Ways out of dependence on BigTech

Social media apps, delivery services, and navigation tools have become an integral part of our daily lives. While it’s convenient that we all use the same platforms, there’s a downside: our digital lives are increasingly shaped—and controlled—by a handful of tech giants like Google, Apple, Meta & Co. The power over our data, our communication, and our access to information is concentrated in very few hands.

But how can we break free from this dependency?
And what would a fairer, more self-determined digital future look like?

Markus Beckedahl – journalist, activist, and founder of "Zentrum für Digitalrechte und Demokratie (Center for Digital Rights and Democracy)" – offers insights into the current debates in Germany around digital sovereignty. He explores how policymakers and civil society are working to curb the influence of Big Tech and open up new paths toward a more democratic digital society. As co-founder of re:publica, Europe’s largest conference on digital culture, he brings not only deep expertise but also plenty of inspiration.

-----

Germany is the largest economy in the EU – but digitally, it is only average.
Public administration often still relies on analog processes, and the expansion of fiber-optic networks has been stagnating for years.

One area where the state is particularly active is internet surveillance: new security laws are regularly introduced, only to be overturned by the Federal Constitutional Court – for violating fundamental rights.

At the same time, Germany is heavily dependent on U.S. corporations for key digital infrastructures: cloud services, software, and platforms – whether in schools, public offices, or businesses, Big Tech from the U.S. dominates everywhere.

However, awareness is growing. For the first time, Germany has its own Ministry for Digital Affairs. And in light of geopolitical shifts, it is becoming clear: digital dependency is a risk.

The buzzword of the moment: digital sovereignty.
This refers to Europe’s ability to develop its own technological foundations – independent of the U.S. or China.

This talk outlines how politics, business, and civil society in Germany are striving to shape this transformation:
– through new EU legislation such as the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act
– through investments in open source and European alternatives
– and through a clear vision: democratic oversight instead of corporate dominance.

A concise overview for anyone who wants to understand the direction of Germany’s digital policy – and why it also matters for Japan’s future.

-----