Category: Assorted

Soaring Search Results on Bing and Yahoo!

Dear Network,

As of recent results, my name yields approximately 41,800 entries via Microsoft Bing and — perhaps even more strikingly — 78,500 entries through Yahoo! Search. These figures underscore the discoverability and resonance of my work within the domains of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE), counter-hate speech initiatives, and the broader landscape of disinformation and misinformation mitigation. This visibility affirms that targeted search queries reliably surface my contributions across these critical fields via the two search engines.

Complementing this digital footprint is a steadily growing professional network: on this day, I am followed by nearly 8,500 professionals on LinkedIn, each with direct and convenient access to my published insights: analyses, articles, documents, audio, and video.

Furthermore, it is worth recalling that by the end of July 2025, my portfolio of ten websites had collectively amassed 67,921,258 views spanning the period from 2017 to 2024 (compare under ‘Featured’ on my LinkedIn profile). I see this as proof of engagement and of the relevance that the content curated for about seven years keeps attracting – although oddly enough, many of the visits might be carried out by search crawlers.

Please continue supporting my work.

Sincerely,
Thorsten Koch, MA, PgDip
24 September 2025

Policyinstitute.net: A Digitally-Driven Think Tank

Policyinstitute.net operates in a markedly distinct manner from many conventional policy institutions. Whereas traditional think tanks often align themselves with specific ideological frameworks — be they liberal, conservative, libertarian, or otherwise — Policyinstitute.net prioritizes pragmatic engagement over partisan advocacy. Its core mission centers on countering violent extremism (CVE), promoting regional development, and advancing humanitarian objectives.

Hybrid organizational status

Policyinstitute.net maintains a hybrid formal status under German law, which reflects its innovative and unconventional structure:

• It operates as a non-profit business entity rather than a registered association (e.V.)
• The organization was founded by journalist Thorsten Koch and is legally registered under his name as an independent entrepreneur
• Despite its business registration, Policyinstitute.net functions as a non-governmental organization (NGO) with a clear mission

Distinctive operational model

Policyinstitute.net sets itself apart through a combination of specialized content and regional focus:

• It produces high-quality, policy-relevant content tailored to both academic audiences and field practitioners
• The think tank maintains an active digital presence, regularly publishing policy briefs, promoting analytical posts and articles on current affairs
• Its primary geographic focus includes the United Kingdom, Germany, and the northern regions of Africa, with particular emphasis on the Sahel
• With over 21,000 posts on LinkedIn and almost 68 million views across its websites, Policyinstitute.net has become a digital outreach powerhouse

Volunteer-driven engagement

The organization operates through a collaborative, volunteer-based model that mirrors the participatory ethos of traditional NGOs:

• It engages selected volunteers in content creation and research, thereby fostering a dynamic and inclusive operational culture
• This bottom-up approach complements top-down policy mechanisms, enabling multi-layered impact, especially on civil society

Mission and strategic focus

At its core, Policyinstitute.net is a lean, digitally sophisticated think tank with a humanitarian orientation. Its thematic priorities include:

• Soft security and countering violent extremism (CVE)
• Prevention of digital hate speech
• Mitigation of disinformation and misinformation
• Capacity building and institutional strengthening in the African Sahel

In a nutshell

Unlike legacy think tanks that rely on hierarchical structures, Policyinstitute.net embraces a digital-first, agile model. While it may not yet possess the entrenched clout of long-established institutions, it occupies a unique and increasingly relevant niche within the global policy ecosystem. Its operational flexibility and responsiveness to emerging challenges allow it to exert meaningful influence across multiple regions.

Through targeted digital advocacy and strategic content dissemination, notably, Policyinstitute.net has exerted considerable influence on regional political discourse, particularly in parts of Europe and in Northern Africa. With its contributions reaching millions of views – and through sustained engagement across social media platforms -, the think tank shapes narratives, supports civil society actors, and contributes to the development of resilient societies.

07 August 2025
(Compiled, before edition, with the help of Microsoft Copilot)

Review on Soft Security: Countering Extremism, Hate Speech, and Dis-/Misinformation

The most popular LinkedIn posts on the topics of counter-extremism, of countering hate speech and dis-/misinformation posted by Thorsten Koch, MA, PgDip:

preventhate.org
strategism.org
counter-terrorism.org

Policyinstitute.net and its Status as an NGO

Recently, I was pointed to an essential matter: what is the legal status of Policyinstitute.net? I had never called into question that I have founded, and have been running, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). To make this evident, it will take for me to explain, in a few words, how an organization, which is not a German registered association or foundation, can absolutely be an NGO and a think tank involved in preventing and countering extremism and hate speech, matters of society and politics, as well as capacity building in the Sahel, as is the case with Policyinstitute.net.

Registered with the German Financial Authorities

A journalist, I am registered as an independent entrepreneur and holder of a so-called ‘small enterprise,’ by the competent financial administration. The operations of Policyinstitute.net, which I have founded in this capacity, fall under the relevant German legal rules and regulations. Obviously, the website Policyinstitute.net, which has given the name to the think tank (founded in 2017), is registered in the framework of the media laws in vigor. This includes our official domain names. These are organized in a hierarchical structure. For you, this means that when you visit the Policyinstitute.net landing page, you will find links to all projects of the think tank which form our portfolio. To date, these projects are the following:

• counter-terrorism.org
• preventhate.org
• think-tank-talk.org
• sahara-sahel.org

An Independent Legal Entity Working with Volunteers

Quite importantly, with regard to its status as an NGO, the legal entity Policyinstitute.net is not affiliated with any government. Nor is it linked to any institution which might in any way fall under the category of government administration.

Finally, during the past years, Policyinstitute.net has been working with a number of select volunteers. I am, thus, not the only person involved in the ongoing operations of the NGO, which brings it closer to the practice of organizations registered as associations under the German law. While the legal form is that of a business – all things considered, the character of Policyinstitute.net, in practice, is almost identical to that of a non-profit association.

Conclusion

Policyinstitute.net is, hence, a business rather than an association or a foundation, but a non-profit business, just as it is an NGO and a think tank. At this time, it entertains four topical websites, apart from its landing page. All of these four can be regarded as specific ventures or projects of the overarching think tank.

Hitherto, more than a few persons have tried to classify Policyinstitute.net. I hope this post has clarified things for these, as for all others interested. I am available, via LinkedIn Messaging, for any further questions.

Thorsten Koch, MA, PgDip
18 December 2022
(last updated 20 May 2024)