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‘The Tech Coup: How to Save Democracy from Silicon Valley’ by Marietje Schaake
Both the Librorum and Annual Seminar were broadcasted live via this webpage. Interpretation was available in English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian.
On 4 December 2024, from 10.00 to 11.00 (CET) a Librorum event of the FMA took place. FMA Member Marietje Schaake presented her latest publication The Tech Coup: How to Save Democracy from Silicon Valley at a hybrid Librorum event in co-operation with the European Parliament Liasion Office in The Netherlands.
Ms. Schaake, a former MEP and expert in digital policy, delivered critical insights on how advancements in technology are reshaping democratic systems.
Highlights from the Q&A with Ms. Marietje Schaake
The Q&A session with Maartje Schaake, moderated by FMA Board Member Michael Hindley, offered participants a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the insights presented in her book. Key takeaways included:
- Democracy in the Digital Era: Schaake emphasized the urgency of adapting democratic governance to address challenges posed by rapid technological advancements, advocating for policies that prioritize transparency, accountability, and citizen rights in the digital space.
- Regulating Big Tech: She highlighted the critical need for governments to step up and ensure that powerful tech corporations align with democratic values: “is it appropriate to have such big private powers without democratic guardrails and accountability at all? I believe that some of the solutions will have to come from a very laser focus on reclaiming the governance primacy on the part of democratic leaders and institutions. That should be the lens in every decision.” Ms. Schaake argued that regulation, rather than hindering innovation, can safeguard public interest while promoting ethical technological development.
- Global Perspectives on Technology: The audience explored the disparities in technological leadership and regulation across regions, with Europe needing to bridge gaps in innovation compared to the U.S. and China. Ms. Schaake stressed the importance of Europe establishing its own model that integrates advanced technology with strong protections for democracy and human rights.
- The Role of Artificial Intelligence: Ms. Schaake elaborated on AI’s transformative impact on society, describing it as both an opportunity and a potential risk to democratic processes. She advocated for collaborative international efforts to establish ethical frameworks for AI development.
The session concluded with a powerful reminder from Ms. Schaake: “Technology is not inherently good or bad—it is up to us to ensure that it serves democracy, rather than undermining it.”
This event reaffirmed the importance of fostering critical dialogue between policymakers, academics, and citizens to safeguard democracy in the digital age.
PROGRAMME LIBRORUM
“The Tech Coup: How to save Democracy from Silicon Valley” by former MEP Marietje Schaake
| 10.00 – 10.05 | Welcome by Klaus HÄNSCH, President of the European Parliament Former Members Association and Former President of the European Parliament |
| 10.05 – 10.10 | Introduction by Danny DE PAEPE, Head of the European Parliament Liaison Office (EPLO) in The Netherlands |
| 10.10 – 10.20 | Presentation of the author Marietje Schaake and the book by Manuel PORTO, FMA Board Member |
| 10.20 – 10.50 | Q&A session with author Marietje Schaake and the audience by Michael HINDLEY, FMA Board Member |
| 10.50 – 11.00 | Conclusions by Michael HINDLEY, FMA Board Member |
Following the Librorum event, the FMA Annual Seminar took place from 11.00 to 13.00.
These events are part of the FMA End of Year Greetings from 3-4 December 2024. The Annual Cocktail and Dinner on 3 December opened this greetings and was reserved to the Association’s Members who have received a communication from the FMA Secretariat by email.
Tags: Librorum