A Digital World Worth Living For
The securitization of digital technologies in the face of geostrategic competition presents a challenge to the European vision of a human-centric digital transformation. This paper makes suggestions for how an approach centered in human security and feminist foreign policy along with an updated vision of the network society can balance these hard power dynamics and contribute to a free, inclusive, sustainable and just global digital society.
The author describes how Green-minded actors and their allies in Germany and the EU can shape such a world by defending fundamental rights and principles and by protecting and empowering citizens and communities – through active engagement in global governance debates, through safeguarding rights and principles at home and abroad, and through co-creating infrastructure, systems and mechanisms that reflect Green values.
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Table of contents
Introduction: Global digital society in times of geostrategic competition
A Green compass for a human-centric international digital policy
SHAPE & DEFEND: Stand up for democratic digital norms and governance
- Stand up for human rights/ democracy/ sustainability
- Support civil society in multi-stakeholder internet governance
- Prevent authoritarian capture of UN processes (e.g. Cybercrime Convention)
- Advocate for inclusion of Global Majority in global digital governance
DEFEND & PROTECT: Apply a feminist lens to achieve cybersecurity for all
- Advocate for human security approach to international law in cyberspace
- Push for German/EU re-engagement on AI arms control
- Fight cybercrime and digital violence applying an intersectional gender lens
- Focus on protecting vulnerable groups from dis- and misinformation
PROTECT & EMPOWER: Ensure digital rights for citizens and communities
- Stand up for freedom of speech at home and abroad
- Prevent erosion of digital rights in the EU (e.g. Chat Control)
- Counter erosion of data protection standards in trade agreements
- Expose and combat EU hypocrisy (e.g. biometric surveillance at EU borders)
EMPOWER & SHAPE: Promote a digital transformation for the common good
- Put citizens and communities in control of data
- Promote equitable access to digital infrastructure, knowledge and innovation
- Advocate for digital commons with open-source code and open standards
- Double down on engagement for a digital and green transition
Outlook: A Green window of opportunity