Ann-Kathrin Watolla

Ann-Kathrin Watolla serves as Senior Researcher & Project Lead at the Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG), where she leads the DSA research network initiative to monitor and improve Digital Services Act implementation through interdisciplinary collaboration since April 2024.

Her academic foundation spans linguistics, cultural studies, media studies, and educational sciences, culminating in a doctorate from Hamburg University of Technology examining communicative reality construction in digital contexts and associated teacher competencies.

Watolla's research critically investigates digital communication dynamics at the society-technology-education intersection, with concentrated expertise in disinformation ecosystems, platform governance frameworks, and societal impacts of digitalization. She actively analyzes regulatory mechanisms like the DSA and platform roles in democratic integrity.

Analysis of her publications reveals consistent thematic threads: evolving reality construction in digital environments, competence requirements for educators, and urgent regulatory challenges posed by disinformation—particularly regarding electoral processes and platform accountability.

As an active public intellectual, she co-organizes events like the Digitaler Salon and GIZ micro-credential workshops, while presenting at major forums including re:publica and University:Future Festival. Her media engagements with Tagesschau and WDR 5 translate complex regulatory issues for broader audiences.