New technologies have a growing impact on the lives of people across the world. Mobile phones and internet have helped people access information despite censorship, human rights violations are documented and shared with the world instantly. Citizens become journalists; African farmers can determine where the demand is before they start the 4 hour journey to the market with their goods. While Europe should embrace opportunities for increased economic development and the protection of human rights that these technologies bring, we must not overlook the threats. More and more people land in prison as a result of surveillance technologies which allow repressive governments to track and trace people. Is there enough transparency around the production of and trade in these goods? And should massive censorship such as applied in China be considered a trade barrier? How to balance security concerns with the preservation of fundamental rights and freedoms? In an interconnected world, technologies have far reaching impact, beyond the borders of nation states and beyond the EU´s jurisdiction.

Marietje is currenlty working on a report in the European Parliament that formulates a digital feedom strategy as a part of the EU´s foreign and security policy.

Social Talk Gamification
Marietje Schaake is a Member of the European Parliament for the Dutch Democrats ‘66 party (D66) within the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Group. She serves on the Committees on Foreign Affairs, International Trade & Culture, Media and Education. Her special interests are neighbourhood policy, human rights, internet freedom and the EU’s digital agenda. She is a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations.