Most of my talks cover topics from my day-to-day work at Nextcloud or my volunteery work at FSFE. If you are interested in topics around Free Software, digital sovereignty or the social, political and technical implications of modern IT, feel free to reach out to me.
"If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."Isaac Newton
Digital Sovereignty in Education
I had the opportunity to speak about digital sovereignty at this year’s Learntec. Beyond the usual arguments for why digital sovereignty matters, I emphasized an additional perspective that is especially important in education: empowerment. We have become accustomed to treating software as something created far away, something we simply use as it is. If the next generation is to regain control over their digital lives, it’s essential they understand that software is not fixed. It can be explored, modified, and adapted. Learning to tinker with and shape technology is a key step toward true digital sovereignty.
Digital Sovereignty or Digital Dependency
According to innovation theory, success depends not only on having a great idea but also on introducing it at the right time. Since the 1980s, the Free Software movement (aka Open Source) has emphasized independence and control over our digital lives. In recent years, shifting political circumstances have led to growing recognition of these principles — now widely discussed under the term “Digital Sovereignty.” Today, we have a unique opportunity to drive positive change in both public institutions and private enterprises. Let’s seize it!
Your Infrastructure; Your Rules
Operating an on‑premise solution differs fundamentally from providing software-as-a-service — especially when it comes to deployment and operation. On‑premise solution must empower the organization itself to operate the service efficiently within its own technical and organizational context. This requires flexibility to adapt to diverse infrastructures, existing expertise, and established workflows. Nextcloud provides everything you need to run the service the way you want it.
Nextcloud - Did you know?
Over the years, Nextcloud became a powerful content collaboration platform. Even long-time Nextcloud users sometimes overlook many of the (often) small but really powerful features. In order to change this, it was time for a "Nextcloud - Did you know?" talk.
Nextcloud Hub
A introduction about the current state of Nextcloud given at RigaComm with the sub-title with the focus on how to run a GDPR compliant content collaboration platform in your organization.
The next 40 years of Free Software
This talk was given at the GNU 40th Anniversary. It was an honor to be invited as the only representative from a Free Software company. The presentation offers an optimistic outlook on the future of Free Software. Free Software originally emerged as a positive, forward-looking response to the rise of proprietary software. Today, we face new challenges — from artificial intelligence to mobile operating systems and beyond. How can we preserve this positive spirit in addressing them, and how can Nextcloud contribute to that mission?
Nextcloud Talk
Real-time communication in a file sync&share environment. Nextcloud evolved from a file sync & share solution to a full featured but still modular collaboration platform. Nextcloud Talk is a component which becomes more and more popular and enables Nextcloud users to perform 1-to-1 or group chats, video- and audio-calls. This presentation gives a introduction to the latest version of Nextcloud Talk, released together with Nextcloud 18.
New Challenges for Free Software business models
Over the years, various Free Software business models have emerged — yet today, many of the most successful ones are being challenged by the rise of large cloud providers. What does this shift mean for the future economic sustainability and success of Free Software?
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Using strong Copyleft to build a sustainable business
Many Free Software projects use non-protective licenses and then build additional governance structures around the project to welcome a diverse community of contributors — from enterprises and NGOs to individual developers. At Nextcloud, we take a different approach. The legal foundation for everyone is defined by the GNU AGPLv3, ensuring a level playing field where all contributors share the same rights and responsibilities. This clear legal framework allows us to maintain a leaner, more transparent, and highly efficient governance structure.
Freie Software - Eine Einführung
In diesem Wintersemester organisiert die Hochschulgruppe “Freie Software und Freies Wissen Dresden” die Ringvorlesung “Freie Software und Freies Wissen als Beruf” an der HTW Dresden. Im Rahmen dieser Vorlesung wurde ich eingeladen eine Einführung in die Geschichte und Philosophie der Freien Software zu halten.
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Software Freedom in the Cloud
Originally, Free Software was defined around the user’s rights regarding software running on their own computers — rights that were tied to possession of a copy of the software. In the era of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), however, many people use software that runs on other people’s computers and never actually receive a copy themselves. What does this shift mean for the principles of Free Software, and how can the concept of software freedom be reinterpreted in today’s world of cloud computing?
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Digitale Abhängigkeit vermeiden
Wie kann man mit Freier Software nachhaltig für eine gute Bildung und eine starke und unabhängige Wirtschaft sorgen, dass war mein Thema auf den Fellbacher Weltwochen
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