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Tech and Society Summit - Welcoming Words

On 1 October 2024, 41 civil society organisations – including EDRi – co-hosted the Tech and Society Summit. Throughout the day, EU decision-makers, journalists and civil society held discussions, joined panels and participated in activities that fostered dialogue about the intersections of technology, society and the environment. The opening remarks from host organisations reflected on why an event like the Tech and Society Summit matters. The Summit offered a proactive vision towards achieveing a just and green future,- where technology would serve the public interest and respect people’s rights, the planet’s boundaries and democracy. For that vision to be heard and realised, we used our collective convening power to call for decision-makers to be accountable to the public. And many of them responded – we had nearly 100 EU decision-makers attending the Tech and Society Summit. At a time when civic space is shrinking and many high level decision-makers choose to meet with Big Tech and industry representatives rather than other stakeholders, this event was a much-needed space. The hosts also reminded the attendees about the many recent instances when civil society, including digital rights and consumer rights advocates, did manage to advance people’s rights and protection in EU tech law. Their words also raised the alarm about the transformative effects of digitalisation on our economies, society, politics, and the planet – and not always for good. They ended their remarks by emphasising why events like the summit should support our collective imagination on the long path to justice – centering the needs of marginalised groups and affected communities in the Global South. Welcoming words by hosts Claire Fernandez, Executive Director, European Digital Rights (EDRi) Patrizia Heidegger, Deputy Secretary General, European Environmental Bureau (EEB) Agustín Reyna, Director General, BEUC, The European Consumer Organisation Laurence Meyer, Co-Director, Weaving Liberation