Sixteen Members of Club de Madrid are calling for the EU to safeguard democracy with the upcoming Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA), in a joint letter to European Commission President von der Leyen, coordinated together with the European Partnership for Democracy. The letter featured in an article by Reuters.
Sixteen former Presidents and Prime Ministers are calling for the EU to safeguard democracy with the upcoming Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA), in a joint letter to European Commission President von der Leyen.
“With the DSA and the DMA, the EU has an opportunity to create the transparency and accountability frameworks needed to ensure internet platforms, take appropriate measures to safeguard democratic processes and human rights, and address the challenging concentration of power,” the letter states.
Club de Madrid together with the European Partnership for Democracy have been jointly advocating for EU tech policy to help mitigate the threats to democracy created and amplified by these platforms. These challenges to democracy range from political manipulation in elections and disinformation to polarisation and a flailing media landscape.
On 15 December 2020, the European Commission will put forward the landmark DSA and DMA proposals, which may fundamentally alter the European tech space. With this letter to President von der Leyen, former European leaders warn the European Commission not to simply take a market regulation perspective, but centre the regulatory pieces on safeguarding European democracy. Leaders insist that the Commission stand up to big tech’s major lobbying power, and put forward regulation that holds these major players accountable.
