top of page

European digital sovereignity

Anonymous

April 26, 2023

European digital sovereignity

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.

related stories

hallo
Αμφιλεγόμενο
paraskeuaidis.nicolas@gmail.com
hallo
gittevandegraveele@gmail.com
By 2040, I would like the way we deal with food and public space to have fundamentally changed. An ideal image I have in mind, based on the projects I am working on, such as Fruitstraat Gent, is that cities have been completely transformed into green, edible landscapes. In this future, cities are not only functional living spaces, but also productive ecosystems where fruit trees, vegetables and herbs grow lushly in streets, squares and parks. Everyone has access to healthy and local food thanks to the myriad of commons such as communal gardens and fruit trees, where residents have free access to pick. The idea of a short and sustainable food chain is fully embedded in urban life: people harvest their own food or buy it directly from neighborhood cooperatives, without the intervention of polluting, long distribution chains. In addition, there is a broad awareness of the importance of community and participation. Speculative design projects are no longer just a niche, but have been given a central role in shaping urban development. Residents are actively involved in designing the future of their city, with participation and engagement at the heart of policy decisions. Each district has its own projects and experiments that constantly contribute to the improvement of the living environment, both socially, economically and ecologically. This vision of the future would result in a healthier, cohesive and more resilient society in which people not only have a connection with each other, but also with nature and the food they consume.
hallo
My dream of future
Maybe personally I will be very happy to enjoy the high-tech convenience just like I can order the food by done delivery .That’s insane and also many diseases can be handled simultaneously.Tje climate might be not habitable for us,due to our over development.
hallo
Et maintenant, en 2040.
Join #OurFutures now!

The future is shaped by our ideas and our actions today. Tell us about your visions of the future and help us create a futures narrative aimed at inspiring citizens, policy-makers and foresight experts alike!

Our-futures-banner-coloured_v3.jpg

The European Commission support does not constitute endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained.

ERA_logo.jpg

We support the European Research Area aimed at creating a single, borderless market for research, innovation and technology in the EU.

©OurFutures 2025, All rights reserved.

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
bottom of page