A Call for "Digital Only"

At the Digital Summit held in Frankfurt am Main, Federal Digital Minister Volker Wissing from the FDP underscored the need for Germany to transition to a "Digital Only" approach. The summit, which began recently, serves as a platform for discussing the country’s digital strategies. Wissing highlighted that although Germany's digital reputation is often perceived as poor, the situation isn’t as dire as portrayed. However, he emphasized the importance of shifting from traditional parallel solutions to a fully digital approach for efficiency and better data generation. "Without systematically generating data, we cannot fully leverage our opportunities," he stated.

Generating more data means having a robust foundation for AI-driven insights. Wissing cited the example of the Germany Ticket and the new Mobility Data Act, currently under discussion in the Bundestag. This legislation represents a step towards open data, ensuring, as Wissing stresses, that data is anonymized to avoid privacy concerns and potential backlash like the Big Brother Award.

Rethinking Data Protection

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Robert Habeck echoed the call for more data, stressing the significance of revisiting Germany's approach to data protection to bolster Europe's digital strength. He pointed out the complexity of having 18 different supervisory authorities monitoring data protection. While these measures were appropriate two decades ago, Habeck suggests they may not be suitable in the next 20 years as data protection should not hinder data utility.

Harnessing Data for AI

For Habeck, data is a valuable asset for AI development and is crucial for Europe's digital sovereignty. He acknowledged the superiority of companies like Google and ChatGPT in processing language data but sees significant potential in machine data and other applications within the EU. He emphasized that Germany alone cannot support this data space, hinting at a need for broader European collaboration.

Despite recent setbacks, Habeck reiterated his commitment to localize chip production within Europe. He noted the current dominance of South East Asia, particularly Taiwan and South Korea, in the semiconductor market, highlighting regional instability as a risk to reliable supply chains.

Regulatory Challenges

The discussions at the summit also touched on the necessity of regulation in creating trustworthy digital applications. Wissing cautioned that regulations should not be so stringent that they require costly legal advice for innovation to flourish. This sentiment is echoed in the regulation debate around platforms like TikTok, with Habeck illustrating the need for balanced digital policies as exemplified in the European Union's Digital Services Act. The Act could serve as a blueprint for aligning tech giants like Elon Musk with European values.

The Digital Summit, which brought together over 1,500 participants, including European leaders and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, forms part of a series initiated in 2006 and rotates annually across Germany.

Original Source from Heise Online.