The European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) 2024, held in Vilnius, Lithuania, has taken on the ambitious role of trying to design a way forward in the digital transformation. This year’s discussions revolved around the main theme “Balancing innovation and regulation”, aiming to find a solution to the democracies and human rights being at risk of disinformation, cybersecurity threats, and the rise of new risks. The answers, according to the conference speakers, lie in adopting a human-centric approach to internet regulation.
Is regulation key to a successful digital transition?
The challenges of the digital era highlight the urgent need for cohesive global regulatory frameworks and standards. EuroDIG committed to advancing the Global Digital Compact (GDC), which is set to outline principles, objectives and actions for advancing an open, free, secure and human-centered digital future for all, while advocating for the preservation of the multistakeholder governance model. Regulation is seen as an instrument to ensure protection of users, especially the vulnerable groups, ensuring non-discrimination, transparency, and legitimacy. Irena Guidikova, Head of Democratic Institutions and Freedoms Department, Council of Europe said that “Self-regulation was, in the early days of the Internet, the go-to approach, however a few years on, we saw that self-regulation is not really working.”
This call for regulation seems in contrast to the plan of the new Von der Leyen Commission which is set to focus on implementation rather than regulation, but then again, the EU has been at the forefront of digital policy regulation in recent years. For example, the Data Governance Act and the Data Act, seek to balance data exploration with privacy protection, reflecting European values of privacy and transparency. The European values enshrined in GDPR are being adopted elsewhere, both because of EU influence and because of recognition of their validity. The Digital Markets Act (DMA) will also have extraterritorial implications on users who rely on non-EU messaging services, bringing interoperability standards into the discussion.
Furthermore, next year marking the 20th anniversary of the World Summit on Information Society, which had a vision to establish a “people-centered, inclusive and development-oriented information society” for harnessing the potential of information and communication technologies for sustainable development, the participants still called for an effective implementation of human rights frameworks online and to address the lack of awareness of these frameworks. A concerted multistakeholder effort is crucial to a) help develop a clear and robust legal framework, b) ensure a proactive role of civil society in influencing discourse, shaping and monitoring implementation, and c) emphasize the social responsibility of the private sector and its duty to respect the rights of users.
Non-regulatory solutions
- Digital skills: Enhancing digital skills is critical to ensure cybersecurity. As cyber threats become more sophisticated, international cooperation and stakeholder trust are essential for developing resilient digital systems that effectively protect users. Initiatives like Martel¨s project INPACE, which is set to establish cooperation in the realm of digital skills between EU and the Indo-Pacific highlight the importance of global collaboration in addressing these challenges. By enhancing cybersecurity education and promoting comprehensive cybersecurity training we can build robust systems that safeguard against evolving threats and maintain public trust in the digital age. Central to effective strategies is focusing on people, which includes enhancing digital skills in public administrations through mandatory training. Key challenges involve bridging skill gaps and addressing regulatory barriers. Collaborative projects like Lithuanian GovTech Labs illustrate how cities can innovate by testing new policies and technologies.
- Connectivity infrastructure: The digital divide can be effectively narrowed with affordable connectivity infrastructure, as demonstrated by public-private partnerships that lower the costs of extending internet access to rural areas. Beyond enhancing connectivity, services must be designed with simplicity in mind, ensuring they are easily accessible and require minimal expertise. Despite these efforts, current network infrastructure and computing capabilities still fall short of providing universal internet access within the EU. Challenges such as investment pressures, low conversion rates, and the fragmentation of hardware and software hinder long-term technological progress and digital inclusion. Addressing these issues is crucial for advancing digital equity and ensuring widespread access to essential online services. Martel supports the development of high-quality infrastructure in several of its projects, which focus on the development of 6G networks, such as 6G-NTN or 6G4Society.
- Open Source for Sustainability: Adopting a sustainability-by-design approach involves integrating environmental considerations into technology and using digital solutions to promote sustainability. This means focusing on the Internet itself by developing greener websites, protocols, and standards. Embracing the concept of digital commons—shared, sustainable digital resources—is crucial. This includes supporting practices like operating system diversity, and Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). By aligning technology with sustainability and digital commons principles, we can advance an eco-friendly and equitable digital future. Martel Innovate supports efforts to make the internet a more equitable and sustainable space through its participation in the NGI Commons project, which aims to develop a Strategic agenda for the EU to support the future development of the digital commons.
In conclusion, EuroDIG 2024 has underscored the importance of embracing a human-centric approach to internet governance. The values championed by Martel Innovate—digital sovereignty, trust, d and sustainability—are crucial for shaping a future where the internet serves as a force for positive global change. As we move forward, integrating these principles into internet governance will be essential for creating a digital environment that is open, equitable, and aligned with the core values of our connected world.
