Tech&Responsible?

Tech companies make things seem closer and easier. Your friends, your city, your favourite restaurant; travelling, staying at somebody’s place, or participating in the public debate. The disruptive nature of tech companies and how they are changing the way we relate with our environment have made their growth seem unstoppable.

The digital economy has an extensive positive impact. But all revolutions impact in a twofold way and tech companies have also generated negative externalities. Data leaks, facilitating interference in the democratic process, difficult-to-fit forms of work or the current debate on digital taxation show that rules are needed to generate and maintain trust. Public opinion and the companies themselves woke up late to that reality, and the latter are being held accountable for it.

What now? Slowing down digital innovation directly means limiting the potential that data holds to improve our environment, our cities, our mobility, our habits. Is it worth it then? From our point of view, definitely not, but we are also aware that something must be done. Let’s slow down, look around, question more and think of ways to both make a positive impact and maximise the potential of data. Ultimately, we want to develop that potential, but responsibly.

Tech companies are neither the good or the bad guy of this movie. They are innovative organisations with a huge impact both in society and economy, and need to take responsibility for that. Measuring their footprint, taking all relevant actors into account, building healthy relationships with governments and communities, constructively proposing solutions for issues under debate, working hard to be a step ahead and lead the way for a more sustainable business model. These are some examples of what we need to be doing.

We have plenty of good precedents. AirBnB and Uber reached agreements with Estonia to simplify tax settlement by partners; Etsy coordinates and channels individual makers and sellers petitions for them to reach the targeted audience; Apple ramped up efforts on privacy and security; Twitter is fighting against attacks and defamation. Tech companies have charged up their batteries with regard to a more sustainable impact and role within society.

There is still a long way to go. We at Glovo, want to be an active part of it, becoming a tech-first responsible company, and we are taking the first big leaps to get there. Stay tuned!