Dieter Brockmeyer is an author, journalist, co-founder, and director of innovation and time at the Diplomatic World Institute, which connects culture, commerce, politics, and diplomacy by fostering partnerships and forums that address global issues. ^[1][2]

Education

Brockmeyer graduated from Goethe University Frankfurt with an M.A. in Literature and Media Communications in 1988. ^[1]

Career

Brockmeyer began his career at the Institut für Medienentwicklung und Kommunikation (now F.A.Z. Institut) from February 1989 to October 1991, where he worked as a project manager and contributor. He was involved in developing new conference formats and regularly contributed to "Medien Kritik." Following this, he joined Medien Bulletin as a freelance editor and feature writer from April 1991 to August 1998, focusing on the media industry. From 1994 to 2009, Brockmeyer worked as a freelance editor and feature writer for Medien Aktuell, where he specialized in the media industry. Concurrently, from February 1994 to August 2001, he served as a correspondent for Germany and France at Multichannel News International. He later extended his role to include Television Europe and Television International work. During this period, he also contributed to Advanced Television from August 1996 to December 2001 as an editor specializing in the German TV market. ^[3][4]

From 1998 to 2000, Brockmeyer worked as a freelance media industry reporter for Thomson Reuters, covering the television sector. He then joined The Hollywood Reporter from January 2008 to November 2009, supporting the German office as a correspondent focusing on the cable and telecommunications industry. Between October 2008 and August 2013, he also served as a lecturer at Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, teaching current affairs in the media industry, emphasizing technology for journalism and PR students. Brockmeyer served on the executive board of the Ingrid zu Solms Stiftung, a foundation that awards prizes to outstanding young female scientists from July 2007 to October 2013. From June 2006 to July 2015, he contributed to Medien Bulletin, writing features on media industry topics. In addition, he chaired the global media forum at the Diplomatic Council (UNO reg.) from January 2014 to October 2018, where he focused on global discussions in the convergent media industries and launched the Global Media Talk on rheinmain.tv. ^[3][4]

From January 2014 to July 2017, Brockmeyer advised the Deutscher Verband für Post, Informationstechnologie und Telekommunikation (DVPT) on industry trends and the future of B2B and B2C communications. He also served as a jury member for the "Future Award," recognizing innovative student projects. From April 2008 to August 2020, he contributed TV channel profiles from the DACH region to C21 Media's Schedule Watch premium service. Brockmeyer has been the chairman of the multichannel money streams congress for the Electronic Retailing Association since January 2015, where he oversees the annual €lectronic Homeshopping Conference by ERA Europe. He wrote the "Future Change" column on digitalization challenges and solutions for the Diplomatic World from March 2017 to June 2019. ^[3][4]

Since July 2020, he has been a member of the executive board at the Alternative Development Organization. In May 2019, he co-founded the Diplomatic World Institute, where he serves as director of innovation & TIME, focusing on cultural and economic diplomacy for sustainable development. He also co-founded and co-hosts the Innovation Podcast "TODAY & TOMORROW" by Diplomatic World since January 2021. Additionally, he has been the principal at Medien Fach Dienste since January 1990, where his work revolves around the TV industry. ^[3][4]

Panels

Digital Identity

At the AIBC Europe Conference 2023, panelists Brockmeyer, Dr. Rachel O’Connell, Jean-Michel Azzopardi, and Galyna Podoprikhina discussed the mainstream adoption of digital identity. Dr. O’Connell introduced her work with Trust Elevate, focusing on eKYC for various age groups and emphasizing the importance of zero-knowledge proofs in identity verification. Podoprikhina from WH Partners highlighted the privacy and interoperability challenges associated with digital identity, noting the difficulty of managing multiple digital identities across platforms. Discussions covered the benefits and risks of digital identity, including the convenience of managing identities via apps and the associated security concerns. The panel also addressed the need for trust and education to foster adoption, particularly emphasizing the differences in digital identity implementation between Western and Eastern approaches. The conversation concluded with a focus on ethical considerations, such as reliability and inclusion for disadvantaged populations. ^[5]

Open Source Issues

At the AIBC Europe Conference 2023, the “Open Source Issues: Should AI be Regulated?” panel discussed whether AI should be regulated. Panelists included Brockmeyer, Cal Evans, Dr. Pavel Kulikov, and Dr. Joshua Ellul. They debated the effectiveness of current regulatory approaches, noting that legislation often lags behind technological advancements. Ellul emphasized the need to define what constitutes AI clearly and questioned whether regulation should focus on specific types of AI or software in general. He argued that open source and regulation are often at odds and suggested focusing regulation on sectors with safety-critical applications. Evans discussed the importance of assessing AI's functionality and ethical implications, highlighting that regulations might fall short due to a lack of understanding and rapid technological changes. Pell compared AI regulation to open-source software, advocating for similar principles. The consensus was that regulation should be sector-specific, ensuring safety without stifling innovation, and that clear, enabling frameworks could support more effective regulation. ^[6]

Health Equity

In the "Is Digital Succeeding In Creating Health Equity?" panel discussion at AIBC Europe 2022, experts explored the role of technology in advancing health equity. Panelists included Brockmeyer, Jeyla Sadikova, Clara Bauby, Alexander Voigt, and Dr. Arti Thapliyal. They highlighted the importance of equitable access to healthcare, emphasizing that technology must cater to diverse populations, including those with disabilities or language barriers. They discussed various technological solutions like multilingual e-labeling and voice-enabled services, which aim to enhance accessibility and inclusivity. Additionally, they examined challenges related to regulatory frameworks and the need for tailored solutions for different patient groups. Despite advancements, they noted that fragmented regulations and resistance from authorities often hinder technology’s potential. The panelists concluded that meaningful use of digital solutions and comprehensive regulations are essential for improving health equity. ^[7]

Ignoring Cryptocurrencies

At AIBC Europe 2022, Brockmeyer participated in the "Ignoring Cryptocurrencies Is Not An Option: Blockchain Risks And Solutions For Growth" panel, where panelists examined the increasing impact of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. Panelists Hubert Rachwalski, Josipa Majic Predin, Dr. Joshua Ellul, and Sergio Muscat noted that ignoring crypto was no longer viable due to its growing influence on finance, banking, and governance. They acknowledged that public perception had been negatively affected by incidents like the FTX crash, but the core community remained focused on improving the technology. The conversation emphasized the need for balanced regulation and warned against over-regulation based on outdated mindsets. Experts argued that while blockchain offered solutions to centralized control, it also introduced new risks related to code flaws and security. They highlighted the necessity of education and better tools to address these risks and called for greater public understanding and simplified access to crypto. The discussion concluded with a call for ongoing adaptation and vigilance in managing blockchain technology's potential and challenges. ^[8]

ID Regulations

At Malta Week 2021, Brockmeyer moderated the "Legal Compliance With Identification Regulations" panel, where panelists discussed challenges in adhering to identification regulations across various industries. Panelists Adrian Doerk, Frederic Ly, Peter Murry, and Pradeep Goel highlighted the complexities of compliance, particularly as regulations evolve slowly due to the involvement of multiple stakeholders, especially in Europe. Goel emphasized the necessity of regulatory compliance in healthcare, detailing how his company created a compliance matrix adaptable to different regulatory environments. Doerk discussed the current flaws in digital identity systems, including the need for more standardization and user-centricity. Murry highlighted the importance of know-your-customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) processes, stressing the need for dynamic and real-time identification approaches. Panelists agreed that regulation can be both an obstacle and a necessary ally, depending on how companies engage with it, emphasizing the importance of building trust and security in compliance practices. ^[9]