For Caribbean and international professionals working on government digitalisation

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2.1 Safeguard Public Values

Social challenges

Public values such as human dignity, autonomy and non-discrimination are the foundation of a responsible digital transition and should guide the development and use of digital applications. Digitalisation can strengthen values on the one hand and lead to violation of public values on the other. Regulation is needed to ensure that companies, authorities and other organisations give public values centre stage. Policies are also needed to give organisations concrete tools to embed public values in digital services. It is also important to engage in developing and scaling up public alternatives to large online products and services.

Results achieved by 2023

  • The IAMA (Dutch human rights test) has been developed for discussion and decision-making concerning the use of algorithms by government agencies. A children’s rights assessment (KIA) has also been developed.
  • Legislation such as the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA) has been created and implemented at the European level. The BIK+ (Better Internet for Kids) has also been developed in Europe. It contains actions that Member States can take to protect children online.
  • Inter-administrative procurement conditions that enable the inclusion of ethics and public values in government procurement and tendering are developed.
  • €20 million from the Human Rights Fund will be set aside annually until 2027 to increase the online and offline safety of human rights defenders throughout the world.

Goals

Goals and indicators
Goals Indicators
1. There is an awareness and shared understanding of the public values involved in digitalisation and the standards that must be applied in the process. There are social debates about the role of digitalisation in society.
  • The inclusion and safeguarding of public values in the deployment of digital systems as standard, such as through the application of human rights tests (IAMA).
  • Increase the reach of the dialogue programme established in collaboration with Rathenau and of the counselling ethics sessions established with the Platform for the Information Society (ECP) on topics where public values are under pressure.
2. Citizens and businesses see that the government sets and enforces clear limits when protecting public values and human rights, both in the Netherlands and internationally. Vulnerable groups, such as children and socioeconomically vulnerable people, receive extra protection.
  • The supervisory landscape in the area of digitalisation is mapped, and problem-solving approaches for strengthening are explored.
  • Elaboration and implementation of problem-solving approaches regarding increased monitoring in the digital world.
  • Additional cookie oversight by the Data Protection Authority leads to better enforcement and, in turn, better compliance.
3. The public core of the internet will be strengthened and expanded. Citizens, businesses and public employees will be able to use secure public or private alternatives to online platforms and services provided by public institutions. The Netherlands supports the interoperability of companies with a gatekeeping role because this will combat market power and contribute to the viability of public alternatives.
  • Identify and support five “digital commons” by 2024, such as an online social medium and open-source office software.
  • The availability of Mastodon and Pubhubs pilots as alternative public social media.

What are our forthcoming actions?

To find out the goals we are setting for the upcoming year to safeguard public values, see priority 2.1 actions.

 

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