Martin Fertmann

Martin Fertmann is a Junior Researcher specializing in Content Moderation & International Law at the Leibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans Bredow Institute. He is also affiliated with the Albrecht Mendelssohn Bartholdy Graduate School of Law at the University of Hamburg. Since joining the institute in October 2020, he has been actively involved in the second research program on 'Regulatory Structures and Rule Formation in Digital Communication Spaces,' examining how platform companies exercise regulatory power within digital communication environments.

His educational background includes law studies at the University of Hamburg and the China-EU School of Law in Beijing. During his academic training, he worked as a research assistant for international law firms and volunteered at the Cyber Law Clinic at the University of Hamburg, establishing early expertise in digital legal issues.

Fertmann's research investigates the intersection of private platform regulation and international human rights standards, with particular focus on content moderation systems, transparency in automated decision-making, and governance structures for managing disinformation. His work combines rigorous legal analysis with practical insights into platform operations, addressing critical questions about how democratic values can be integrated into private platform governance. He frequently explores innovative institutional designs such as platform councils that could better represent public interests in rule-making processes.

His publication record demonstrates a rapidly developing research agenda addressing contemporary challenges in digital governance, with particular attention to emerging regulatory frameworks like the EU's Digital Services Act. Fertmann's work spans academic publications, policy reports, and public commentary, reflecting his commitment to translating research into practical insights for both policymakers and the public.

• Fellow, Transatlantic Digital Debates program (Global Public Policy Institute, Berlin, and New America's Open Technology Institute, Washington)
• Member, EU COST Action Global Digital Human Rights Network
• Research Sprint Participant, Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society (Harvard University)
• Research stays at LIP6 Institute (Sorbonne University and CNRS) and Norwegian Center for Human Rights (University of Oslo)

As elected spokesperson for young researchers alongside Verena Albert, Fertmann represents doctoral students' interests at the institute. He has co-organized academic conferences on technology regulation transparency and internet governance, demonstrating his commitment to scholarly exchange and policy dialogue in the rapidly evolving field of digital platform governance.