Apps to fight against coronavirus: two questions and one (European) answer

European Association for Digital Transition Economic future , , , , ,
Apps to fight against coronavirus: two questions and one (European) answer

As the weeks pass and the coronavirus crisis evolves, debates about the day after have become increasingly important. The ‘day after’ poses some enormous difficulties: the virus will continue to be here, and the vaccine will still not be a reality. Many hopes have been placed on technology in order for the economy to not remain paralyzed – an economy that, in large part, is based on the movement of people – and to avoid, once again, the nightmare of an outbreak capable of saturating hospitals and ending the lives of tens of thousands of people. More specifically, hopes are placed on the effectiveness of applications that track the proximity of citizens. Like this, health services can contact all those who have been in contact with others who have become sick to apply selective isolation measures.  

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Data processing in light of the pandemic: Europe should not abandon its model

European Association for Digital Transition Rights and freedom , , ,
Data processing in light of the pandemic: Europe should not abandon its model

The severity of the coronavirus pandemic not only reminds us of the real meaning of the internet: it is also putting discussions on the table that the EU did not consider having just a few weeks ago. The technological ability to track the footsteps of its citizens, facing an expanding disease that is countered with social isolation, is a huge temptation for EU governments. And, with tens of thousands of deaths throughout the EU, it would be incomprehensible to completely dispense of a tool capable of combating the virus. 

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Internet and Coronavirus: this is the real Social Network

European Association for Digital Transition Economic future , , ,
Internet and Coronavirus: this is the real Social Network

Nothing will be the same when this crisis is over. Just as the way we greet strangers will change, we will also put more value on health professionals, the corner pharmacist, our children’s teachers, the cashier at the supermarket. All of them, with different depth and levels of responsibility, have been there as our way of life has collapsed from a public health crisis unprecedented in recent history.  

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The Role of Business in the Data Debate

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The Role of Business in the Data Debate

Is privacy a vestige of the past? Many think that in the midst of the twenty-first century this simple concept has disappeared. Nevertheless, lately the debate seems to be changing, and concern about privacy is experiencing a resurgence. This mood change was largely triggered by the Cambridge Analytica scandal, which showed how personal data was shared and used without the knowledge of users for false purposes, such as influencing various elections.

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How are European institutions facing the digital transition?

European Association for Digital Transition Democratic quality , , , , , , ,
How are European institutions facing the digital transition?

The challenges of the digital transition are complex and encompass all types of areas: from the defence of democratic values to purely legal matters, without forgetting free competition, defence against cyber-terrorism or data protection. Consequently, several European institutions are responsible, to a greater or lesser extent, for designing a proactive European response, without falling behind the United States and China and maintaining the standards that have made the European Union a tool for progress for more than 440 million citizens. 

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The EU now has a strategy to face development of Artificial Intelligence

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The EU now has a strategy to face development of Artificial Intelligence

On February 19, 2020, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, fulfilled one of the promises she made when taking her position: to publish a White Paper on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the first 100 days of her mandate. With this text, open for public consultation until May 19, 2020, the European Union clarifies its general outlines to face one of the greatest challenges of our time:  To get the best possible results from Artificial Intelligence without leaving anyone behind or harming liberties and civil rights.

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