#PrivacyCamp23 - Reimagining platform ecosystems
Channel: European Digital Rights
Date: 06/03/2023

In the context of the upcoming implementation of the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA), the panel discussed their vision of a sustainable and people-orientated platform ecosystem. Ian Brown pointed out to the need for platform business innovation about interoperability. Chantal Joris expressed the vision of having more open space for healthy debate at the expense of the current monopoly of a few companies deciding on what information users can access. Jon von Tetzchner prioritised the urgency of banning current data collection and profiling practices companies are using. And Vittorio Berlota concluded that the future challenge we are set against is finding a middle ground between not over-regulating the internet and preventing companies from “conquering the world, and conquering knowledge”.

The panel spent some time to talk about interoperability, noting that it can advance the goals of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), i. e. improving data protection by empowering users to choose more privacy friendly services which in turn should create market pressure on all market participants. Concerns were expressed about the current regulatory approach giving more control to companies that rather restrict users’ speech and about companies’ ability to circumvent interoperability obligations.

The audience raised the question about law enforcement bodies and how they relate to interoperability. The speakers highlighted how a limited number of platforms would equally be beneficial for law enforcement since it would ultimately facilitate control – whereas decentralisation and the existence of a larger amount of players would make government control more difficult.

--------------------------------------
We are European Digital Rights. We promote, protect and uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms in the digital environment.

Stay tuned here:  https://twitter.com/edri