By Olaf Berberich
It started with an idea: a search engine that understands not just keywords, but entire sentences. A technology designed to preserve diversity, not stifle it. It was 1999, and I held the patent for a „high-performance semantic search engine“ in my hands. What was intended as an opportunity for digital democracy became the first stone in a system that excluded me for years—a system I now call the „state within a state.“
The Invisible State
Imagine developing a technology that could make the internet more democratic. You invest, you fight, you believe in progress. But suddenly, innovation is no longer the focus—power is. My case is not an isolated incident; it is a symptom: In Germany, digitalization has created a parallel system where scalable business models take precedence over societal relevance. My work, my patents, and my livelihood were systematically undermined—through targeted disinformation, economic sabotage, and institutional ignorance.
When Mannesmann Mobilfunk was taken over by Vodafone, it was more than just a business deal. It was a signal: Those who do not fit into the global scaling scheme are pushed aside. A single manipulated article was enough to destroy my economic viability. Since then, I have been fighting not only for my rights but also for the question: Who actually protects those who advocate for a digital society that preserves diversity and democracy?
The Illusion of Participation
My professional books were included in the library of the German Bundestag. I became the head of the North Rhine-Westphalia state expert committee on „Digital Democracy,“ which I founded within the FDP. But since 2001, the system has prevented me from earning money or receiving a salary.
When I invited founders to the EU-D-S project as an expert at start2grow in 2025—a European digital system that distributes value creation fairly—my account was blocked after 24 years of voluntary commitment. Without warning. Without explanation.
The irony? While I was working to preserve the constitution in the digital world, I was denied access to that very world. The Federal Constitutional Court, the last instance that could have stopped this structural failure, remained silent. My evidence—documents showing how copyrights were violated and democratic processes undermined—was never considered. No one can imagine being convicted and expropriated in a constitutional state without a hearing. So, is it also inconceivable for the judiciary to provide justified compensation for this?
The Constitutional Complaint: A Call for Justice
I have filed my 7th constitutional complaint . I am demanding not only compensation for the disadvantages I have suffered but also the restoration of my constitutional rights. I am calling for an institution that protects projects with societal structural relevance—projects like GISAD, which I aim to establish.
Because this is not about me. It is about a system that punishes innovators who do not fit into the America-friendly power structure. It is about a digital society where commitment to democracy is not rewarded with economic ruin.
AI as an Opportunity—Not a Threat
I advocate for European AI, not as a replacement for lawyers, but as a tool for greater participation. AI can help pave legal paths that are not even accessible with expensive law firms today. It can create transparency where opacity currently reigns. But this requires courage—the courage to question old structures and forge new paths.
My story shows: Those who advocate for digital democracy need protection. Otherwise, digitalization will remain a playground for the few—and a trap for everyone else.
It is time to dismantle the „state within a state.“ It is time for a digital constitution that includes everyone. It is time for a European Digital System (EU-D-S).