European digital sovereignity

Anonymous

April 26, 2023

This image was generated with Dream Studio AI.

In 2040, Europeans have achieved digital sovereignity - all important digital services like search, cloud storage, messengers, social networks, video conferencing, etc. are offered from European data centers, adhering European privacy laws. This has happened after the EU decided to create a European foundation to fund free and open source software (FOSS). The foundation reached out to the European open source community, offering to host the two most-used FOSS packages in each category, plus supporting key members of the open source community (but participation in the development of this software was limited to European citizens). As a reaction to this offer, FOSS has taken a great leap and the European software has taken the lead in the world of FOSS. In addition to the services itself, supporting infrastructure such as encryption and authentication and auditing, is available as European FOSS to every citizen.

For example, every citizen receives European-verified certificates for encryption of emails, messages, or storage, for free. It's European infrastructure, paid by general taxes, like streets and education. Non-European citizens may buy access to this infrastructure.

In this future, Europeans may reap the benefits of computers and internet without being tracked and their data being sold by companies for company profits. Instead, the privacy of the individual person takes priority over profits.

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In the year 2050, we wake up in a world unlike anything I have ever known. The sky is clear, the air is cleaner, and cities that were once characterized by crowded streets and dirty exhaust fumes have been transformed into green oases. The architecture is new and futuristic, but in harmony with nature. The day starts early, no need to use my smartphone as all the information is displayed through the lens of my eye. I enjoy a breakfast of food that is not only sustainable, but also personalized. No more artificial sugar or superfluous calories, instead a mix of plant-based proteins and nutrients that promote my well-being. The climate is more stable thanks to decades of hard work and innovative renewable energy technologies. Countries are no longer working against each other, but with each other to find solutions for the planet. The goal of reducing CO2 emissions and healing the planet has not only moved politics and business, but also people's hearts. The streets are quiet, electric vehicles glide silently by. Public transportation is not only efficient, but also fully connected, so that I can travel from one city to the next in an autonomous train.

In the future, I hope we will live closer to nature and its resources in a more sustainable society. I hope that our children will play a bigger role in the way we invest in preschool and school to enable a better future for them but also the whole planet. I believe that education reduces war, gang crime and social injustice. We have met the environmental targets and are taking care of our planet, so we can feel that our children's future is secure!

It is 2040, 15 years have passed since the German federal election, 16 since the Austrian one. The increasingly noticeable shift to the right has been reversed, the AFD and FPÖ have lost a massive amount of support. Racism throughout Europe and worldwide has decreased, the social gap has closed again, care and the healthcare system are running smoothly and poverty in old age is hardly an issue anymore. As a result, people are once again more peaceful, friendly and generous towards one another.

The apartment would certainly be equipped with talking equipment, Lights and other equipment, such as windows, doors would open at the sign of my voice. Meals and house cleaning would be done by robots. Police officers would also be robots. There would be order and cleanliness everywhere. Cars would be electric only or hydrogen.

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European digital sovereignity

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