The recent actions of Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg highlight the growing threat posed by big tech to European democracy. Their control over digital platforms and algorithms raises concerns about manipulation, political interference, and the spread of harmful content. This article calls for urgent action from EU leaders to protect democracy and ensure a secure digital future for Europe.
Musk and Zuckerberg's recent actions signal a concerning trend for Europe's future. Musk's attempts at direct political interference, such as suggesting the overthrow of the UK government and endorsing a far-right candidate in Germany, highlight the danger of concentrating digital media and infrastructure power in the hands of a few US tech oligarchs.
This echoes the control US big tech wields over platforms like X, which was formerly known as Twitter, raising fears that Europe is under attack from both the west and the east.In the past four months, Russia has nearly succeeded in manipulating elections within an EU member state. This situation demands immediate and decisive action from Ursula von der Leyen and the EU security chief, Henna Virkkunen. US and Chinese tech giants control the algorithms that shape European perceptions of the world through our social media feeds. Meta's recent announcement regarding the elimination of fact-checkers, while presented as a solution, is a mere distraction from the core issue: their algorithms themselves amplify harmful content. Meta acknowledges this, stating they can't remove all harmful material but can minimize its spread. Yet, Zuckerberg's focus on boosting political content further exacerbates the problem. To safeguard democracy, Von der Leyen and Virkkunen must prioritize three crucial actions. Firstly, accelerate the enforcement of GDPR rules against big tech. The GDPR prohibits the processing of intimate personal data, such as political views and beliefs, without explicit user consent. Enforcing these regulations would significantly disrupt big tech's algorithms, which rely heavily on such data. Secondly, the Data Protection Commission (DPC), Ireland's lead data protection authority, should take a proactive role in investigating and taking action against big tech data misuse across Europe. Thirdly, national authorities should prepare to regulate or even exclude big tech algorithms from their markets if they resist compliance. This could be achieved through existing legal instruments like the audiovisual media services directive (AVMSD). In the long run, Brussels should dismantle regulatory barriers within the EU to foster the growth of European tech startups. Europe also needs to develop a digital infrastructure independent of foreign powers. The EU's decisive response to Russia's energy blackmail demonstrates its ability to act decisively in times of crisis. Von der Leyen must act swiftly and boldly to protect Europe's democracy. This is a fight that cannot be ignored
Big Tech Democracy EU Algorithms Data Protection GDPR Russia China Elon Musk Mark Zuckerberg Social Media Regulation
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