The first Digital Tech Alliance Assembly took place last week in Brussels, partly on the initiative of Commons Network. Various European political parties, non-profit organizations, think tanks, and MEP’s are joining forces to promote digital security in the European Union.
The Digital Tech Alliance gave organizations such as Alliance4Europe, the Joint Research Centre, the Centre for Future Generations, Mozilla, European Digital Rights, Digital Commons EDIC, Simplito the opportunity to share their vision and future plans with one another.
Sitting at the table with MEP Axel Voss (EPP), Omri Preiss, and Antonio Grasso, Alliance co-chair Sophie Bloemen stated: “It is no longer business as usual.” The practices of dominant tech providers are at odds with the public interest, even as they control our basic infrastructure.
But how do you move away from standard American technology that functions as a trusted service provider? “People are not naturally inclined to swim against the tide,” writes Bert Hubert
In addition, we must draw strength and inspiration from the fact that digital democracy is not yet completely gone, even though it is often thought to be so because of all the misinformation and declining mental health caused by social media, says Voss. “We must take digital sovereignty seriously and not try to regulate everything; there is simply no time.” That sense of urgency was shared by other speakers.
The Alliance is now working together to establish a secure digital infrastructure within the EU as quickly as possible. This includes exploring ways to better regulate social media and how to build a common language for technological sovereignty. That is where the Alliance hopes to make an impact in order to resist undemocratic technologies.
Read the column of Bert Hubert for more info
Listen here to the BNR radio episode with Sophie Bloemen (Dutch)