Charting a Vision of Progress for European Tech Policy
How Europe can become wealthier, fairer, and more inclusive, while ensuring all its people can benefit from technological leaps
When it comes to tech policy, it seems that there are two increasingly diverging interpretations of today’s world. On the one hand, we are told that technology is challenging our economy, our democracy, our very humanity.
We are told that large digital monopolies have stifled innovation and progress, that these platforms are incentivised to spread hate and challenge authority, and that technology is changing our society in dramatic and scary ways that necessitate extreme precaution.
We are told that we are victims, that we have lost control, and that we need to give more power and discretion to an ever bigger government to protect us from present and future harm.
In my view, the truth is very different.
Technology has empowered individuals, who have more choice and benefit from more competition, than the top 0.1% of 50 years ago.
The entire world is at our fingertips, thanks to digital services. And we are on the cusp of even bigger leaps.
There is a lot to be optimistic about, and if we focus on the good that technology has done, and can do, we can craft a technology policy that will create even more progress, abundance, and wealth for all Europeans, with accessibility, safety and sustainability at its core.
Technology as a Driver of Progress
Today, an individual can start a business and find success more easily than ever before. Even the most niche product can find its audience and grow thanks to cheap and effective digital advertising. New direct-to-consumer brands can not only challenge legacy incumbents, but become household names.
The creator economy is already worth $250 billion and estimated to double by 2027. The global mobile app economy is worth over $500 billion, and has created over 2.9 million jobs in the EU. These are economic opportunities made possible by the ecosystem strategies of large platforms. Most importantly, in the EU these platforms have broken down cross-border barriers, offering users a true single digital market.
For the consumer, technology is democratising. The most advanced devices are not the sole purview of royalty, they are common. Platforms have brought together global markets of supply competing to meet consumer demands at ever lower prices.
Technology companies are causing wider societal benefits, by leading the way on sustainability initiatives. More than 70% of the Global 500 technology companies have set net-zero targets by 2030 or earlier, and more than 90% by 2050, far ahead of any other industry group.
The technology industry is making incredible advancements in robotics, artificial intelligence, and digital blockchains — blurring the distinction between existing product boundaries, in what has been dubbed by some as a “moligopoly”.
Rather than the story of stagnation and ossification that some try to paint, the technology industry has never been more dynamic, innovative, and competitive. How many other industries, especially capital intensive ones, can boast so many large players investing billions and competing with each other, alongside innovation-leading new entrants?
It’s hard to realistically imagine how the industry could have developed better, unless you believe in nirvanas. Far from being an example of policy-failure, the technology industry should be considered a policy success. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement.
Global Leadership on Regulation to Prevent Harm
There has been much talk of how tech regulation can drive innovation in Europe, support Europe’s growth, and address challenges to her productivity and economic outlook. While some insist that there is nothing to worry about, Europe’s long-term outlook depends on reinvigorating its economy, not regressive regulation and de-growth.
The world’s challenges are too great to look backwards, we must look to new solutions that move us forwards. That’s not to say that regulation isn’t necessary; good regulation very much is necessary, and Europe should be expected to continue protecting its citizens from harm.
But good regulation needs to identify real objective harms, not imagined harm, moral panic and pessimism. Regulation should be tailored to address these harms, while preserving the accessibility and innovative capacity of today’s digital services. European regulation shouldn’t be causing less digital activity, but more.
A Single Market
One way to promote forward progress is to return focus to the type of regulation that Europe has proven to be best at. Regulation can promote innovation if it deepens and strengthens the European single market. It can do this by harmonising laws and removing cross-border legal uncertainty, and the complexity of multiple national authorities and layers of bureaucracy.
Unfortunately, what we’ve seen with some recent legislation, like the Digital Markets Act, is that instead of simplifying things, tech companies are now faced with an additional layer of sometimes conflicting regulatory objectives, and additional overlapping enforcement authorities (as well as new private enforcement). EU authorities need to go back to creating a one-stop-shop for legal certainty, so business can comply and get on with delivering new products and services for European users.
Investment & Talent
Another fundamental element is attracting the best human talent to work in Europe and the most progressive venture capital to invest in European start-ups. Europe needs to be seen not as a tourist destination or a source of red-tape, but a dynamic hub where people build and citizens’ needs are at the centre. This means encouraging Member States to make it easier and more attractive for the world’s best talent to work in their local tech ecosystems, and creating interoperability between each national ecosystem.
We have to ensure that advanced education, digital skills, and globally competitive technologies are available for students and young entrepreneurs in Europe, so they aren’t left behind. Europe’s path to success on the global stage lies in rewarding progress and innovation, not by depriving Europeans of the tools of the future. Because the rest of the world won’t wait.
Enforce Existing Laws Fairly
The sheer breadth of European digital regulation today is staggering compared to Europe’s geopolitical rivals, and much more still awaits implementation. To see the effects, it’s time to focus on enforcement. This is a call that has been echoed by Member States, by EU political parties, politicians and officials, and even Commissioners. It can be best achieved by making sure the rules are clear, applied fairly, proportionately and non-discriminatorily, that companies understand their responsibilities, that their rights of defence and liberty are protected, and that government decisions are properly justified.
A Better Approach for Europe
Europe is the most exciting place in the world for tech policy, but perhaps it should be a bit less exciting for lawyers and lobbyists, and a bit more exciting for engineers, creators, and founders.
The first step is preserving and rewarding the incredible gains that technological advances have afforded us, not assuming that they are a given.
The second is making sure that European tech policy is set up to give the next wave of innovators the greatest chance at success in building a wealthier, fairer, more inclusive Europe, while ensuring all people can benefit from technological leaps.
I am grateful to be joining Chamber of Progress as its new Senior Director for Europe — an industry trade association (whose industry partner are public). I will focus on promoting technology’s progressive future, with a particular interest in the following areas:
- Promoting competition and a strong European digital economy;
- Tailoring regulation to address harms while prioritising accessibility, safety, and sustainability;
- Deepening and strengthening Europe’s digital single market for entrepreneurs and tech-workers; and
- Building Europe’s innovation ecosystem.
It’s strange to hear European policymakers focus on how tough the EU’s digital rules are, or how quickly they are adopted. To me, Europe has always served as an example of how rule of law, evidence-based policymaking, and careful calibration of trade-offs can unite and strengthen.
That’s how Europe can lead globally on tech policy as well, not by reason of its force, but by the force of its reasoning.
As part of Chamber of Progress, I look forward to helping that reasoning be as fact-based, optimistic, and progressive as possible.
Chamber of Progress (progresschamber.org) is a center-left tech industry association promoting technology’s progressive future. We work to ensure that all people benefit from technological leaps, and that the tech industry operates responsibly and fairly.
Our work is supported by our corporate partners, but our partners do not sit on our board of directors and do not have a vote on or veto over our positions. We do not speak for individual partner companies and remain true to our stated principles even when our partners disagree.
