Policy

Since August 18, 2026, new legal requirements apply within the EU, aiming to facilitate and speed up cross-border access to electronic evidence used to investigate and prosecute criminal offences. As an online service provider, DENIC is in scope, too.

The focus was on: new global AI governance structures, the EU AI Act coming into force, and the geopolitical fragmentation of AI alliances.

Via DENIC's online domain lookup (WHOIS), everyone can find out whether a specific .DE domain is already registered, and who is its holder – provided that the registrant is a legal entity.

Around 500 fellows have made this interdisciplinary deep-dive programme a true role model. DENIC has been on board as main sponsor right from the start.

Focus topics in Q2 2026: The realignment of the IGF, the new WSIS architecture, and the fragmentation of global AI governance.