A subtle but unmistakable change is rippling through tech policy in Brussels. The discussion is moving towards a place where tech is a tool for sovereignty, while competitiveness in global markets is the top priority. A leaked document of the EU’s draft strategic agenda for the 2024-2029 mandate showcases this shift: Technology issues receive little attention, except in the context of defence, reduced strategic dependencies, and industrial development. Cybersecurity and disinformation also appear in the document, as threats to democracy in the cyber domain but also through disinformation, are ever-increasing. Artificial intelligence also made the list, with a call to “explore the untapped potential of data” for developing “game-changing” technologies. The draft seen by Euractiv, created on 27 March, predates the most recent exchanges between the EU leaders. |