Examining the intersection of politics, technology, and society, Disruption Network Lab exposes the misconduct and wrongdoing of the powerful.

Disruption Network Lab is an ongoing platform of events and research focused on the intersection of politics, technology and society. We are a Berlin-based nonprofit organisation in Germany (Disruption Network Lab e. V.) that has since 2014 organised participatory, interdisciplinary, international events at the intersection of human rights and technology with the objective of strengthening freedom of speech, and exposing the misconduct and wrongdoing of the powerful. We develop work that advocates for the globally marginalised.

Disruption Network Lab organises inter-disciplinary conferences at the interface of scholarship and politics and local meetups throughout the year.

The goal of the Disruption Network Lab is to present and generate new possible routes of social and political action within the framework of digital culture and information technology, shedding light on interventions that provoke political and social change. We offer a platform of discussion for whistleblowers, human right advocates, artists, hackers, journalists, lawyers and activists to present their experience, their research and their actions – with the objective to share ideas and visions for a free Internet and a modern democracy, and with the aim to strengthen human rights values and freedom of speech.

The Disruption Network Lab takes shape through a series of international conferences at Studio 1, Kunstquartier Bethanien in Berlin, and at other venues in the world. The curatorial methodology brings together a montage of practices, as well as of fieldwork, to create a network based on the analysis of multiple points of view. The programme is developed through keynote events, presentations, and debates. Our past programme covered topics such as the drone war, whistleblowing, counter-surveillance, and artistic and activist strategies in times of increased geopolitical control. By connecting and bringing in dialogue experts that unfold inner structures of political, economical and technological systems, we promote in-depth understanding of digital culture in everyday life and society.

The Disruption Network Lab programme is run and curated by Tatiana Bazzichelli (Founder & Director), who works together with her team.

The “Activation” programme consists of regular local meetups throughout the year at STATE Studio in Berlin and a community conference at the end of the year. Established in 2019 by Lieke Ploeger and Nada Bakr, “Activation” focuses on extending and connecting our regular programme and network with social and cultural communities active in both Berlin and abroad, highlighting different ways of possible direct participation and engagement with our topics. The community programme is curated by Nada Bakr.

Board members of the Disruption Network Lab e. V.: Tatiana Bazzichelli (Board Chair), Elena Veljanovska (Deputy Board Memeber), Lorin Decarli (Deputy Board Member).