European Commission, Europe Fit for Digital Age, VP Margrethe Vestager | Full Interview | Code 2021

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EU VP Margrethe Vestager discusses essential tech regulation and governance, emphasizing the need for competition, tax transparency, AI ethics, and digital literacy to shape the digital age.

Key takeaways
  • We need to focus on stopping bad behaviors known from antitrust cases to ensure competitiveness.
  • Big businesses should pay taxes where they create wealth, not hide behind loopholes.
  • It’s important to find a balance between promoting innovation and regulating harm.
  • AI should be designed to improve society, not control it; we must keep an eye out for unintended consequences.
  • Platform regulation must involve horizontal assessments and responsibility for decisions made.
  • EU, US, Canada, Australia, and Japan need to come together to shape tech regulation and governance.
  • Online behaviors can perpetuate hate speech and biases; platforms must take responsibility.
  • The EU should work with other organizations to create common standards for tech governance and set the direction for digital policies.
  • We should prioritize digital literacy to empower individuals to make informed choices and avoid getting lost in rabbit holes.
  • Social media can shape our experiences and opinions; regulation is needed to ensure accountability and protection of vulnerable groups.
  • Consumers should be able to get transparent information on algorithmic decision-making, what data is used, and how to get recourse.
  • Platform regulation must also cover issues like disinformation and terrorist content.
  • The EU needs more digital assistance for users, better privacy by default, and privacy-enhancing solutions.
  • Consumers should have more control over their digital lives and receive clear explanations from platforms about how they operate.