dear president biden excellencies dear friends no two democracies are the same no matter where
the democracy has taken root on this planet it's unique in its own way but every democracy
has many things in common i would argue they have the most important thing in common they give power
to the people and to do that democracies rely on values freedom equality human rights rule of law
history has shown that these values must be nurtured defend it fought for with vader and
with passion every day today more than ever our democracies and the lives of our citizens
are defined by the digital transformation this information presents both huge opportunities
but also risks for our democracies we in europe strive to place democratic values at the heart of
our digital transformation a transformation focused on people and their well-being we
believe this approach can be a global model for a free secure values-based internet
dear friends our digital future is bursting with possibilities beyond our imaginations
global data is today's equivalent of yesterday's carbon and it's why today we must not repeat the
mistakes of the past we must use this powerful new resource wisely and sustainably as leaders we must
ensure this vast potential is harnessed for the good good for our citizens good for our societies
and good for democracies during the pandemic we have witnessed the tremendous power of the
internet to bring people together to communicate to share and even to heal the power to forge
tight-knit communities in difficult times and crucially the internet also has the power to hold
politicians and public institutions accountable citizens coming together online speaking with one
voice this is no ordinary power it's a special and unprecedented power but like all new and powerful
tools our digital transformation also brings new challenges to our democracies cyber attacks
can paralyze individuals businesses and governments increasingly sophisticated forms
of information manipulation and interference have become more frequent and more destructive
they test our faith in facts and so the seeds of doubt malign actors explore digital
technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithm they infiltrate
electoral campaigns and manipulate voter behavior an increasingly rare entrance and big tech has
amassed enormous power but not all have shown the willingness to accept the matching responsibility
the market dominance and data control gives them enormous influence over our democratic process
faced with these challenges i believe people want the same protection online as they have
offline eu citizens believe that our digital society should be based on our european values
inclusive societies that leave no one behind we have a clear vision for a digitally transformed
europe by 2030 but information that puts people and our planet at the heart of our digital future
we want to be a global leader in promoting an open interoperable reliable and secure internet we want
an internet underpinned by rules that protect our citizens and we want to help our partners
become freer and more democratic because democracy and openness place the greatest freedom in
the hands of people in europe we are taking concrete action our digital services act will
bolster transparency especially in advertising and the algorithm behind these digital services
it will enhance accountability foster innovation and protect people's fundamental rights online
and we are leading the way in regulating artificial intelligence we want to support
the development and update of safe and ethical artificial intelligence by both private and
public actors artificial intelligence that respects fundamental rights without jeopardizing
investment and innovation this could also mean banning or curtailing certain ai practices that
can negatively impact our values and fundamental freedoms and we are equally working to strengthen
people's digital literacy the democratic rights must be guaranteed online as offline today
cyber security is a top concern especially for our open and free democracies cyber threats
manage our security our democracies our economy and even our personal lives cyber attacks often
unfold on the large scale so we must respond on a large scale that's why we are working together to
reinforce our ability to respond collectively and we will also strengthen our cyber defense
through our upcoming european strategic campus and through an ambitious eu nato cooperation
ladies and gentlemen democracy relies on trust and trust is built on fairness accountability
transparency and rule of law this summit for democracy is a moment to show that
democracies above all other models are rising to today's challenges and delivering for our people
today that means making digitalization the engine of our prosperity and the social well-being of our
people while protecting their fundamental democratic rights i am convinced we have a
unique opportunity in human history to rally our fellow democracies imagine democracies
and non-democracies alike and harness our cultive energies in a spirit of inclusive democratic
renewal for the well-being of our people no matter where they live on this planet thank you