EU dignifies liberalism, necessitating a technology policy update to align
In the face of the tremendous conflict sweeping across Europe since 1945's end, a stark reminder of Lenin's foresight, the EU has rolled up its sleeves and stepped up to the plate. Leaders across the continent are bracing themselves against the harsh reality, as summarized by President Macron in a concise statement: "War in Europe isn't just a chapter in history books anymore, it's here. Democracy is no longer inviolable, it's under siege right in front of our eyes." To ward off this looming threat, a strong and cohesive response is needed, and an unyielding alliance with the United States - a.k.a the "arsenal of democracy" - is indispensable.
Europe's response to Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine has catapulted the continent into crisis mode, leaving no room for complacency. The sprawling economic sanctions imposed on Russia - including SWIFT access restrictions, oligarch asset freezes, and Western fund divestment - sent the Russian economy spiraling into chaos in a matter of days. European airspace was closed off to Russian carriers while massive defense spending hikes were announced by nations like Germany, who pledged €100b for defense in 2022 alone. The ensuing weeks and months will reveal just how far the EU is willing to go to source critical raw materials like titanium, neon, and aluminum, of which Russia is a significant supplier, as Europe seeks to diminish its reliance on Russian commodities.
The urgency of the moment has jolted Europe out of a decades-long slumber, as the continent grapples with the complex realities of geopolitics. Robert Kagan's observation that Europe had been hibernating on a "peace-loving planet, Venus," while the United States lived on an "aggressive realities planet, Mars," is now rings truer than ever. The cold, hard lessons of ancient geopolitical realities have finally stirred Europe's leaders to action, reminding them of Hobbes' admonition that life in an ungoverned world can be "nasty, brutish, and short," requiring constant vigilance and the ability to defend oneself.
Fortunately, Europe and the United States are not "solitary" in their struggle against the adversity, becoming united by a common cause – safeguarding the ideals of freedom and democracy. The past century bears witness to the success of a coalition of liberal democracies in defeating fascism and communism, paving the way for the rule of law, free markets, and pluralistic politics to flourish across the globe. Russia's authoritarian aggression now threatens to undermine these hard-won achievements, something German Chancellor Olaf Scholz addressed eloquently in a speech to his nation's Parliament: "If we want the past thirty years to mean more than just a historical fluke, then we must do everything in our power to preserve the unity of the European Union, the might of NATO, and forge closer bonds with our friends and allies around the world."
The West must learn to navigate the tumultuous waters of the 21st century with a steadfast determination to protect its values from the rising tide of authoritarian tyranny. As liberal democracies prepare to embark on this perilous journey, an urgent rethink of technology policy is essential on both sides of the Atlantic. In order to mount a credible defense of freedom and democracy, close collaboration between Europe and the United States is vital to strengthen shared capacity in promoting and enforcing liberal interests.
The digitally-driven progress of the 21st century demands an equally potent digital collaboration between the EU and the US, lest they find themselves weakened by disparate approaches in digital strategy. As societies grow ever more interconnected, regulatory harmonization will become increasingly critical to ensure mutual growth, security, and the ongoing success of an open and interconnected world.
In the realm of foreign policy, technology serves as the bridge between goals and capabilities. In an effort to adapt to the seismic shift brought about by the digital age, the European Union is currently engaged in a multi-year effort to pass landmark legislation regulating digital technologies. If the EU fails to pay sufficient heed to the secondary effects of regulatory and economic misalignment with the United States, it risks perpetuating a permanent rift between the two, to the benefit of the very authoritarian powers that pose a threat to them both.
Policymakers must therefore take a fresh look at five crucial areas of technology policy in light of their impact on US-EU digital alignment:
- Critical Examination of Goals: European legislators should scrutinize whether the objective of digital sovereignty is, in fact, veiling digital protectionism or attempted decoupling. Protectionist regulatory measures, such as the proliferation of data localization rules, pose a severe risk to the viability of digital free trade principles, which have brought immense economic benefits to both sides of the Atlantic.
- Privacy Shield 2.0: Immediately, the United States and the EU should hammer out a new Privacy Shield agreement to guarantee data flow across both jurisdictions, preventing a potential fragmentation of the transatlantic digital economy. An updated Privacy Shield II must offer citizens from both sides new and meaningful redress mechanisms and clarify the legal definition of personal data under Article 4(1) of the GDPR.
- Bias-Free Regulation: EU legislation should be subject to rigorous evaluation to ensure it does not favor one side over the other, such as the Digital Markets Act's apparent intention to target the largest US tech firms. To foster a fair and productive partnership, the DMA should be amended to include meaningful European and foreign competitors as gatekeepers.
- AI Governance: The EU's efforts to regulate AI should not be overly influenced by China's approach to technology governance, designed to control its population. Instead, policymakers should establish a forward-thinking framework that addresses safety concerns while supporting innovation and minimizing harmful AI.
- Cooperation in Key Digital Policy Areas: The EU and US should expand their collaboration in areas such as cybersecurity, AI R&D, and military AI applications, for instance, developing a Geneva Convention on Data to establish international norms to limit cyberwarfare during both conflicts and peaceful times, and addressing export controls for dual-use technologies and semiconductor R&D partnerships.
These issues demand urgent attention from both sides, with the upcoming EU-US Trade and Technology Council meeting in May the perfect opportunity to face the challenge head-on, ensuring that the long-standing partnership between the EU and the US endures in the face of these tumultuous times. If Europe and the US align their regulatory approaches, they will not only strengthen their tech sectors, but also safeguard democratic values and security for future generations. As liberal democracies, we must prioritize the free flow of data to continue to build extensive social and economic ties that create a world greater than the sum of its parts. To curtail the spread of authoritarianism, policymakers must work together to promote open communication and collaboration, ensuring that the digital age remains an era of growth and enlightenment, rather than a dark age of tyranny.
Image credit: Pixabay
- In the digital realm, the European Union and the United States must collaborate closely to maintain their technological prowess, as the threat of authoritarian powers looms large.
- The digital economy, a cornerstone of the 21st century, demands harmonized regulation to ensure mutual growth, security, and the continued success of an open and interconnected world.
- The ambition for digital sovereignty must be critically evaluated to prevent digital protectionism, maintaining the viability of digital free trade principles.
- An updated Privacy Shield Agreement needs to be negotiated to guarantee the smooth flow of data across the EU and the US, preserving the cohesion of the transatlantic digital economy.
- European and American competitors should be included in the Digital Markets Act to promote a fair and productive partnership, ensuring no favoritism towards one side.
- The EU should establish an AI regulation framework that prioritizes safety, innovation, and minimization of harmful AI, without being overly influenced by China's authoritarian approach.
- Collaboration between the EU and US should be deepened in areas such as cybersecurity, AI R&D, and military AI applications, including discussions on the creation of a Geneva Convention on Data to limit cyberwarfare.
