Denmark has become too dependent on the tech giants when it comes to digital infrastructure. An expert group points to possible ways out of their clutches, and it requires a long-term action plan. It’s all about buying European, building more services in Europe and, not least, working towards technological sovereignty. This can be done by introducing pilot projects in both municipalities and schools that are currently dependent on Microsoft and Google.
We are vulnerable in three areas when we are dependent on large commercial companies. Economically, democratically, and in terms of security. We have gradually arrived at this consensus in Denmark. But what do we do to move forward? In a report launched from December 2024, the expert group, of which I was a member, presented 7 principles that Denmark should work with in the long term to achieve more control over the digital infrastructure. In the report, there is some slightly indirect hidden advice, which I brush out here after each principle.
Principle 1
There must be an overview of the tech giants’ influence on our digital infrastructure. The expert group proposes to establish a temporary council for digital infrastructure that can create transparency, overview, and advise on how the digital infrastructure is designed in a responsible way, working for the greatest possible Danish/European digital sovereignty
Principle 2
Data must be accessible in ways that can benefit and strengthen the individual and the society of the future. Therefore, Danes should be better informed about their right to move data and use it. In addition, data localisation can be required in the EU in all areas related to digital infrastructure. Finally, we should look into models such as the Data For Good Foundation, which with EU funding has established a secure ecosystem where data can be shared safely.
Principle 3
Alternatives to the services of tech giants must be allowed to emerge and grow. The government should pave the way for building alternatives to the tech giants through business regulation, increased competition, procurement rules, investment, and public-private partnerships, says the expert group.
Principle 4
No one should be forced to use the services of tech giants to get information and participate in social, cultural, and democratic communities. Therefore, politicians should take responsibility to also use channels other than the big social media when they want to communicate with citizens.
Comment: I personally tried to get several concrete suggestions in here, for example, that a social network could be established on a Danish server via the Mastodon protocol ActivityPub, and that we could force state-supported publicist media – including DR – to take the lead with a platform where we can discuss politics and society without being exposed to the tech giants’ algorithms, but the indirect recommendation ended up a bit vague:’For example, consider whether media support can be improved and made more platform- and technology-neutral.
Principle 5
The public sector should not be dependent on the services of tech giants. The public sector should take the lead and choose alternatives to the tech giants, such as cloud services and AI systems. The focus should be on data protection, data ethics, interoperability, and open source. Specifically, the government could appoint three pilot municipalities that are supported financially and professionally in transitioning to alternatives to the tech giants’ products for inspiration and experience sharing with other municipalities.
Comment: A very important recommendation. If pilot trials are to be started with anything other than Microsoft in the municipalities, it must be done with an order from above and with financial support, as experience shows that it is not something KL does by itself.
Principle 6
Danish educational institutions must be free from commercial tech giants. Therefore, KL should be supported financially and professionally to establish pilot trials in schools in three municipalities to use systems and independent (possibly open-source) tools that are not owned by the tech giants.
Comment: Also an important recommendation if we are to embrace a long-term change where our children will not grow up with either Google or Microsoft but also know that there are plenty of independent transparent alternatives that do not stalk them or force them into a closed silo.
Principle 7
Tech giants’ platforms must be safe places to do business. It’s about regulation and informing Danes why it’s a better idea to shop on European platforms, where consumer protection is higher and unions are allowed, rather than Chinese or American ones.
Minister for Digitalization Caroline Stage said at the press conference that the first step is to acknowledge the dependency, and that this has now happened, but that working out of it will not happen overnight.
We must, she said, work to build alternatives, and when Denmark takes over the presidency of the EU in 2025, digital competitiveness will be on the agenda.
Business Minister Morten Bødskov thanked the expert group for setting a direction for how we can avoid becoming slaves to the tech giants.
Photo: Pernille Tranberg. From the press conference with Minister for Europe Marie Bjerre on the left, chairman of the expert group Professor Mikkel Flyverbom, Minister for Digitalization Caroline Stage and Minister for Business Morten Bødskov.
Translated by the help of deepl.com