News item | 08-03-2022 | 20:48
In digital developments, public values and the perspective of users must be central and the government will act in a normative way to safeguard public values. The government also wants to make a strong commitment to capitalizing on digital opportunities in the areas of sustainability, care, education and mobility and the government itself. This is what State Secretary Alexandra Van Huffelen (Digitalization) writes in a letter to the House of Representatives about the digitization strategy, which, together with the ministers Micky Adriaansens (Economic Affairs and Climate), Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius (Justice and Security) and Franc Weerwind (Legal Protection). drawn up. The government wants large tech companies to do much more to combat discrimination, polarization and threats to democracy. In this way, the digitization strategy contributes to a safe, inclusive and promising digital society for all Dutch people.
State Secretary Van Huffelen: “Digitalization has brought us a lot of good and also offers us many opportunities for the future, but the downsides have also become very clear. Discrimination, hate speech, disinformation and polarization thrive in the new information society. The recent developments show how urgent and topical this is: in addition to the terrible war in Ukraine, an information battle is raging online.” The letter to Parliament sets out the main points for taking the digital transition further. Van Huffelen: “The power within the digital market rests too much with a few large tech companies. We must ensure that the rules that apply in the physical world also apply online. We embrace the opportunities that digitization offers us, but on the basis of public values that are important to us. With more self-determination and a focus on privacy and security, we can show that things can be done differently.”
Digital foundation
In order to start seizing the opportunities that digitization offers, a solid foundation is required in which Dutch values and fundamental rights are anchored, the ministers write in the letter to the House. This solid foundation, which is translated into laws, rules and standards, stems from Dutch and European policy. This prevents or limits the undesirable consequences of digitization and monitors the human dimension online. In addition, the cabinet is committed to an excellent and secure infrastructure that makes fast fixed and mobile internet available everywhere and to everyone.
The government is working on more rules for digital markets, infrastructure and services and is no longer leaving that to a handful of large technology companies. The government will act in a normative and regulating way. For example, the Netherlands played a major role in the drafting of the forthcoming EU Digital Markets Act that will improve the competitive position of other companies on the world’s largest digital platforms and protect users. The EU Digital Services Act will ensure, among other things, that internet services must offer more extensive protection to consumers and entrepreneurs who offer or purchase products or services via a platform or service. This includes combating illegal content online.
Digital security
Government, citizens and businesses are better protected against digital threats, for example by including security aspects such as in the design of government systems (‘privacy by design’). Citizens gain more control over their own data through the development of a widely usable digital identity, so that they can identify themselves securely in the digital world. Unsafe digital services and products will also be banned from the EU market from 2024. Minimum requirements apply in the field of cyber security (‘safety by design’).
Digital society and digital economy
New digital services and products have enormous economic and social potential, which the government wants to stimulate. For example, by focusing on digital skills among young and old: everyone should be able to participate digitally. At the same time, efforts are being made to provide digital education that is in line with the digital skills that the labor market demands from starters. The cabinet also supports new digital applications in healthcare with preconditions for, for example, information security. The government encourages the development of sustainable technologies that contribute to achieving climate goals. Market parties are challenged to come up with climate-friendly technological solutions. The government supports research, pilots and demonstration projects and has formulated the most important knowledge and innovation tasks in an integrated knowledge and innovation agenda. All these developments require a digital sector that is challenged every day to show the best of itself, and in which entrepreneurs, governments, researchers and citizens work together.
Digital government
The government’s digital ambitions are only credible if the government itself sets a good example. By not focusing on your own organization, but on the online and offline world of people. Digitization is being used to facilitate the new management culture. The Government Commissioner for Information Management has recently started a structural improvement of the information management, in order to be able to offer more openness to parliament, the press and citizens. The hard lessons from the childcare allowance affair, for example, are being applied. That means cleaning up systems and setting higher standards for how governments handle information. For example, the government is setting a good example with the transparent use of algorithms and implementation rules. The recent introduction of algorithm registers in some municipalities is a source of inspiration in this regard. Such initiatives are encouraged and scaled up.
Together with science, society and European partners
In the coming months, the main points of the letter will be further elaborated in a cabinet-wide work agenda for digitization. The government is doing this together with all the ministries involved and with a wide range of stakeholders from society, science, business, local authorities and European partners.