Commissioner-designate Virkkunen falls into the trope claiming that digitalisation will provide a solution to all problems, from the #TwinTransition for the #climatecrisis, to improving public services and healthcare.

EDRi

But what about its exclusionary effects, #AlgorithmicBias and #discrimination?

EDRi

Digital de-regulation also seems to be high on the Commissioner-designate's agenda.

She singles out "digital rules" for "review" and commits to reducing "admin burden" - a red flag for important laws like the Digital Services Act #DSA, Digital Markets Act #DMA & #AIAct

EDRi

Virkkunnen promises to ensure that market players take responsibility in keeping online spaces safe for children.

We can only hope that she means having a more holistic approach to this, and not through blanket bans and ‘privacy-preserving’ #AgeVerification systems

EDRi

The tech hype bingo has started with quantum, AI factories, digital innovation for public services...

But will #HumanRights and tech's ecological impact be considered?

Given what we are hearing so far from Commissioner-designate Virkkunen, it will come last - if at all ️

EDRi

SuperTuesdays are now a thing, and so are safe online environments for minors?!

We are glad that Virkkunnen stresses her commitment to #DSA enforcement and guidelines. Fingers crossed she continues this balanced approach to protection online, after highlighting the positive impacts of online spaces and not only focusing on the scares.

EDRi

Two far-right European Parliament groups have brought out the tired trope that #EU's platform regulation rules amount to censorship.

They fail to see that #HateSpeech =/= #FreeSpeech ‍️

Virkkunen's responses are an attempt to defend the #DSA, but we'd have liked to hear a stronger reply.

EDRi

Denying reality? 🧐

Commissioner-designate Virkunnen says she and the EU_Commission support #OpenSource tools and development.

But the Commission recently cut funding for open-source software out of Horizon 2025 funding.

Read more from @fsfe ️ https://edri.org/our-work/european-commission-cuts-funding-support-for-free-software-projects/

EDRi

The EU #ChipsAct is also a hot topic, with Commissioner Henna Virkkunen promising more EU-developed chips.

Fun fact: in Belgium, we call it the 'Frites Act'