge sharing to digital sovereignty and artificial intelligence.

Join us as we learn about the world of open source in government with Sven Thomsen, CIO of Schleswig-Holstein in Germany. Sven shares the factors that influenced their decision to adopt open source solutions, their implementation strategies along the way, and lessons learned from the adoption of open source in Munich.

We also discuss Schleswig-Holstein’s 10-year journey into open source, from desktop solutions to database systems, and how it has become a key part of their digital sovereignty strategy. Sven shares his insights on the current discussion in Germany about the importance of open standards, open source, and open interfaces in promoting the idea of European IT resiliency.

We also hear about the political and technical challenges they faced, including the successful implementation of Nextcloud as a central hub for collaboration and knowledge sharing in their federal state. Sven will share his thoughts on the “hidden champions” of open source and how Nextcloud’s new data automation platform has helped them solve some of the most difficult challenges in implementing the Online Access Act (OZG).

With AI based tools in Nextcloud, we were able to close an automation gap that we weren’t able to close with rule-based automations. Implementing AI-based microservices into the ecosystem of Nextcloud, and following Nextcloud’s very good AI strategy, we were able to implement something that is perfect for an organization like Schleswig-Holstein.

Sven Thomsen

CIO of Schleswig-Holstein

Tune in to hear Sven’s words of advice for public sector adoptions, including the importance of community support and giving back. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in open source solutions in government or curious about the future of technology in the public sector.

Episode Links

• Welcome to Schleswig-Holstein – schleswig-holstein.de
• Sven Thomsen – Mastodon Schleswig-Holstein
• Nextcloud Flow: Automate your business processes
• Introducing Nextcloud Hub 9 – Federation, Data Automation and more!
• Nextcloud Enterprise Day 2024 – November 6 in Frankfurt
• Nextcloud Enterprise Day speaker spotlight: Felix Gebauer from Schleswig-Holstein
• Nextcloud Spotlight: German state Schleswig-Holstein’s 40k public administrators embrace Nextcloud
• German state & Nextcloud build digitally sovereign AI for public sector
• Webinar: Schleswig-Holstein and Nextcloud collaborate on a sovereign workplace

The post Open source and Nextcloud in government: Insights from Sven Thomsen, Schleswig-Holstein’s CIO appeared first on Nextcloud.

Your host Brent Gervais is joined by special guest Constanze Kurz – German computer scientist, hacker, activist and spokeswoman for the Chaos Computer Club (CCC). Constanze celebrates 20 years of Netzpolitik, an independent reader-supported organization that has been at the forefront of digital politics, regulation, and tech surveillance in Germany, and shares her insights on some of the most pressing issues facing us today.

Edward Snowden’s disclosures in 2013 were not only revelatory but also catalyzed a necessary discussion around mass surveillance and yet Constanze argues we’ve since lost momentum in this critical conversation. She expresses concern that, as the public has become increasingly complacent, the intelligence services have grown even more powerful and influential.

“We are in the age of mass surveillance. The problem is most of the public doesn’t discuss it anymore, and that its really a problem because what Snowden did was not only revealing, but also driving a debate. And we don’t have that debate anymore, and that really frustrates and concerns me.” – Constanze Kurz

We reflect on the changing landscape of hacktivism and investigative reporting, and how policy is struggling to keep pace with modern technological advancements.

Constanze also reminds us that there’s still much work to be done in addressing the pressing issues facing us today – from mass surveillance and data protection to predictive policing and platform capitalism.

Episode Links

• Constanze Kurz – Wikipedia
• CCC – Choas Computer Club
• netzpolitik.org
• Data Broker Files: How data brokers sell our location data and jeopardise national security
• Edward Snowden – Wikipedia
• CITIZENFOUR – A film by Laura Poitras
• 10 Years After Snowden | Electronic Frontier Foundation
• The case of Edward Snowden – National Whistleblower Center
• Snowden Archive – The Intercept
• Hacker ethic – Wikipedia
• Steven Levy – Wikipedia
• Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution — Steven Levy
• Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution – Wikipedia
• Enshittification – Wikipedia
• DEF CON 31 – An Audacious Plan to Halt the Internet’s Ensh*ttification – Cory Doctorow – YouTube
• German Constitutional Court strikes down predictive algorithms for policing – Euractiv
• CCC | The 38th Chaos Communication Congress: Illegal Instructions
• Announcing Nextcloud Hub 9!
• Nextcloud Enterprise Day 2024 – November 6 in Frankfurt

The post Constanze Kurz: mass surveillance, Snowden, and the future of digital politics appeared first on Nextcloud.