Peter Thiel to receive Axel Springer Award amid controversy

The Axel Springer media group will present the Axel Springer Award to US billionaire and investor Peter Thiel in Berlin on September 24. Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner described Thiel as ‘the probably most influential German of our time,’ praising his role in driving innovation through PayPal, early investments in Facebook, and the co-founding of Palantir.

The decision has sparked significant internal and external controversy. Over 120 journalists from Axel Springer-owned outlets, including Politico and Business Insider, signed a letter protesting the honor. They argue that celebrating Thiel—a libertarian and right-wing thinker who supported Donald Trump—conflicts with the company’s commitment to press freedom. Critics also pointed to Thiel’s history of using litigation against news organizations, specifically his role in the lawsuit that led to the bankruptcy of Gawker.

Additionally, Thiel’s company, Palantir, remains a subject of debate in Germany due to the use of its ‘Gotham’ data analysis software by various state police authorities. While critics raise concerns regarding data privacy and dependence on US corporations, Döpfner defended the award, characterizing Thiel as a ‘courageous spirit of contradiction’ and a ‘protector of democracy.’