The German Bundestag is a legislative machine. Every week, new drafts from the federal government arrive at the parliament, which need to be read and decided upon. While the specialist politicians in the committees might still have an overview, the general public is often left behind. The coalition had promised to launch a “digital legislative portal” where even laypeople could get an overview. However, this is still missing.
This situation frustrated Sabrina Gehder, who reports monthly on new legislative initiatives in her podcast. She took it upon herself to tap into publicly accessible sources, such as the Open Data API of the federal government, the Bundestag website, and RSS feeds of the committees, and to process them automatically. The result is the great project, Bundestagszusammenfasser, with which you can trace the progress of each federal law. “This is my contribution to the discussion on transparent legislation: This is how I would imagine a legislative portal that was promised to me in the coalition agreement,” she explains on the site.
Whenever possible, Gehder also uses generative AI. She automatically evaluates committee agendas pulled as PDF files with GPT-4. The summaries of the legislative texts are also generated in a specific structure by the language model. However, Gehder edits the AI-generated texts and checks the facts. She asks for donations for her project because, for example, significant costs arise from the GPT-API calls.
Independent journalism is essential, and projects like Bundestagszusammenfasser aim to make legislative processes more transparent and accessible to everyone. By using technology and AI, Sabrina Gehder has created a tool that helps people understand how laws are made and what changes are being proposed. This kind of transparency is crucial for democracy, as it allows citizens to be informed and engaged with the legislative process.
In today’s digital age, access to information is more important than ever. Projects like this not only provide valuable insights but also encourage others to seek out and share information. Sabrina Gehder’s initiative is a step towards a more informed and participatory society, where people can understand the decisions that affect their lives.
While there is still a long way to go in terms of making legislative processes fully transparent and accessible, efforts like Bundestagszusammenfasser show that it is possible to make a difference. By leveraging technology and AI, we can create tools that help bridge the gap between the government and the people.
The demand for transparency and accessibility in government processes is growing, and initiatives like this are leading the way. They show that with dedication and innovation, we can create systems that benefit everyone. Sabrina Gehder’s work is a testament to the power of individual action and the potential of technology to bring about positive change.
As we move forward, it is important to continue supporting and developing projects that promote transparency and engagement. By doing so, we can ensure that our democratic processes remain open and accountable to all citizens.