To safeguard its democratic and social model based on freedom, equality and inclusion, the EU must resist attempts to water down its pioneering legislation regulating digital space.

With growing pressure from parts of the tech industry to dilute hard-won regulatory advances, EU leaders and civil society are calling for unity to protect Europe’s democratic values and digital sovereignty, as highlighted by the speakers at the debate on Democracy and Digitalisation held during the EESC plenary session on 29 April.

The debate came days after the EU fined Apple EUR 500 million and Meta EUR 200 million for breaching the EU’s digital rules – the first penalties issued under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which regulates how tech giants operate in the EU market. Together with the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, the DMA forms a digital rulebook shaping the EU’s tech governance.

‘The EU’s leadership in the digital domain is more crucial than ever – especially at a time when parts of the tech industry are beginning to push back against regulatory efforts,’ said EESC President Oliver Röpke. ‘The DSA and DMA have the potential to become historic milestones – provided that the EU, Member States, civil society and the business community remain committed to their robust implementation.'

‘With transparency and rules in the digital space, we aim to prevent the interests and profits of a few from prevailing over the public interest,’ said MEP Brando Benifei, co-rapporteur on the AI Act.

The discriminatory potential of AI is well documented. Iverna McGowan, from the Office of the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, pointed out that there have been cases where algorithmic decision-making unfairly penalised people, such as candidates being downgraded due to maternity leave.

Udbar Tiwari, Vice-President for Strategy and Global Affairs at the Signal Foundation, warned against regulatory loopholes that weaken encryption. Encryption remains under threat from global legislative developments – such as client-side scanning – which could turn personal devices into surveillance tools.

The speakers concluded that, if used responsibly, digital technologies can create enormous opportunities. Left unchecked, they can cause lasting damage to democracy and the EU’s core values. (ll)