Digital association publishes digital policy check for the Bundestag election

The digital association Bitkom has published the "Bitkomat", a guide to digital policy issues, ahead of the upcoming federal elections. It works in a similar way to the Wahl-O-Mat of the Federal Agency for Civic Education. The online tool allows users to compare their own positions with those of the parties currently represented in the Bundestag. However, there is no evaluation for the other parties standing for election.

Bitkomat comprises a total of 20 questions, which are evenly divided between the four areas of competitiveness, digital infrastructure and key technologies, digital society and a modern and resilient state. For example, the tool asks for opinions on computer science as a compulsory school subject, the establishment of dedicated data centers for digital sovereignty and the introduction of a digital ministry. Deutsche Telekom CEO Timotheus Höttges also called for this. Bitkom surveyed all parties represented in the Bundestag, with the CDU/CSU parliamentary group answering jointly.

Digital policy in quiz format

Similar to the Wahl-O-Mat, users can select an agree, disagree or neutral position for each thesis. Alternatively, users can skip a thesis to exclude it from the evaluation. Each question also includes an explanation that provides further information on the respective topic. It is also possible to give double weighting to topics that seem particularly important. Finally, the tool compares your own preferences with the answers of the parliamentary groups.

The aim of the project is to offer citizens a decision-making aid for digital policy issues. "Digitalization will determine Germany's future and competitiveness. The Bitkomat taps into the most important topics of digital policy," explains Bitkom President Ralf Wintergerst. The tool was available for the first time for the 2021 federal elections. According to Bitkom, the association has paid attention to data economy during programming and does not want to store or make further use of the answers provided.

Founded in 1999, the Bitkom association publicly represents the economic and political interests of more than 2,000 members, the majority of whom belong to the IT and telecommunications industry. In the run-up to the German parliamentary elections, a study by the digital association showed that a majority of Germans fear election manipulation from abroad.

(sfe)