AI scandal rocks the German media

https://www.dw.com/en/ai-scandal-rocks-the-german-media/a-77606407

Publish Date: 2026-06-21 11:38:00

Source Domain: www.dw.com

The Tagesspiegel scandal: The Berlin-based newspaper Tagesspiegel faced a major scandal after discovering that their former publisher and editor-in-chief, Stephan-Andreas Casdorff, used AI to compose opinion pieces. Casdorff apologized for the breach of editorial guidelines.
Consequences for Casdorff’s opinions: The editorial leadership removed several of Casdorff’s articles from publication pending a detailed examination and suspended his columns until further notice.
Debate on using AI in journalism: The scandal has sparked discussions about the ethical implications of using AI in journalism, particularly regarding the transparency and authorship of opinion pieces.
Views from media researchers: Media researcher Vera Katzenberger emphasized the importance of trust in journalistic integrity and criticized the potential interference of AI in shaping public opinion, calling for clear rules and guidelines on the use of AI in journalism.
Editorial responsibilities: The German media landscape stresses that all responsibilities for editorial content lie with the newsrooms, regardless of how the content was produced.
Guidance from the German Press Council: The German Press Council highlighted the need for accountability for editorial content but does not deem labelling AI-generated texts as necessary, considering it not vital for ethical evaluations.
Perspectives from Axel Springer: Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer, defended the use of AI-generated texts and criticized the FAZ for removing an AI-generated piece, arguing against rejecting new technologies.
AI as a tool vs. AI authorship: Katzenberger urged journalists to view AI as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for human capabilities, stressing the need for transparent handling of AI mistakes to maintain trust and professional development.