technological sovereignty: democratising technology and ......told about killer robots, we breath...

TechnologicalSovereignty:DemocratisingTechnologyandInnovationGreenPaperv215November2018Authors:KateMcCurdy,ChristophSchneider,DavidSchwertgen,JorenDeWachterBasedoncontributionsandafirstroundoffeedbackonv1,publishedhere,byDiEM25members.Thisistheseconddraft(v2)oftheGreenPaperofDiEM25'spillar“TechnologicalSovereignty".Afterpublishingthefirstdraft,wereceiveddozenselementsofinput,somegeneral,somemoredetailed.Basedonthatfeedback,wenowissueasecondversionoftheGreenPaper.Aswiththefirstversion,weaskyoutoprovidefeedbackandcomments,sowecanusethecollectiveintelligenceoftheDiEM25membership.Pleasehelpusbyfollowingtheseguidelinesforgivingfeedback:-Concreteandconstructivefeedbackhelpsusthemost.PleaseALWAYSrefertothenumber(s)oftheparagraph(s)thatyougivefeedbackon,otherwiseyourcommentmaygetlost.-Tofosterthedialoguewithinourmovement,pleaseusetheforumtogiveyourfeedback:https://discuss.diem25.org/t/green-paper-2nd-draft-feedback-forum/16760-Ifyoudonotwanttousetheforumyoucanalsosendusanemailtotechpillar@diem25.org-Feedbackthatarrivesbefore31December2018hasthebestchanceofhelpingus-butwewilllookintheforumandtheemailaccountafterthatdate.

ThePaperconsistsofthefollowingparts:-Anintroduction,layingoutsomegeneralpoints,andintroducingthemostimportantpolicypoints;-Chapters1–3:themainbodyofthepaper,detailingwhatwebelievearetheissues,andhowtodealwiththemonashorttolongtermbasis;-Chapter4withnextstepsandactionpointstoreachafinaldraft;and-Annex1:thegeneralprinciplesunderpinningtheDiEM25approach.

Introduction:Fordemocracytobepossible,technologymustbedemocratized.

0.1Technologyisessential1)Ourcivilisationheavilydependsontechnology.Technologyprovidesuswiththepossibilitytofeedmorethan7.5billionpeople,topreventorcuresickness,tomultiplysocialandculturalinteractionandcreation,tocareforthoseinneed,tolearnandteachmore,toprovidesafetyandsecurityandtoimprovethequalityoflifeandincreasehappinessinmanywaysforall.2)Butitisonlythat:apossibility.Notacertainty,and,today,certainlynotareality.3)DiEM25istheonepoliticalmovementthatwantstocreate,shapeanddrivepoliticaldebateanddemocraticprocessaroundtechnology,basedontheconceptoftechnologicalsovereignty.4)Why?Because,forDiEM25,itisclearthatwithouttheintroductionoftechnologicalsovereignty,throughthedemocratisationoftechnology,democracyitselfisnolongerpossible.5)Theexamplesaremanifold.Weseemonopolisticdigitalplatformproviderswithtremendouspowerstoshapewhatwesee,whowehearfromorhowwethink,withoutanydemocraticaccountabilityforthatpower.Webecomesubjecttoautomateddecision-making,wronglylabeled“artificialintelligence”,functioningasablackbox,withoutanytransparencyoraccountability.Wearetoldaboutkillerrobots,webreathnewpesticides,weanticipateautomationoftruckdriving,cookingandmanyotherprofessions.Allofwhichmaycausemassivedisruption.

6)Butthere’smore.Weseehowthecostsoftechnology’sdevelopmentanditsusagearesocialized,butthebenefitsareprivatizedtoaverysmallgroup.Weseehowdecisionsonthechoiceofwhichtechnologicaldevelopmentisprioritizedarekeptawayfromtransparentandpublicdebate.7)Weseehowneo-liberaldogmaleadstothefinancializationofthestartupentrepreneurialprocess(wherethefinancialaspectthereofisconsideredtobethesoleandexclusiveexpressionofitsvalueinsociety),actingasaparasiteontheentrepreneurialspiritwhiletryingtoconvincepeopleoftheabsurdnotionthatthepurposeofinnovationistomakerichinvestorsricherstill.8)Andwearetoldthatwedon’thavethepowertochangeanything.9)DiEM25disagrees.Weareconvincedthat,whiletechnologyisessential,technologicalsovereigntythroughdemocratizationoftechnologyisanabsolutenecessityfordemocracytobepossible.10)Weknowinnovationcanbebeneficialtoall.Wewanttoendthepracticeofsocializingthecostsandprivatizingtheprofitsfromtechnologicalchange.Insteadwewanttofosterinnovationsforthecommongood.Wewanttoseeaninclusiveinnovationecosystemwhereallstakeholders,suchasusers,employees,citizens,authorities,areequallyimportant.Aninclusivesystemwherewomenandotherhistoricallymarginalizedcommunitiesareempoweredtoactivelyparticipateinshapingourcommontechnologicalfuture.Asysteminwhichsocietyasawholebenefitsfromtheliberatedenergyofsociallyresponsibleanddemocraticallyaccountableentrepreneurswhoarenolongershackledbythefinancializationoftheirefforts.Webelieveinapositiveandstrongpartnershipofthepublicandprivatesectorincreatingandsharingknowledge,creativity,researchanddevelopment,andinnovation,tothebenefitofthewholeofsociety.Andwealsoseethevastopportunitiesofcommonsandcooperativeapproachesthatcanbefosteredwithnewtechnologies.11)AndwebelievethatEuropecanbecomeabeaconofhopeifitunitespolitical,socialandtechnologicalprogress.Ifitfostersanewenlightenmentandputstheflourishingofallhumanbeingsinthecentreoftechnologicalchange.Thiscouldhavetransformativeimpactonaglobalscale.

0.2Therelationshipbetweenpeopleandtechnology12)Todaypeopleareincreasinglydefinedasusersorconsumersoftechnology-evenastheproductitself-ratherthancitizens.Remember,whentheserviceisfree,you’renottheuser,you’retheproduct.13)But,asusers,consumersorproducts,peoplearenotempowered.Theyarenotcitizenswhocontributeandhaveavoiceonhowtechnologyisshaped,whopaysforit,andwhobenefitsfromit.Theydon’tgettherealbenefitsoftheknowledge,researchanddevelopmentfundedbytheirtaxmoney.Theyareeffectivelypowerlessagainstthemonopoliesoftheplatformtechnologygiants.

14)DiEM25wantstechnologytoreflectthevaluesanddiversityofthesocietyweaspire.Ourdifferentgenders,ethnicities,capabilities,valuesand-mostimportant-ourdreams,shallbesupportedbytechnology.Technologyhastobesetupinsuchawaythatitliberatesandempowerseachofus,tobewhowecanandwanttobe,andtofulfillthepotentialofeachofus.Andithastobesetuptosupportthenecessaryecologicalanddemocratictransformationsofoursocieties.15)Thatisonlypossibleifwe,assovereigncitizens,recapturetheabilitytomakedifferentchoices,arguefordifferentvaluesandchangethesocietalprocessesandpowersthatshapetechnologies.Wecanandshalldeveloptechnologicalcitizenshipinthe21stcentury,basedonprinciplessuchasthecommons,theabilityofself-organisationandthedevelopmentofcounter-powerheldbycitizensanddemocraticinstitutions.16)Technologyhasbecomeacentralformofpowerinsociety.Thispowerultimatelyhastobelongtothesovereigncitizensofatechnologizedsociety.

0.3 TechnologyinDiEM25’sProgressiveAgendaforEurope17)DiEM25believesthat,inatechnologizedworld,Europemustoccupyanimportantplaceofhumaneandresponsibletechnologicalprogress.Notincompetitionbutincooperationwithothers.18)Europemustuseitsassets,suchasitsstrongresearchandinnovationlandscape,itspublictraditions,theknowledgeofitscitizensanditsNGOs,itshumanisticculture,itsdiversityanditsinventivecapabilities.Europemustdemocratisetechnologiesandinnovation,putcitizensbeforecompanies,sustainabilitybeforenarrowprofitandresponsibilitybeforetechnologicalfeasibility.Thealternativeistobecomeoverwhelmedbytheundemocratictechnologiesandsocietymodelsof,amongothers,SiliconValleyandChina.19)Thesemodelsfavourthefewandexploitthemanyandthelivingworld.Theybenefithugecorporationswhoexploitpubliclyfundedtechnologies,whichtheyaimtooptimise,withglobalreach,fortheirprivateprofit.Inthesemodelsthevaluesofaminorityshapethetechnologicalfuturesforthevastmajority.Theyaremodelswithcontemptfordemocracy.20)DiEM25’sProgressiveAgendaforEuropedemandsabreakwiththismodel,andlaysaclaimtotechnologicalsovereignty.OurEuropeanGreenNewDealdemandsgreeninnovationandacommonshareinthebenefitsoftechnologicalprogress.OurEuropeanconstitutionalprocesswillcreateanewdigitalpublicsphere.Transparentgovernmentrequirestransparenttechnologies.Adignifiedfutureforlabourdemandsresponsibletechnologiesandacollectiveshareinthebenefitsofautomation.Anopensocietythatwelcomesrefugeesandmigrantsneedstowelcometechnologiesthatcantakepartinhumandevelopment.Afeministsocietycommittedtoequalitycallsfortechnicalsolutionsby,andfor,peopleofallgendersandsexualities.Anecologicaltransitionhastostopand

preventharmfultechnologiesandfostersustainablealternatives.Cultureshallbefreelyaccessible,whileculturalcreationshouldberespectedandrewarded.21)LastbutnotleastthereisalsoastrongstrategiccaseforTechnologicalSovereignty.Ithasrecentlybeenarguedbyavant-gardetheoristslikeNickSrnicekorSlavojŽižekthatnopoliticalmovementwillsucceedwithoutastrategyonhowtodealwiththechangesthatdigitalisationhasbroughtuponstate,societyandlabour.Theobjectiveistobringprogressivemovementsuptospeedtodebatesthatalreadyhavebeenheldincorporatethinktanksfordecades.

0.4 ThreeinterlockingtransformationstoachieveTechnologicalSovereignty22)WithinDiEM25,bycrowdsourcingourcollectiveknowledge,wehaveidentifiedatleastthefollowingthreekeywaystoachieveTechnologicalSovereignty.Theyaresetoutinmuchmoredetailinthefollowingchapters,usedonasimilarapproach.Wetrytodefinetheissues,andprovideshort,mediumandlongtermsolutions,basedontwoprocesses:RegulationandRenewal.Regulationmeansthat,asasociety,wetakeacollectiveresponsibilitytoshapehowtechnologicalactorsshouldactornotact.Wearenotafraidtousethestate(atallitslevels,fromthelocalauthoritytotheEU)foritsappropriateroleofregulator,enablinganddrivinginnovationandensuringthatnotonlycosts,butalsobenefits,aresharedacrosssociety.Inaddition,wealsoaimtoincludealternativewaysoforganizingaspectsofsocietysuchastheprincipleofthecommons.Renewalmeansthatweneedtoinnovateinthewaytechnologyandsocietyinteract.Andweneedtoestablishandfostertheconditionsfortherespectivesocialinnovationsandsocietaltransformations.23)ThefirstwayistheestablishmentofaDigitalCommonwealthinEurope.Thisincludes:

- ThestrengtheningofregulationsonDataProtection(GDPR)andePrivacytolimitinvoluntarydataextraction;

- Createthefollowingfundamentalprinciples:o mandatoryPlatformInteroperabilityo PortabilityofDatao PersonalDataStorageo aDataCommons;

- EnsuringstrongerEUantitrustlawsandbetterenforcement;and- IntroducetheconceptofDataUnions.- OpenupanddemocratizealgorithmicAutomatedDecisionMaking

(formerlyknownasAI)processes.24)ThesecondwayisforEuropetodemocratizeinnovationandensurethatknowledgeissharedinsuchawayastobenefitasmanyaspossible.Thisincludes:

- Reduceorabolishmonopolisticapproachestoinnovation,inparticulararoundIntellectualProperty;

- Ensurethatthebenefitsofinvestmentininnovationareavailabletoasmanyaspossible,andreversethetrendofsocializingcostswhileprivatizingbenefitsofinnovation.

25)Third,Europemustupdateitsdemocracyanddemocraticprocessesbybuildingnewwaysofpublicdebateanddecision-making,basedonthecapabilitiesofferedbynewtechnologies.Thisincludes:

- Openupanddemocratizetheprocessesonhowtechnologicaldevelopmentandinnovationisfunded,prioritizedanddecided

- Usetechnologytoenabledemocratizationofdecision-makingprocessesateverylevel,especiallytofostereconomicdemocracy.

26)Thedemocratisationoftechnologyispossible,andnecessary.Technologiesareneverinevitable.Theyarealwaysbasedonchoices,valuesandsocietalprocessesandpowers.Wecanmakedifferentchoices,arguefordifferentvaluesandchangethesocietalprocessesandpowersthatshapetechnologies.Technologiesthat,inreturn,shapesociety,andus.

Chapter1:DataaspartoftheDigitalCommonwealthinthe21stcentury

1.1 Whataretheissues?

1.1.1Platformmonopolies27)Digitaltechnologiesareattheheartoftheongoingtechnologicaltransformationoursocietiesarelivingthrough.SincethespreadofInternettechnologiesfromthe1990iesonwards,ourliveshavebeenenrichedwithagrowingamountofdigitaltechnologiesanddevices,ourwaysofcommunicationhavebeenchangingandourmodesofcoordinationhavebeensubjecttovasttransformations.28)Thedigitaltransformationentailsmanypositiveaspectsandopportunitiestoimprovepeople’slives.Ouraccesstoknowledgeisgrowing,itiseasiertocommunicateandconnectwithothers,andnovelcreativespaceshaveopenedup.Thedigitaleconomyhascreatedmanynewproductsandservicesandconnectedtheworldmorestrongly.However,thistransformationalsohasambivalentandnegativeeffects.Thecommunicationrevolutioncreatesoverwhelmingcomplexity,thespreadofmisinformationandcollectivenervousness.Thedigitaleconomyisautomatingjobsandconsolidatingmonopolisticstructures.29)Manyofthesenegativeaspects,however,dependlessondigitaltechnologiesassuch,butrathermoreonthewaysinwhichtheyareusedandgoverned,i.e.thesocietalstructuresandcontextsofthesetechnologies.Neoliberalcapitalismhascreatedthesurveillancecapitalismanditsplatformmonopoliststhatformtechnologicalempireswithillegitimatepoweroverthelivesofbillionsofpeople.Theunderlyingeconomicstructures,worldviewsandcultures–whichhavegoneglobal–usetheiruser’sattentionastheproducttobesoldtothehighestbidders.Thedatathatisextractedandprivatisedisusedtoconstantlyimprovethetechnologiesofmanipulationtochangeindividualandcollectivebehaviour.Thesesystemssellourfreedomtodestroyit.ForSiliconValleypeoplearenotcitizenswithrights,virtueanddignitybutconsumerstobemanipulatedbymarketinganddatapointstobetrackedandsoldascommodities.Vastdigitalinfrastructuresanddatasetshavebeenbuiltandprivatisedinthehandsofatinyandlargelyunaccountableeconomicelite.Theseverydatasetsarethenusedtoshapeandtrainautomatedsystemsthatarebeingofferedbacktous„as-a-service“.Workthatformerlyhasbeenexecutedbybothexpertsandlow-skilled-workersisnowdonebyusersandprosumerswhocreatevaluabledatathatisconstantlyfedbackintothesystem.

1.1.2Datacollection,algorithmsandAI,or“AutomatedDecisionMaking”30)Theproblemisnotlimitedtotheplatformmonopolists,butalsobythestateandotheractorswhocollectandusedata.

31)Thisincludesallaspectsofalgorithmicautomateddecisionmaking(oftenmislabeledas“ArtificialIntelligence”).Inordertobeclear,thispaperusestheterm“AutomatedDecisionMaking”(ADM)insteadof“ArtificialIntelligence”(“AI”),becausetheuseofthisconcepthelpsmuchbettertoclearlysetouttheissue:howarethoseautomateddecisionsmade?Andwhodecideshowtheyaremade?Weseetodayhowtheexpansionofinformationtechnologyhasnotbeenaccompaniedbyexpandeddemocraticcontrol,resultinginamassiveconcentrationofpowerandsurveillancecapabilitiesinafewhands,andlittleaccountabilityoroversightbythepublic.32)Artificialintelligenceis,today,oftenneitherartificialnorintelligent.

1.1.3Needforanewparadigm33)Itistimeforanewparadigmofthedigitaleconomy.Aparadigmthroughwhichweestablishnewformsofownershipandgovernanceofdataanddigitaltechnologies,guidedbydemocraticprinciples.Aparadigmthatunleashesthepowerofdataanddigitaltechnologiesforthecommongoodandthathelpstousherinaninnovative,democratic,sociallyjustandecologicaltransformationofoursocietiesandeconomies.Movingtowardssuchadigitalcommonwealthinwhichwewillcollectivelybenefitfromthedigitaltransformationwillhelpuscreateamixedanddemocraticeconomy.Itwillhelpusgainmoredemocraticrightsandtobecomefreeandsovereigninourtechnologicalchoices,asindividualsandsocieties. 34)ThetermDigitalCapitalismcan’tbetakenseriousenough.Two-SidedMarketsortheso-calledPlatformEconomyaredisruptingtheworkingenvironmenttoanextentthatmayeasilybegreaterthanthevastchangesthattheindustrialrevolutionbroughttosociety.Andwe’llhavetodealwiththechangesthatautomationwillunleash:Self-drivingtrucks-tomentionanoften-citedexample-mayhavethepotentialtorendertheworkofmillionsoftruckdrivers-andemployeesrelatedtotruckingactivity-useless.Automateddecisionsystemsarealreadyhandlingservicetaskssuchasbasicmedicaladvices,onlinehelpdesksandautomatedjournalism.35)Thevalueofdataisincreasing.In2016theEuropeanCommissionestimatedthatby2020thevalueofEuropeancitizens'personaldatawillreach€1trillionintheEuropeanmarketalone.Thisrepresents8percentofthetotalunionGDP.DatacanbeturnedintoanynumberofArtificialIntelligence/AutomatedDecisionMaking(AI/ADM)orcognitiveservices,someofwhichwillgeneratenewsourcesofrevenue.Datacontributestotheexcessivemarketdominanceofahandfulofcompanies.Theuseofpersonaldataasacommodityhasamplifiedinscaleandcomplexity,leavingregulatorsstrugglingtocatchup.36)Dealingwiththesephenomenarequiresprogressiveeconomicpolicies(taxation,anti-trustmeasures,universalcitizensdividend)aswellasanelaborateanalysisonhowbigdataisexploitedasarawmaterialtofacilitatethesechanges.

37)Themarketdominanceofahandfulofplatformbusinessesreliesontwocoreprinciples-thenetworkeffectandthelock-ineffect.Thenetworkeffectisquitesimple:themorepeopleuseacertainplatformthemorevaluableitbecomesforeveryone.Thelock-ineffectisalsowellknowntopeopleusinge.g.socialnetworkplatforms:themoreyouintegratetheserviceinyourdailylifethemoredependentyoubecomeontheservice.38)Oneofthekeyconceptstoachievethishugemarketdominanceistheextractionofbigdatafromthegrowinguserbase.Thedataisbeinganalysed,processed,re-packagedandsold.Itisbeingusedtotrainalgorithmsandtocreateahugeinformationasymmetrythatreinforcestheeffectsmentionedabove.Witheveryclickandeveryinteractionusersareaddingmorerawmaterialintothemix.Everypersonwhousesdigitalservicesiscreatingavaluableeconomicandsocialresourceintheformofpersonaldata.NetworkandLock-Ineffectsandtheirprecursorsneedtobemoderatedtoenableamoreandfaircompetition.39)Datacollectionhasalwayscarriedadualrisk:inclusionincertaindatasetscanrendercitizensingeneral,andmembersofmarginalizedgroupsinparticular,vulnerabletobeingtargetedforcertainharms-butexclusionfromdatasetscanleadtootherharmsinturn.Asanon-technicalexample,considerthedecisiontoidentifyoneselfasamemberofanethnicminorityonagovernmentcensus.Notidentifyingone'sethnicitycanleadtotheriskofexclusion:perhapsifmembersofone'sethnicgroupintherelevantdistrictareundercounted,crucialsocialservices,suchaslinguisticandculturalsupport,willnotbeprovidedatsufficientlevelstomeetthecommunity'sneeds.Ontheotherhand,includingdataonone'sethnicidentitybringswithittheriskofbeingtargetedbythestateoranaffiliatedmaliciousactor,onwhichpointhistoryprovidesmanytragicaccountsofthepossibleconsequences.40)Howdoesinformationtechnologychangedatacollectiontoday?Mostlybymakingiteasierthanevertocollect,store,andprocessdataatunprecedentedvarietyandscale,thusamplifyingthisdualriskinbothdirections.Toillustratethisvariety,here'sapartiallistofthedifferentkindsofdatawhosecollectionisfacilitatedbydigitaltechnology:

- Personaldata,e.g.whatyoumightenterintoaform(name,age,sex,race,address,nationality…)

- Biometricdata,e.g.whatyoumightusetounlockasmartphone(face,retinalscan,fingerprint...)

- Personallyauthoredcontent,e.g.whatyoumightpostonsocialmediaorsendtoafriend(text,audio,video...)

- Behavioraldata,e.g.howyouinteractwithadeviceorwebsite(GPSlocation,sitesvisited,timespentonnewsfeeds,clicksonads,griponsteeringwheel…)

- Behavioralbiometricdata,e.g.deviceinteractionsthatidentifyyoupersonally(speedoftyping,directionofmousemovements...)

- Second-orderinferreddata,namelypredictingadataattributeyoudidnotprovide(e.g.ageorrace)basedonotherdataaboutyou(e.g.nameorlocation).

41)Asdigitaldatacollectionextendstomoreandmorearenasoflife-ouronlinecommunicationandmediaconsumption,"smart"devicesinourhomesandworkplaces,CCTVcamerasonourstreets,automotivecomputersystemsinourcars,andonandon-itbecomesincreasinglyimportantthatwe,ascitizens,knowwhocollectswhatdataaboutusforwhichpurpose,andretainthechoicetowithholdourdataatwill;thistransparencyisneededtoachievemeaningfulaccountabilityforautomateddecisionmaking,andbuildpublictrustthatourdatawillnotbeusedtoexploitus.Incaseswherethistrustcannotbeestablished,wemustregulatedatausage.

1.2Proposedsolutions

1.2.1Short-termmeasures:StrengthenDataProtectionandePrivacyRegulation42)Thebasicsteptotacklethepredominanceofplatformmonopolistsistoregulatetheuseofinvoluntaryextracteddata,thestrengtheningofuserrightsandthecreationandempowermentofDataProtectionAuthoritiestoenforcetheserights.TheGeneralDataPurposeRegulation(GDPR)andtheupcomingePrivacyRegulationarestepsintotherightdirectionbutcertainlynotenough.Thee-PrivacyRegulationissupposedtoprotectconfidentialityofcommunicationsandpersonaldata(suchaslocationdata,browsingdata,deviceusagepatterns,mobileappuse,searchqueriesetc.)intheelectroniccommunicationsectorbycomplementingmatterscoveredinageneralwaybytheGeneralDataProtectionRegulation(GDPR).Thee-PrivacyRegulationismeanttobethemainframeworktoprotectonlinecommunicationandiscurrentlybeing"watereddown"bytheEuropeanCouncil.Thecurrenttextwillneedthoroughworktoensurethattheprivacy,dataprotectionandotherfundamentalrightsintheEUarefullyrespected.43)Inpracticeitisofutmostimportancetomaintainandstrengthenthefollowingdataprotection/regulationmeasures:

- 44)HigherlevelofPrivacyProtectionByDesignandByDefaultinsteadof„PrivacyByOption“.Thisexplicitlyincludestheobligationforhardwareandsoftwareproviderstoimplementdefaultsettingsthatprotectendusers’devicesagainstanyunauthorisedaccesstoorstorageofinformationontheirdevices.

- 45)Strongrequirementsforuserconsent.Therequestforuserconsent

shouldbeasuser-friendlyaspossibleandonlyforpermissionsthatarecrucialtoperformthemaintask(s)ofasoftware/app/smartdevice.InsteadofbeingaskedforgeneralconsentuponinstallationtheusershallbeaskedtoOpt-Inforeverytaskthatthesoftware/app/smartdevicewishestoperformontheirdevice.Forcedconsentmechanismsand„All-Or-Nothing“-Consent(likee.g.CookieWalls)shallbeprohibited.

- 46)No„legitimateinterest“exceptiontousecommunicationdata(email,

voicemail,chat,videoconference,VoIP)withoutexplicituserconsent.

- 47)Protectusersagainstthirdpartytracking.

- 48)AllTypesofLocationDatashouldbegivenahighlevelofprotectionastheycarryahighprivacyrisk.Technicalsolutionsbasedonlocalcomputationintheend-user’sdeviceshouldalwaysbepreferredovercentralisedtracking.

- 49)MetadataprocessedforsecurityandQualityofService(QoS)

purposesshallbeanonymisedassoonaspossibleandthestorageofmetadatashallbelimitedtowhatisstrictlynecessaryforthepurpose.

- 50)DataProtectionAuthoritieswillbeinchargeofmonitoringthe

applicationoftheproposedregulations.

- 51)Restrictstate-enabledcorporatesurveillanceofthepublic.52)Thedesignatedgoalhereistocreateanenvironmentinwhichpotentialcostsofnon-compliancewithEUregulationsstarttooutweighthemonetisationvalueoftheinvoluntaryextracteddataitself.Insuchanenvironmentcompanieswouldfocusmoreonhowtheycanusepeople’sdataonlywhenrequired,ratherthanhoardingandmonopolisingitinthehopeoffutureuse.

1.2.2Mid-termmeasures53)EnforcePlatformInteroperabilityAhugeamountofdataisextractedonsocialmediaplatformsthatexploitthelock-ineffecttoobtainan„all-or-nothing“-consentfromtheirusers.Tore-openthemonopolisedsocialnetworkecosystemforcompetitionwedemandtolegallyenforceablecross-platform-interoperabilityforcommunicationacrossdifferentplatforms.Thetaskhereistoleveltheplayingfieldforcompetition.Aslongatismoreefficienttomakeusersurrendertheirdataandgivethemverylimitedcontroloverit,thestrongmarketconcentrationwillalwaysledtoahandfulofdigitalplatformsbeingabletogather,aggregateandanalyselargeamountofdata.MandataryCross-Platform-Interoperabilitycanbee.g.achievedbystandardbasicserviceswithend-to-end-encryptionwheredifferentservicesmayattachto.54)Welargelyembracetheconceptof„socialmediaasapublicutility“.Thisincludesalargepublicfundingforthedevelopmentofopenanddecentralisedalternativesthatembrace:

- Interoperability- DataPortabilityasdescribedinArticle20oftheGDPR(therightto

convertandtransferuserdata/mediatoasecurelocationortoimportittoanotherservice)

- Mandatoryanonymised,authenticatedandend-to-endencrypteddigitalcommunication

- privacy-preservingidentityauthenticationtoolsAgain:Cross-platform-interoperabilityneedstobealegalrequirementtoenablefaircompetition.

55)EnforcementofRegulation.Toensureastrongandeffectiveenforcementofdataprotection,privacyregulationandconsumerprotectionwedemandmorepersonnelforNationalDataProtectionAuthoritiesandthecreationofaEuropeanDataProtectionAuthority.56)StrongerAntitrust/CartelLawsToenablefaircompetitionintherealmofPlatformCapitalismandtheDigitalSingleMarketweneedstrongerEUCompetitionLaws.Regulativebodieslikeantitrustdivisionsandcartelauthoritiesshallaskforstrongdataprotectioncomplianceuponcorporatemergers.Alsotheyareinneedofadditionalcriteriatoevaluatetheabuse/violationofmarketpowersuchas:

- networkeffectsandlock-ineffects- accesstodatarelevantforcompetition

Aneffectivevaluationofmarketpowerhastokeepthewholeeconomicecosystemincheck.57)Keyregulativemeasuresoftheseagencieswillincludeto:

- Splitupplatformmonopoliesandotherbusinessesthathavebecometoolarge

- Share(anonymised)datasetsofbigplayerwithpublicentities-tocreatepublic/municipaldatacommons.

- Collectfinestofund/facilitatealternativedevelopments- CollectfinestostrengthenDataProtectionAuthorities- UsefinestofuelaUniversalBasicDividend

58)(Digital)TaxationTofurtherlimitthenegativeimpactofplatformmonopoliesandautomatisationitisnecessarytoclosethetaxgap.Wehavetofightthetaxevasionofplatformcompaniesandcreateadigitaltaxonthecollection/processingofpersonaldata.59)Withregardtotheuseofalgorithmsineverydaylife,wedemandthatthefollowingrightsberecognized:

- 60)Rightofinteraction:Citizenshavetherighttoknowwhentheyareoraren'tinteractingwithanalgorithm.

- 61)Whenanindividualreceivesanoutcomefromaservicethatisbasedwhollyorpartiallyonalgorithmiccomputation,thisshouldbeclearlyandtransparentlycommunicated.

- 62)Automateddecisionmakingsystemsarenotallowedto"conceal"themselvesininteractionswithunknowingcitizens.

- 63)Ontheotherside,businessesarenotallowedto"conceal"humandataprocessingtouserswhobelievethemselvestobeinteractingwithanalgorithm

- 64)Rightofequaltreatment:Citizenshavetherighttobefreefromalgorithmicdiscrimination.

- 65)Ifalgorithmicservicesprovideoutputsofconsistentlylowervalueorqualitytooraboutuserscomingfromhistoricallymarginalizedbackgrounds,thisconstitutesdiscrimination.

- 66)Usersshouldbeabletocompareoutputsbasedondifferentdemographicprofiles(e.g."wouldthissearchresultbethesameifIweretochangethegenderoragethealgorithmhasinferredforme?").

67)IntroduceDataUnionsAkeycharacteristicofplatformmonopoliesisthestructuralpowerimbalancebetweentheplatformanditsusers.Thisisveryclearlyillustratedinthebargainingpowerofitsusersinrespectofthetermsandconditions:thereisnosuchbargainingpower.Ausermustsimplyaccept,orbebannedfromaplatformthatmaybeessentialforcertainaspectsoftheirlives(inwhichsuchplatformsresemblepublicutilities).TheproposedsolutionisthecollectivizationofusersthroughthecreationandlegalrecognitionofDataUnions:representativeorganizationsofusersofdigitalplatforms,whowillbegrantedpowertodosuchthingslikenegotiationoftermsandconditions(and,whynot,asystemofmonetaryorothercompensationforusersforthecontributionstheymaketotheplatform),collectivelegalactiononbehalfofusers,andotherwaystostructurallyredressthebalancebetweenamonopolyplatformanditsusers.

1.2.3Long-termmeasures68)AlternativeBusinessModels:Levelingtheplayingfieldforplatformco-operativesEffectivetaxationandregulationwillpavethewayforthedevelopmentofplatformco-operatives-modelsofeconomicexchangewhichhavesocialandethicalobjectives.Platformco-operativesofferafeasiblemodeltoencouragethesharingofdata,embeddingco-ownership,transparencyanddemocraticparticipationoverhowdataismanagedandused.Modelscouldincludethesharingofaccommodation,transportortheexchangeoflabourandself-generatedenergy.69)Awayforplatformco-operativestocompetewiththevastdatasetsofhugecorporationsistoparticipateinpubliclyavailabledatacommons.70)AlternativeDigitalInfrastructure:towardsPersonalDataStoragesandDataCommonsThevalueofdatareliesontheiraggregation.Databecomesmorevaluablewhentheyareshared.Data,asacommongood,canbecomemorehelpfulforco-operationandcollectiveusethanitwouldbeasaprivatecommoditywithverylittlevaluewhenisolated.DataCommonsareawaytoaggregatecitizensdatainasafe,anonymised,transparentanddemocraticallycontrolledway.DataCommonsincludesacombinationofpersonaldata,cityopendata,publicresearchdataandprivatedata(e.g.obtainedthroughenhancedantitrustmeasuresproposedabove).71)ThemainchallengeforDataCommonsistocreatealegalandeconomicframeworkinwhichpeoplewanttosharetheirdata-anditspotentialeconomicvalue-inacontrolledwayforthecommongood.Thisneedstobebackedupbytechnologicalsolutionsthatenabletheenforcementofrulesfordatasharingandpreventthemisuseofdata.

72)Thelong-termvisionhereistheconceptofsharedpersonaldataasacommonresourceforinnovation.UserswouldhosttheirprivatedataonaPersonalDataStorage-asecurelocationoftheirchoice-andhavefullcontrolonhowtosharedataandinteractwithonlineservices.APersonalDataStoragemaybe-forinstance-adecentralised,anonymousandencryptedpeer-to-peer-networkthattakesuserdataandsplitsitupintoencryptedchunks,whichgetprocessedbyhundredsofothercomputersacrossthenetwork.Thecrucialtaskhereisthatnorawdataisbeingrevealedtothirdparties.73)Userscouldthenchooseamongstavastvarietyofhigh-levelaswellasgranulardatasharingpresets(“SmartRules”).SmartRuleswillenableuserstoexpresscertainconditionsunderwhichtheirdatamayormaynotbeused-e.g.anevent/issuerelateduseofdata(e.g.healthconditiondataisonlyrevealedincaseofemergency)orlicensedbasedsharingofdataforpublicbenefits(onlythecity/aplatformco-operativemayuseanonymiseddatasets).TherearealreadypromisingapproachesonhowtoperformsafequeriesonsuchaPersonalDataStoragewithoutrevealingdatabutrathertoperformcodeinasafeenvironmentandreturningthedesiredinformation.74)Thefollowingmeasureswillallowustobuildanintelligent,accountablefuture,basedonalgorithmicemancipation:

- 75)Publicaudits:theEUshalldevelopanindependentpublicinstitutiontoconductalgorithmicauditsinatransparentmanner,withresourcesallocatedproportionaltoestimatedscopeofa)affectedcitizensandb)potentialharms.Oneofthepossibleapplicationsshouldbespecificallyaimedatlaborintelligence,withthefollowingmandate:Itshallexploreandprototypeintelligentsystemswithvariousaxesofworkercontrol(i.e.rangingfrom'beingdesignedalongworker-friendlyprinciples'to'responsivetoreal-timeworkerinput'to'explicitlyincludescooperativedecisionmechanismsforkeydecisions').

o Itshallpartnerwithexistingorganizations,inparticularcooperatives(platformandotherwise),toapplyandtestsystemsunderreal-worldconditions.

o Itshallassessoutcomeswithparticularattentiontohumanisticgoals,qualityoflife,andworker-centeredperspectives,emphasizingthedignityandautonomyofworkers.

- Itshallrequireparticularattentiontobarriersfacedbymarginalizedworkersandworkersfromtraditionallyexcludedbackgrounds

- 76)Opt-Out.An"algorithmicopt-out"ruleshallbeestablished:foranyalgorithmicservice,ausercanchoosetoreceiveanoutcomewitha"default"profile(i.e.withtheuser'spersonal/demographicattributesremovedfromcalculation).

77)PublicFundingwillbekeyforthedevelopmentofnewtechnologicalsolutionsandappropriatelicensingmodelsbutregulationshallpavethewayforprivatecapitaltoflowinthatdirectionaswell.

78)Initiallysuchtechnicaloptionsmayonlybeusedbyasmallgroupoffrontrunners–peoplewhocareaboutprivacyandamoresocialdigitaleconomy-butoncethetechnologybecomesmoreuser-friendlytheirusagewillincrease.Regulations-asoutlinedabove-willmakepersonaldatahoardingfarmoreexpensivethanthecreationanddevelopmentofnewprivacycomplianttechnology.

Chapter2.Freeknowledgefordemocraticinnovation-theroleofIntellectualPropertyandeducation

2.1.Whataretheissues?79)IntellectualProperty(IP)isasystemofgovernment-createdandenforcedexclusiverights(legallycreatedmonopolies)oncertainaspectsofcreativityandinnovation.Theyincludee.g.patents,copyright,trademarks,tradesecrets,databaserights,andothersimilarrights.80)TherearetwostandardjustificationsforIP.Recognitionandreward.TherewardjustificationforIPconsistsoftheargumentthatitprotectsthecreatororinnovator,byprovidingthemamonopolythatislimitedintimeandscope,sotheycanbenefitfromtheabilitytorecovertheirinvestment.Afteratime,themonopolylapses,andtheinventionorcreationbecomespartofthepublicdomain-i.e.theclassicalfreedomofenterprise,whereeverythingthatisnotforbiddenisallowed,regainsitsnormalplaceinthemarket.TherecognitionjustificationconsistsoftheargumentthatIPrecognizescreatorsandinventors,andtheircontributiontosociety.81)ThereareanumberofproblemswithIPtoday.82)First,thereisthecontinuedexpansionofthemonopolyrights.Copyrights,originally18yearslong,nowlastatleastuntil70yearsafterthedeathofthelastcontributingauthor(andforDisneyabitlonger).Patentsusedtobefornarrow,technicalapplications(“downstream”aspectsoftechnology),butnowapplyevermoreto“upstream”aspectsoftechnologymethods(i.e.ideas),protocols,discoveries(e.g.inthefieldofbiology),software,andmanyotheraspectsthatusedtobenon-patentable.Inaddition,thestandardsfor"novelty"aresometimeslaughable.Togiveaclassicexample,inAustralia,afterapatentlawreform,someonemanagedtoobtainapatentonthenovelinventionofthe"wheel".Furthermore,newIPrightsareinventedonacontinuousbasis:examplesaredatabaserights,tradesecrets,performersrightsandthenewsecondarycopyrightforpublishersinthedraftCopyrightDirective.83)Thepublicdomainisundercontinuousattackfromprivateers.84)Second,thelinkbetweenthecreator/innovatorandtheIPrightisnolongerfunctional.ThefulltransferabilityofIPrightshasthepracticaleffectofallowinghoardingofmonopolyrightstotheplaceintheeconomicvaluechainwheretheyproducetheleastbenefit:withmarketersanddistributors.Theactualcreators/innovatorstypicallygetlittletonobenefitfromorrecognitionfortheircontributions.85)Theconsequencesareseriouslyproblematic.Forexample,whilepublicmoneyprovidesformostR&Dindevelopingnewdrugs,weseethattheR&Dbudgetoflargepharmaceuticalcompaniesisafractionoftheirmarketingbudgets,andmostoftheirR&Dbudgetisspentonresearchto"me-too"patents:

patentsonslightlydifferentversionsofdrugsthatalreadyexist,inordertoartificiallyextenttheirmonopolyposition(andpricing).Itisaclassicalexampleofsocializingthecostandriskofdevelopingnewdrugs,whileprivatizingthebenefits.Thesameistrueforotherinnovationsandresearchatuniversitiesandotherresearchcentresfundedwithpublicmoney.Fartoooften,theresultsofsuchpubliclyfundedresearchisprivatized,ofteninopaqueandnon-transparentways,throughthecreationandtransferofIPrightstoprivatelyheldspin-offs.86)Third,IPrightshaveanumberofnegativeeffectsontheeconomyandsociety.Therenttheyextractgenerateshugetransfersofmoneytoalimitednumberofcorporatemonopolyholdersandtheirshareholders.Thisleadstoaveryregressiveincomedistributionandsignificantlyaddstoeconomicinequality.Peoplewhoworkpayrenttopeoplewhoholdgovernment-createdmonopoliesontheproceedsofthatworkandgetrentasunearnedincomepurelyasunproductiverightsholders.87)IPrights,today,seemtosignificantlyslowdowninnovation.Theyallowlargeestablishedbusinessestouseevergrowingmonopolyrightstoblockaccesstotheirmarkettonewcomersorcompetitors.InitiativeslikethedraftCopyrightDirectiveallowcopyrighttobeusedasawaytocensorcontent,reducingevermorethefreedomsthattheInternetwassupposedtogiveus.88)InthediscussiononthedraftEUCopyrightDirective,themonopolyholdersofcontent(theentertainmentindustry)arefightingwiththemonopolyholdersofthetechindustry.Butwhodefendstheinterestsofconsumers,citizensandcreativepeople?89)Inaddition,inmanycountriesIPmonopoliesactuallybenefitfromtaxexemptionsorpreferentialtreatment,allowinglargemultinationalstoshifttheirprofits,andbenefitfromtaxforumshopping.

2.2Short-termmeasures90)ReversingthetaxtreatmentofIPistheeasiestimmediatesteptotake.Thismeansthatanypreferentialtaxtreatmentofroyaltiesorotherincome(rent)derivingfromIP,suchaslowertaxratesorhigherexemptionsonsuchincome,mustimmediatelybewithdrawn.Theyshouldbereplacedbytheopposite:incomefromIP(rent)mustbetaxedpreferablyathigherrates,andmoreprogressively,thanincomefromsellingactualgoodsorservices.91)Inaddition,thedraftEUCopyrightDirectivemustbefundamentallyreviewed,inordertoobtainmuchmorebalancedrightsofusers,re-users,creatorsandinnovators.AEuropean"fairuse"conceptmustbecreated,withbroadapplications,andbasedonthefundamentalfreedomofspeech.92)Withimmediateeffect,publicauthoritiesmustswitch,wherepossible,tousingFreeandOpenSourcesoftware.

93)Anypatentonsoftwarefunctionalitymayonlybeawardedsubjecttofulldisclosureofallsourcecoderelatedthereto.94)PublicfundingofFreeandOpenSourcesoftwaredevelopmentprogrammescanbeenvisaged.95)IntroduceageneralprinciplethatanyIPthatbelongstoalegalentitythatgoesbankrupt,isliquidatedorotherwiseceasestofunction,isreleasedintothepublicdomain.Equally,anyIPceasestobevalidonthedeathoftheinventor/creator.

2.3Mid-andlong-termmeasures

2.3.1Breakthecycleof"socializingcosts,privatizingbenefits"96)Knowledge,R&Dandinnovationthatarefundedbypublicmoneyshouldremain"common".97)Inpracticalterms,thismeansthatcontentcreatedbypublicfunds,suchasscientificresearch,shouldbe,bydefault,availableundersystemslikethemostpermissivecreativecommonslicenses.98)Anytechnicaldevelopment,includingsoftwarecode,thatisfundedbypublicmoneyshouldbemadeavailableunderFreeandOpenSoftwarelicenses.(note:DiEM25doesnothaveanyaprioripreferenceforanycategoryorsetoflicenses.Weareawarethatthereisawholeecosystemofsoftwareandcreativecommonslicenses,and,dependingoncontextandthearea,thechoiceoftheappropriatelicensewillhavetobemade.Wedonotbelieveina"onesizefitsall"approachinthiscontext.)99)Thishasseveralbenefits:itprovidesforindependencefromnon-EUbasedsuppliers,itincreasesthesecurityandstabilityofthesoftwareanditbreaksthedefactmonopolyofmanytechnicalplatformproviders.100)Whileexceptionscanbepossibleunderstrictcircumstances,anysuchexceptionsmustbeaccompaniedbyapracticalwayforthepublicinvestmenttoshareintheproceedsofanymonopolygranted.Anexamplecouldbethatanyspin-offcreatedtomonetizetheresultofpubliclyfundedresearch,hastogrant,onincorporation,20%ofitssharesasnon-votingsharestotheauthoritiesthatfundedtheresearch.

2.3.2BreakthecycleofIPmonopoliesencroachingonthepublicgood101)Introduceafundamental"RighttoRepair":thebuyerofaproductorservicehastherighttorepairanyaspectthereof(orhaveitrepairedforthem)andIPrightscannotbeusedasameanstoblocksuchRighttoRepair.TheRighttoRepairincludestherighttoalterthetechnicalstandardinwhichsomethingismadeorcaptured.Thismeansthatifyoubuysomethinginonetechnicalstandard,youhavetheautomaticrighttoconvertitintoanothertechnicalstandard.

102)IntroducetheprincipleofOpenStandards.Technicalstandardsmustbedocumentedsothatinteroperabilityisensured,andtheymaynotbesubjecttoIPmonopolies.103)Reducemaximalistcopyrighttendencies:harmonizeexceptionstocopyright,introducea"fairuse"conceptwithbroadapplication,basedonfreedomofspeech.Forcecollectingsocietiestoprovidefulltransparencyontherightstheyclaimtorepresent,thecosttheycharge,andhowmuchtheypaytotherightholders.104)Reversetheburdenofproofincopyright:unlesssomethingcanbeshowntobeclearlyundercopyright,itmustbeinthepublicdomain.105)ReformtheBerneConvention,andmakecopyrightsubjecttoregistration,andpaymentofafeethatincreaseswithtime.106)BantheconceptofIPrightsonanythinginventedorcreatedbymachines.107)Openadebateonthepatentsystem:shoulditbeabolished,orshoulditbereformedsothatitcanfulfillitsoriginalambition:rewardinventors,andsharetheknowledgeoftheirinventionsthroughoutsociety.108)Declareanyinformation"foundinnature"tobeinthepublicdomain.BiologicalinformationcarrierssuchasDNAorRNAmustbeclassifiedas"OpenContent"languages,andnotsubjecttoanyIPright.

2.3.3Breakthecycleofhoardingmonopolyrightsbydistributorsandmarketers109)LimittheenforcementofIPrightssothatitbenefitstheactualinventor/creator,nottheirassignees/licenceeswhentheydonotcontributeeconomicvalue.Thiswillincreasetheinventor/creator'srecognition,andensurethattheyactuallybenefitfromtheIPmonopolythatgovernmentcreatesforthem.110)Abolishanytaxincentivestocreate,transferorcollectIPrights.111)CreateaspecialtaxontherentalincomeofexistingIPrightsasacontributoryfundingfortheUniversalBasicDividendasproposedintheEuropeanNewDeal.112)Makeitmucheasierandcheapertodisableapatentwhenitdoesnotcoversomethingthatisactuallynovel.

2.4EducationandTechnology

2.4.1Whataretheissues?113)Knowledgeispower.Ifwewanttodemocratizetechnology,andstartthedebatearoundhowsocietydetermineswhichtechnologiesaredeveloped,which

aresupported,howtheyareregulatedandwhethersomeshouldbebanned,weneedtoensurethatinformeddebateisaprioripossible.114)Leavingeverythingtotheexpertsisnotasolution.Theirexpertisealwayscomeswithopinionsandvaluesattachedtoit,withaviewonsocietyandhowitshouldfunction,inotherwordswithapoliticalview.Eveniftheydenyit(especiallyiftheydenyit),thepoliticalviewsoftechnicalexpertsshouldbeviewedwithnormal,democraticskepticism.115)Decisionsareneverwithoutvalue.Butinordertobeabletojudgethevaluesthatareappliedindecisionsontechnology,itisoftennecessarytounderstand,atleasttoacertainextent,thetechnologyconcerned.116)Democraticdebateassumes"Mündigkeit",andthisiswhereeducationplaysakeyrole.117)Education,notjustoftheyoung.Alsooftheelderly,whosometimesarelostwithallthosenewtechnologiespoppingupallaroundthem.Andofthecivilservantswhohavetodevisetheadministrativeframingofthepoliticaldiscussionsaroundtechnology.Howaproblemispresented,oftenwithinacertainbureaucraticsystem,isoftenkeytothesolutionsthataredeemed"possible".118)Finally,weknowthereareseriousissuesofgenderequalityandrepresentationinscienceandtechnology,andinthemanygovernment,quasi-governmentandprivatebodiesthattakekeydecisionsinthisarea.119)Sothekeyissueis:howdowe,asasociety,promoteandensuretheknowledgenecessaryforaproperdemocraticdebatearoundtechnology?

2.4.2Short-termmeasures120)OpenupthedebateontechnologicalregulationIntroduceageneralprinciplethatanyEUregulatoryprocess(legislative,administrativeorotherwise)thatrelatestohowtechnologyaffectssocietyshouldbefullytransparent,notonlyinrelationtothecontentofwhatisdecided,butalsoinrespectoftheprocess(e.g.meetingswithlobbyists,etc).121)Startaprocessonhowdemocraticdebateontechnologycanbestrengthened.Froma"righttounderstand"aspecifictechnologytounderstandinghowbothexistinganddevelopingtechnologyisduetoaffectoursociety,thereisaseriouslackofdemocratizedknowledgeallowingpeopletoformopinionsandengageindemocraticdebate.122)Technocracy,asaprinciple,mustbecounteredbythelegitimatedemandoftechnologicalsovereigntyinademocraticsystem.

123)DiEM25proposesthatwestarttakingthenecessarystepstoenablethisessentialcorrectionofourcurrenttechnocratic,black-boxapproachtotechnology.

2.4.3Mid-andlong-termmeasures2.4.3.1Modifyeducationcurriculatoincludeprinciplesofknowledgetowardstechnologicalsovereignty124)Educationsystemsandcurriculashouldbeupdatedtoensurethateducationallowsforstudentstoobtain"Mündigkeit"ontechnologymatters.125)Thismeansnotonlyteachingaboutthebasicprinciplesunderpinningtechnologyassuch(aminimumofSTEMforeverystudent),butalsoexplainingtherelationshipbetweentechnologyandsociety,e.g.bypointingoutalternativesystemssuchasthecommonsandothereconomicmodelsoftechnologicaldevelopmentandmanagement.126)Itisclear,inthisrespect,thatoureducationsystemsshouldreflect,andeducate,muchmoreonthecrucialroleoftechnologyinsociety,andtheconceptofTechnologicalSovereignty.ApproachessuchasMOOCs(MassiveOpenOnlineCourses)canplayacrucialroleinthisrespect,providingapubliclyavailablerepositoryofknowledgeandunderstanding.2.4.3.2Fromopenstandardstotechnologythatcanbeunderstood127)TheprinciplesofopenstandardsandtheRighttoRepairleadustoapossible"righttounderstand".Itshouldbeinvestigatedwhetheritcanbemademandatoryforownersoftechnologytoprovidesufficientinformationtothepublicsothatthegeneralprinciplesofhowtheirtechnologyworkscanbeunderstoodbypeoplewithsufficienttrainingintherelevantarea.128)Ofcourse,therewouldbejustifiedconcernsaroundsafetyandsecurity,but,asweknowfromthereallifeexperienceofopensourcesoftware,itistypicallyproprietary(andsecret)technologythatpresentsthehighestriskstosecurity,vulnerabilitytohackingandabuseofitsflaws.2.4.3.3Technologyforeveryone129)Thedemocraticdebatearoundtechnologyshouldnotbelimitedtotheinitiated.Useoftechnologyanditsconsequencesonsocietyshouldnotbetheprerogativeoftechnocrats,andthedebatearoundtechnologyshouldbeopentoall.130)Publicauthoritiesshouldinvestinordertoensurethatthedebateonhowtechnologyisregulatedisnotdoneinbackroomsfulloflobbyistsoftheinterestedindustry,butbyallstakeholders,andprovidesufficientinformationandtransparencyontheprocesstoensurethatproperdebateispossible.

Initiativesfortechnologyassessmentandpublicparticipationinscienceandtechnologyneedtobestrengthenedandinsomecasesmademandatory.131)Inaddition,itshouldbereviewedwhetherotherstakeholders(consumers,thepublicatlarge,publicauthorities)shouldhaveobservationfunctionsorguaranteedrepresentationinthedecisionmakingbodies(boardofmanagement)ofcompaniesthatmaketechnologicaldecisionswithasignificantimpactonsociety(justlikeinsomecountries,governmentsareentitledtoappointobserverstotheboardsoffinancialinstitutionsundercertainconditions).132)Thereisagrowingsphereoforganisationsthatfosterpublicandopenusesoftechnology.Europehashundredsofmakerspaces,FabLabs,museumsandeducationalinstitutionsthatexperimentwithtechnologyandknowledgeorientedtowardscommonsandsociety.Newwaystosupportsuchprojectsshouldbefound.

Chapter3.Democratisinginnovationandtheeconomy

3.1Whataretheissues?133)Everytechnologicaldevelopmentistheresultofchoices.Choicesmadebygovernments,researchers,investors,consumers,manufacturers,distributors,usersandmanyothers.Notechnologyisgod-givenorgivenbythe"invisiblehandofthemarket”,andnotechnologyisneutral:itisalwaysvalue-laden.Thewaywefund,adopt,useandregulatetechnology,ornot,reflectssociety’schoiceofitsvaluesandpriorities.However,decisionsinresearchandinnovationcurrentlyreflecttheworldviewsandinterestsoftechnocraticresearchers,policy-makersandaboveallventurecapitaliststhatwanttotakeresearch“tothemarket”,i.e.wanttomaximisetheirprofits.134)Toeverytechnologicaloptiontherearealwaysalternatives–includingnon-technologicalformsofchangeandproblemsolving.Wemustestablishthenecessarydemocraticinstrumentsandinstitutionscapableofaddressingthecomplexitiesofinclusive21stcenturytechnologies.Howdowedefinetheproblemsthattechnologiesshouldsolve?Howdowegoverntherisksandambivalencesoftechnologies?Howdowemakesurethattheirbenefitsaresharedamongstthemany?135)Anagendatodemocratisetechnologiesmustaddressthefundamentalstructuresthatshapeandgoverntechnologies.TodemocratiseEuropeweneedtoalsotransformthesocietal,politicalandeconomicsystemsthatinnovate,shape,regulateandmakeuseoftechnologies.Howcanthesebecomemoredemocraticandinclusive?Howcanwedemocratisetheinnovationprocessesthatshapedecisionsaboutourfuture?

3.2Firstapproach:DemocratiseInnovationFunding136)DiEM25’sEuropeanGreenNewDealproposesaGreenInvestment‐ledRecoveryandsettingupanewagencyformanagingandfundingEurope’sGreenTransitionandGreenEnergyUnion.Thesemeasuresmakeuseoftherisk-taking,mission-orientedfundingpowersofpublicinstitutionsandputidlefinancialwealthtosociallyusefulpurposebyboostingatransitionintoagreenereconomythatworksforthemany.137)TheEuropeanUnionisalreadyamajorfunderanddecision-makingbodythatshapestheresearchandinnovationsthataffectourlives.Intheongoingprogram“Horizon2020”theEUhasbeenspending80billion€tofundresearchandinnovationintheyears2014to2020.Thefollowingprogram“HorizonEurope”entails100billion€forresearchandinnovationfundingintheyears2021to2027.138)WhiletheprogramsareproposedbytheEuropeanCommissionanddebatedintheEuropeanCouncilandtheEuropeanParliament,theindividualfundingdecisionsaretakeninatechnocraticmannerbyBrusselsbureaucrats,lobbyistsandscientificexperts.Itgetsevenworsewhenwetaketheinvestment

decisionsbyventurecapitalistsintoaccount.Theyhaveavastgripoverthestart-upsandentrepreneursthatmakecreativeuseofnewtechnologyandtheyareanarrowgroupinsociety,shapinginvestmentsbasedonthenarrowpursuitofmaximumprofit.139)Weneedtobuildalternativeanddemocraticformsoffundingresearchandinnovation.Shapingthefutureoftechnologiesrightfromthestartinademocraticmanner.Wehavetoputcitizensinchargeofthedecisionsthatshapetechnology:researchandinnovationneedtobecomeaccountabletocitizensandtheirneedsandexpectations.

3.2.1Short-termmeasure:OpenuptheEU’sinnovationfundingtoincreasepublicvalue140)TheEU’sresearchandinnovationfundinghasamajordeficit:Itispremisedona“high-techforgrowth”strategy,directlyplayingthemelodyofbigindustryanda“technologyfirst,societysecond”symphony.141)Thisneedstochange.TheEU’sfundingneedstobeopeneduptodifferentpurposes.Weneedtofundsocialandculturalinnovationinconcertwithtechnologicalinnovation.Differentformsofcreativityandtransformationneedtobecombinedtomoveintoabrighterfuture.Furthermore,thepossiblegroupofrecipientsoffundingneedstobeenlarged.EUfundingforresearchandinnovationmustbemoreeasilyattainableforcivilsocietyorganisations,non-profittechnologyprojects,cooperativesandotherswithaclearmissionofgreenandsocialchange.Weneedtofundpurposebeforeprofitfrompublicmoney.142)Furthermore,thereturnstoresearchandinnovationfundingshouldvaluetheirdependenceonpubliclifeandpublicinstitutions,e.g.universities,andthecollaborationandcollectivecreativitythatmadethempossible.TenpercentoftheownershipofmarketisedproductsthatwereinnovatedwithEUfundingshouldcontributetothefundfortheuniversalbasicdividend.Thusgivingbacktosocietyandbalancinginthereturnsonnewtechnology.

3.2.2Mid-termproposal:Participatorybudgetingplatformforresearchandinnovation143)Thisdigitalplatformwillbea21stcenturyinstitutionthatdemocratisesthefundingofresearchandinnovation,givingcitizensandcivilsocietyastrongersaythroughparticipatorybudgetingonatransnationallevel.ItdemocratisesthepublicresearchandinnovationfundingmissionoftheEuropeanUnion.144)Democratisefunding:citizenscrowdfundingTheplatformneedstocontainacrowdfundingsystemthatallowsEuropeancitizenstoallocatepublicmoney,e.g.fromtheEU’s“HorizonEurope”,throughtheirdecisionsontheplatform.Theprojectsapplywiththeirproposalsandasumofmoneythatwouldallowthemtostartthework.Asincrowdfunding,ifenoughcitizensallocatepublicmoneytoaproposedprojectitissuccessfulandgetsmoneyfromthefund.Asignificantproportionofpublicfundsforresearchandinnovationneedstobeputintothisplatformtogivecitizensavoice.

145)Democratiseagendasetting:citizens’needscrowdsourcingInnovationstartswithproblemsthatshouldbesolved.Whodefinestheproblemsisamajorissueineveryinnovationjourney.Inademocraticsocietycitizensshoulddefinetheproblemsthatinnovationsshouldhelptosolve.Therefore,theplatformshouldalsoenablecitizenstoidentifyproblemstobeaddressedthroughresearchandinnovation.Problemswouldbefreelysubmitted,thendemocraticallyrankedontheplatform.Researchersandinnovatorscanthenapplywithproposalstargetingspecificproblems.Themission-orientedresearchandinnovationfundingbytheEUneedstobedefinedatitscorebycitizens.

3.2Secondapproach:EconomicDemocracy146)Theproblemofdecision-makinginresearchandinnovationextendsbeyondfundingagenciesandscientists.Mostofthedecisionsoninnovationsaretakenwithintheeconomicspherebycapitalists.TheBigTechcompaniesoftheworldarecommandingthelargestplannedeconomiesinhistory–notonlytheirmonopoliesbutalsotheiruseofdigitaltechnologiestoorganisetheireconomicprocessesworkoutsideofamarketasweknowit.Thiscertainlyisagravethreattodemocracyandfaircompetition.147)Todemocratiseresearchandinnovationwealsoneedtofindwaystodemocratisetheeconomyandtofostermoredecentralisedeconomicarrangements,collectivedecision-makingandstructuresforsharedresponsibilities.Inshort,weneedtodemocratiseeconomicdecisionmaking.DiEM25’slabourpillaraddressestheneedforworkersparticipationincompanies.148)Withthehelpofdigitalsystems,newwaysoforganisingbusinesses,innovationprocessesandcollaboration,andcollectiveownershipbecomepossible.Weneedtotapintotheseandhelpmoreamoredemocraticeconomyandmoredemocratictechnologiestoemerge.Digitaltechnologiescanhelptocreatenewandmoredemocraticorganisationalformsforeconomicactivityandforgoverninginfrastructures.Verypromisingideasanddevelopmentsareongoinginthemovementforplatformcooperativismwheretheaimistomakeworkers,usersandotherstakeholderstheownersofplatformsthatcoordinateeconomicactivities,e.g.taxidriversowningandoperatingtheirowndigitalplatforminsteadofworkingunderdireconditionsforamonopolisticdigitalplatform.149)Digitaltechnologiesarealreadybeingusedtocoordinateandtogoverneconomicprocesses.Thishintsatabigopportunitytoshapeeconomicsystemsinthe21stcentury.Whatifwetakethesetechnologicalcapabilitiesandusethemradicallydifferentlythantheircurrentmasters:toshapeeconomiesthatfostersocialjusticeandhelptokeepourproductionandconsumptionwithinplanetaryboundaries?WhatifwiththetechnologiesofanInternetofthingsandAutomatedDecisionMakingprocesses(“ArtificialIntelligence”)wecouldalsobuildcoordinationmechanismsthataredemocraticallycontrolled(seealsothe

proposalon“laborintelligence”inchapter1)andmovecertaineconomicactivitiesandusesofinfrastructuresbeyondthemarket?Howcouldideassuchasthatofan“economyforthecommongood”beimplementedinsuchsystems?

Chapter4.Nextstepsandopenissues

4.1Openissues-othertechnologies150)ThisPillarfocusesveryheavilyoninformationtechnology,data,digitization,algorithms.Yet,therearemanyothertechnologiesthataffectourdailylives.Tomentionjustacouple:

- Pharmaceuticals- Medicine(fromhardwaretoknowledge)- Biotechnology(avastareaoftechnologywithpotentiallyenormous

impactondailylives)- Newmaterials- Energy,fromgenerationtodistributiontostorage- Spaceandaviation- Defense&military(drones,killermachines)- CRISPR- Recycling- InternetofThings- VR/AR- Cybersecurityandencryption- …

151)Theeditorsofthispaperarepainfullyawareofthis.Whileourcrowdsourcingmethodologyhasgreatbenefits,wealsonoticedthattheinputandfeedbackwehavereceivedhasbeenprimarilyfocusedonthedigitalrealmanditsimplications.152)ThispartlyreflectsthepreferencesofthemembersofDiEM25whohaveprovideduswiththeircontributions,butalsothefactthata)digitaltechnologiesseemtobeattheforefrontofthepublicdebatetoday;andb)“everythingbecomessoftware”–weseethateveninthearea’snotcovered,theimpactofinformationtechnologyisprevalent:itcouldbearguedforexample,thattheprincipleswediscusscouldalsoapplytotheinformationaspectofbiotechnology,therebyprovidingusefulinsightsintohowpolicyshouldbeshapedintheseareas.153)Generallyspeakinghowever,webelievethatchapters2and3doprovideafirstanswertothejustifiedcriticismthatweomitlargepartsoftechnologyindetail.154)Inaddition,weprovideinAnnex1afirstattemptatdefiningmoregeneralprinciplesthatcouldbethebasisofanypolicytowardsanytechnology.Inthatrespect,morefeedbackfromourmemberswouldbeverywelcome.

4.2Openissues–detailsofpolicy155)Wehavereceivedfeedbackonv1thatitwasa)notdetailedenough,andb)toodetailed.Itis,atthispointintime,aninsolvableconundrum.Wehavedecidedtotryandstriketherightbalancebetweengeneralprinciplesand

specificproposals.Weassumethat,dependingontheviewpointoftheDiEM25readership,wehavegottenthatbalancenotquiteperfect.Tobeastransparentaspossible:ourgoalhasbeentowriteapaperthatwouldwithstandareasonabletestoftime–itshouldstillberelevantin5yearstime.Giventhespeedoftechnologicaldevelopment,thatisnotaneasythingtodo.Pleaseprovideusfeedbackonhowwearedoingintryingtoachievethatbalance.

4.3Nextsteps-process156)Thisisthesecondversionofthepaper.ItwillbesubmittedtoallDiEM25members,withaninvitationtoprovidefeedbackandcomments.Theproposedenddateforthatiscurrently31December2018.Afterthat,athird,andfinallyrevisedversion,willbeeditedandproposedforanallmembervotetobeadoptedaspartoftheProgressiveAgendaforEurope.157)Whenyougiveusyourfeedbackonanyoftheparagraphsandideasinthispaper,pleaseprovidetheparagraphnumbertomakeiteasyonus.Pleasealsoprovideuswithfurtherideaswherenecessary.Don’thesitatetopointoutgapsoromissions.Whenyouprovideuswithpolicyproposals,pleasealsotrytostrikethebalancebetweengeneralanddetail–philosophicalstatementstendtobelessusable(unlessyoucanspotahugephilosophicalmistakeoromission),butwealsowon’tputinspecificdetailsofdraftlegislationonatopic.ThatisforalaterstageinDiEM25’sdevelopmentasamovement.

Annex1:DiEM25guidingprinciplesonTechnologyPolicy

1.Technologyserveshumanity,nottheotherwayaround.Whatdoesthatmean?Technologicaldevelopmentisnotagoalinitself.Technologyexiststoservehumanprogress.Whentechnologyharmshumanity,itshouldberegulated,restricted,orevenbanned.Andallaspectsofhumanity,suchaswelfare,health,easeofuse,values,andsocialrelationshipsofallhumanshavetobetakenintoaccount.DiEM25firmlysupportshumanrightsinthefaceoftechnology–humans,allhumans,comefirst,andtechnologysecond.

2.Technologycanbeawesome.Whatdoesthatmean?Technologicaldevelopmentcanbeaformidableforceforgood.Technologyisakeycontributortoourcivilization’sabilitytoprovidehealth,welfare,socialinteraction,freedom,safetyandhappiness.Technologyallowsfortheincreasesinproductivityenablinghumanprogress.DiEM25firmlysupportssoundandpositivetechnologicaldevelopmentthatbenefitsmankind,andrejectsLudditeanti-technologicalthinking.

3.Thereisalwaysachoice.

Whatdoesthatmean?Everytechnologicaldevelopmentistheresultofchoices.Choicesmadebygovernments,investors,consumers,manufacturers,distributorsandmanyothers.Notechnologyisgod-givenorinvisiblehand-given.Notechnologyisunavoidableorun-opposable.DiEM25believesthat,asasociety,wehavethedutytobeawareofthefactthatwemakechoicesontechnology.Choicesontechnicalstandards.Oninteroperability.Onownershipanduseoftechnology.Oncontrolandregulationoftechnology.Thosechoices,andthedebatearoundthem,mustbecomevisibletothepubliceye,andexposedonthepublicplatform.DiEM25firmlysupportsdemocracyandrejectstechnocracy.

4.ThereisnosuchthingasafreelunchWhatdoesthatmean?Everythingcomesatacost.Alsotechnology.Thereareatleastthreeinherentcostsoftechnology.Thefirstcostisthateverytechnologyrequiresinitialinvestment.Whenthatinvestmentcomesfromthestateoranothercollective,itmustberecognizedandrewarded.Thesecondcostisthat,byselectingorbenefitingonetechnologyoveranother,someonealwayslosesout.Itisahiddencost,paidbythebeneficiariesofthetechnologywechoosenottodevelop.Thethirdisthecostrelatedtocreatingandusingatechnology.Frompollutiontotrafficvictims,manypeoplepayaheavypricefortechnology.DiEM25wantssocietytorecognizethecostsoftechnologytosociety,inadditiontoitsbenefits.Then,bothcostsandbenefitsneedtobeproperlyallocatedand/orcompensated.

5.Valueisinsharing

Whatdoesthatmean?Technologyistheresultofvaluecreation,and,inturn,enablesthecreationofmorevalue.Butvaluedoesnotstandbyitself.Valueexistsinrelationtootherthings,andtopeople.Artificialboundariesthatblockorslowdownthecreativesharingoftechnologydamagesociety.Themorevalueandtechnologyareshared;themoretheycancreatevalueinreturn.Bysharingtechnologyandknowledge,societyensuresthatmuchmorevalueiscreatedthanby“protecting”it.DiEM25firmlysupportssharingtechnology,andrejectsmonopoliesorrentseeking.

6.ThereisnonaturaldistributionoftheproceedsoftechnologyWhatdoesthatmean?The“invisiblehand”isadogma,anditdoesnotactuallyexist.Theproceedsoftechnologyoriginatefromthewholeofsociety–noinventorisanisland.Sharingtheproceedsoftechnologyacrosssocietyisamatterofessentialfairness.Thisisbecausenon-regulatedsystemsarestructurallynotcapabletoprovideafairandjustdistributionoftheproceedsoftechnology.

Therefore,wemustestablishrulesonhowtheproceedsoftechnologicalprocessbenefitalldifferentpartsofsociety.Thatisaquintessentialdemocraticprocess:theclashofdifferentinterestgroupsmustbedoneopenly,throughdebate,withenforceablerulesofengagement.DiEM25stronglybelievesthatthedecisiononallocationoftheproceedsoftechnologicaldevelopmentmustbeopenlyanddemocraticallydiscussed.DiEM25firmlyrejectsthedogmaoftheinvisiblehand.

7.Westandontheshouldersofgiants

Whatdoesthatmean?Technologydoesnotfallfromthesky.Fortensofthousandsofyears,humanshavemadeincrementalprogressindevelopingtechnology.Itistheresultofcollaborationandco-operationbetweenmany.Theknowledgehandeddownfromourancestorsisabsolutelynecessaryforustobuildonit.Andjustlikeweborrowedthatknowledgefromourancestors,weneedtopassitontothenextgenerations.DiEM25rejectsartificialboundariesaroundknowledge,andwantstoensurethatcontinuedprogressremainspossiblethroughthesharingofbotholdandnewknowledge.

8.NoFrankenstein-principle

Whatdoesthatmean?Oursocietyisbecomingevermorecomplex,asisourtechnology.50yearsago,awell-trainedengineercouldunderstand,andrepair,alotoftechnology.Thatisnolongerthecase.Withhyper-specializationcomeshyper-mutualdependency.Sometimeswedon’tunderstandfullythetechnologywecreate.Therefore,themythofthesolegeniussolvingafundamentalprobleminhis(never,bytheway,“her”)basementisnolongeruseful–quitetheopposite.Theeverincreasedspecializationandcomplexityoftechnologymakesitnecessaryforoursocietytoopenupasmuchinformationaspossibleabouthowthingswork–soweareabletounderstandwhatgoeswrongwhensomethinggoeswrong.Asitinevitablywill.DiEM25rejectstheFrankensteinmythasaworkablebasisfordevelopingandmaintainingknowledgeandinnovation.Anevermorecomplexandspecializedsocietyandtechnologydemandsasmuchopenknowledgeandcommunicationaspossible.

9.Technologyreflectsourvalues

Whatdoesthatmean?Technologyisnevervalue-free.Thewaywefund,adopt,useandregulatetechnology,ornot,reflectssociety’schoiceofitsvaluesandpriorities.E.g.wecurrentlyacceptthatthousandsofchildrenarekilledeveryyearthroughsociety’sincoherentapproachtotheuseoftransportationtechnology.Thatisareflectionofoursociety’sprioritiesandvalues.Wemustbemoreawareofhowchoicesaroundtechnologymustberootedinvalues,andopenlydiscussanddecideontheminademocraticway.Theagendasettingofthedebatearoundtechnologyandvaluesshouldbeopen,andnotsetbythetechnologyindustryitself.DiEM25stronglysupportsopenandhealthydiscussionsonthevaluesthatarereflectedthroughourchoicesaroundtechnology,andfirmlyrejectsthenotionofvalue-freetechnology.Negativevaluessuchascorruption,fraudorprivilegearenotacceptable,andtechnologymaynotbeusedtodefendorstrengthenthem.

10.Technologysolvestechnicalproblems,nothumanones

Whatdoesthatmean?Technologicalmessianismisnottherightapproach.Technologyisatoolthatcanhelptosolvetechnicalproblems.Butitishumanswhomustdirecthowtechnologyisused,anditspurposemustbetosolvehumanproblems.Justice,equality,fairness,orthelackthereof,willnotbesolvedbytechnologyalone.Withouthumanandmoralguidancetechnologyhasasmuchopportunitytomakeproblemsworseratherthanbetter.Already,weseehowprejudiceandbiascanbestrengthenedthroughtechnology,makingtechnologypartoftheproblem,ratherthanthesolution.Intheend,technologyisandremainsatool.Andwemustchoosehowtouseit.DiEM25believesthattechnologymustbeusedasatooltoaddressproblemsofhumansociety,andfirmlyrejectstechnologicalmessianism.