At the beginning of June this year, the brand-new Standing Committee on Digital Affairs in the House of Representatives defined its tasks, work and topics for the coming years. What will the committee do? What topics and files will dominate the conversation? And what can we already expect this year?
With a themed series on the House Committee on Digital Affairs, Data&Privacyweb will explore the areas in which the House Committee is active in the coming months. Various experts will share their views on digitalization issues. Today we kick off the series with a brief overview of the tasks and topics, to provide insight into the committee's focus.
"Digitization is radically changing our society. New technologies such as artificial intelligence, algorithms, Big Data, robotics, quantum computers, Internet of Things and the cloud have major consequences, especially in conjunction with each other. These developments are moving fast and affect employment, our security, democracy, privacy, the relationship between citizens themselves, and between citizens and the government, among others," it said.
Digitization is a diffuse topic that is ubiquitous in our society. However, few seem to have a real grip on it. So does politics. Digitization is an important topic within all ministries and in almost all files, but for a long time there was no central place to discuss the issues surrounding it.
During the previous cabinet period, the House of Representatives spoke in the Verhoeven et al. therefore expressed the wish for the House of Representatives to conduct its own research into the possibilities of building knowledge on the topic of digitization. Subsequently, the Temporary Committee on the Digital Future was established, which at the end of May 2020 published its report Update Required presented.
One of the final recommendations was the creation of a permanent House Committee on Digital Affairs (DiZa). This recommendation was included in the motion-Van der Molen et al. adopted. The amendment-Van der Molen finally settled in a practical sense the establishment of the commission, regardless of the concrete investment of the digitization file during the formation.
After the March 2021 parliamentary elections, the House Committee on Digital Affairs was established. On April 22, the 35-member committee started under the chairmanship of Renske Leijten (SP). The first procedural meeting took place on May 12.
The Digital Affairs Committee intends to take the lead in the consideration of cross-committee digitization issues in the House of Representatives. The new committee follows current developments in the field of digitization and monitors ministers responsible for digitization. It also informs other committees in the House of Representatives about relevant developments. Finally, the committee acts as a point of contact for digitization issues for both the cabinet and social groups, business, science and others.
The Digital Affairs Committee has defined six topics on which it will focus in the coming period.
Emerging and future digital technologies affecting our society. Such as artificial intelligence / proposed European AI regulation, blockchain; virtual reality, augmented reality; speech recognition; quantum technology.
Digital skills of citizens, businesses and governments for participation in the digital society. It also focuses on the impact of digitization on our democracy. Topics include the government-wide approach to disinformation (deepfakes and microtargeting); the role of social media; new forms of digital citizen engagement.
Monitor and set (legal) frameworks from public values and fundamental rights for digitization, in particular around the collection, linking, analysis and application of data on citizens and businesses. Topics or files include the Intergovernmental Data Strategy Government (IDO); the Data Agenda Government; the protection of personal data (AVG, UAVG); Gaia-x (European cloud); algorithmic decision-making, monitoring ethical ground rules when using technology, such as in healthcare and in the classroom; the Data Governance Act; supervision.
Fixed and mobile communication networks that enable digitization. It also focuses on the interrelationships and dominant positions in online markets. Topics that will be covered include telecommunications, including 5G and 6G; the increasing demand for energy, data centers, connectivity; internet governance and international standards; the market and data power of large tech companies and online platforms; online platforms (such as Uber, Airbnb), ethical frameworks, limiting market monopolies, protecting new entrants; and the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Ac (EU)
Security of digital technologies and the security of information. Themes are cybersecurity and encryption; the digital resilience vital infrastructure and society (Internet of Things); international technological sovereignty and dependence; the protection of personal data (data breaches),; investing in knowledge and innovation in quantum technology and encryption; online identity (DigiD, eRecognition).
Application of digital technologies by government. Examples of topics and files are: digital services by government; open source software and open data in government; citizens' access to data collected about them by government; data collection by government; information security and digital skills in government; the eGovernment Strategy; the view of end goals and effects of ICT projects in government and being mindful of the consequences of phasing out old systems.
Several procedural meetings are scheduled until the end of the year scheduled. In September, the topic of artificial intelligence, part of the first defined topic Emerging and Future Technologies, will be discussed. Finally, in October the committee will have a discussion with the Euro Commissioner for Competition, Margrethe Vestager, on the legislative proposals Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act and the EU Regulation on Artificial Intelligence.
Data&Privacyweb is closely following the developments of the new Digital Affairs Committee. In the coming months, we will be covering the six themes and topics mentioned above through in-depth blogs, articles and interviews. Want to make sure you don't miss anything? Then subscribe to our newsletter.
