Civil Society is the Democracy Shield Europe Can’t Ignore

Last week in Brussels, former heads of state, European Commissioners (past and present), policy makers, academics, regulators and civil society convened to confront a defining question of our era: what does sovereignty mean in a world where power over our information ecosystem is moving away from parliaments to private companies that hold our data, manipulate algorithms and control our digital infrastructure? In the age of dependency, how do we reclaim political agency and protect our democracy?

Over the two-day conference, organized by Article 19 and Open Markets Institute, there was a constant reference to the urgent need to confront Big Tech’s influence over speech and the information space. There was also a strong emphasis on the need for bold and brave enforcement of existing digital rules. And a recurring focus was on how we might imagine and build better technology alternatives grounded in values and the respect of rights.

Yet one piece of the puzzle arguably hasn’t received the attention it merits. How can we build and push forward this conversation when civil society in Europe and beyond is facing an existential moment?