In an era where platforms and messengers act as invisible editors of the digital public sphere, the future of journalism depends not only on credible content — but on credible infrastructure. What values are encoded in the systems people rely on to access information? What role should messaging apps play in safeguarding media freedom and digital rights?

Udbhav Tiwari, VP of Strategy and Global Affairs at the Signal Foundation, explores how privacy-first design, smart regulation, and democratic governance models can help rebuild trust and autonomy in a fragmented news landscape.

In a world where infrastructure is invisible and influence is opaque, what does digital sovereignty really mean for journalism? Platforms set the rules, messengers bypass the newsroom, and AI rewrites everything. Journalism is reinventing itself — but can it keep up with the pace of disruption? This panel brings together Udbhav Tiwari (Signal Foundation), Alexandra Borchardt (Reuters Institute), and Meinolf Ellers (dpa) for a critical cross-sector conversation on trust, infrastructure, and regulation. Who owns the digital public square — and who keeps it open?

Artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping how media content is created, distributed, and perceived. But how can we build trust in these systems—and what does that mean for the media industry?
This session will provide a broad introduction to the field of TrustTech, highlighting its societal relevance and business potential, exploring the foundations of trustworthy AI—from explainability and robustness to infrastructure and verification—touching on the business opportunities this space offers in a European context, particularly around standardization and technological sovereignty.

What does it take to build media ecosystems that are trustworthy and transparent in the age of AI? This panel brings together leading researchers, AI founders, and innovation hub leaders to discuss practical approaches to explainable AI, secure infrastructures, and emerging TrustTech solutions.
Speakers will share insights into the technical and regulatory challenges, opportunities for European startups, and strategies for creating media systems that audiences can trust. The session will spark discussion and highlight innovative approaches. Afterwards, the audience is invited to a meet & greet with the speakers in the “Recharge Room.”

Only 50% of the East German population still has confidence in journalism, and for public broadcasting, the figure is as low as 41%. Is the crisis of confidence in journalism an East German phenomenon? And where does it come from?

A conversation with Holger Friedrich, the only East German publisher and editor of the Berliner Zeitung and now also Die Weltbühne, and with Olaf Jacobs, film and television producer from Berlin/Leipzig, whose production “It’s complicated: The East in the media” caused a stir in 2025.

The discussion will be moderated by Peter Effenberg, head of the MediaTech Hub Conference.

An invitation to critically reflect on how the media shapes reality – and what role origin, perspective, and power structures play in this process.

Please note: This session is in german language. English translation is available as text on a screen. This session is open for  the general public. Ticketholders of MediaTech Hub Conference have free access. If you want to purchase a ticket for this session only, please click here.

The Danish film and TV industry is internationally acclaimed for its high-quality storytelling, minimalistic aesthetics, and strong emphasis on character-driven narratives. It gained global attention with movements like Dogme 95 and continues to produce influential creators. Danish crime dramas have found widespread international success, influencing global television trends. Currently, the industry is focusing on increased international co-productions and streaming partnerships, with platforms like Netflix and Viaplay investing heavily in Danish content.

#MTHCON25 welcomes Denmark as this years’s GUEST OF HONOUR with representatives from studios, production companies, broadcasters as well as young talents and startups.

The Danish film and TV industry is internationally acclaimed for its high-quality storytelling, minimalistic aesthetics, and strong emphasis on character-driven narratives. It gained global attention with movements like Dogme 95 and continues to produce influential creators. Danish crime dramas have found widespread international success, influencing global television trends. Currently, the industry is focusing on increased international co-productions and streaming partnerships, with platforms like Netflix and Viaplay investing heavily in Danish content.

#MTHCON25 welcomes Denmark as this years’s GUEST OF HONOUR with representatives from studios, production companies, broadcasters as well as young talents and startups.

Join us for an exciting afternoon at the MediaTech Hub Startup Demo Day, where the spotlight shines on the most promising startups from Brandenburg’s leading innovation ecosystem. This high-level panel discussion will explore why MediaTech is the investment space of the future—and why Brandenburg is the place to be. The event presents the vibrant energy of the MediaTech Hub Potsdam as one of Germany’s key startup centers

Eight standout startups from the MediaTech Hub Potsdam take to the #MTHCON stage, presenting solutions that rethink how media is created, delivered, and experienced. From ethical AI to immersive audio and data-driven journalism, each team brings a bold new perspective to MediaTech:

Anita is the AI research platform for legal professionals – delivering reliable, hallucination-free answers with exact source references for stress-free, efficient workflows.

BrandPatrol makes brand consistency measurable. Its AI audits content across channels and helps teams stay on-brand with every message and visual.

Darc delivers tailored data and research services for investigative teams – agile, independent, and powered by the OpenAleph platform.

EINBLIQ.IO is the autopilot for streaming-provider quality. It spots, diagnoses, and fixes QoE issues in real time, boosting viewer satisfaction while slashing ops and support effort for video platforms.

Find-Your-Software by Sectorlens is an AI-powered platform that matches company needs with the right enterprise software – fast, tailored, and transparent.

Nound delivers expertly curated music production content from industry professionals – condensed into short, focused learning units. Offers inspiration and practical skills through distraction-free micro-learning.

xounds is the AI-powered platform for authentic audio erotica – anonymous, inclusive, and built around ethical, consent-driven moderation.