Announcing the Summit “Fight for Us, Not for Them”: A Public Interest Vision for EU Tech Policy

Key Takeaways

• Summit gathers 11 civil‑society groups, EU officials, journalists on June 23
• Focuses on opposing “simplification” proposals targeting GDPR and digital rights
• Highlights economic case for strong digital regulation and public‑interest tech
• Features keynote by surveillance‑capitalism author Shoshanna Zuboff
• Aims to showcase compliance‑friendly innovation without compromising rights

Pulse Analysis

Europe’s digital policy arena is at a crossroads as the European Commission rolls out "simplification" measures that could erode the GDPR’s robust protections. While some policymakers argue deregulation will accelerate innovation and reduce compliance costs, critics warn it threatens the bloc’s data‑privacy leadership and undermines citizens’ rights. Civil society organisations, long‑time defenders of digital rights, are now mobilising a high‑profile summit to counter these proposals, positioning themselves as the architects of a public‑interest tech framework that balances market growth with fundamental freedoms.

The summit, slated for 23 June in Brussels, brings together a coalition of eleven NGOs—including ARTICLE19, BEUC and the European Digital Rights group—alongside EU lawmakers, regulators and investigative journalists. The agenda tackles the Digital Omnibus and Digital Fitness Check, presenting concrete evidence that strong regulation can drive economic benefits, such as increased consumer trust and a thriving market for privacy‑by‑design solutions. A highlight will be a keynote and interactive Q&A with Shoshana Zuboff, whose work on surveillance capitalism underscores the risks of unchecked data extraction. Attendees will also hear real‑world case studies of public‑interest tech firms thriving under the EU’s current regulatory regime.

If the summit’s messaging resonates, it could reshape the EU’s legislative trajectory, reinforcing the GDPR’s principles and encouraging a wave of rights‑compliant innovation. For businesses, this signals that future compliance will remain a competitive advantage rather than a hurdle, prompting investment in privacy‑centric product development. Moreover, a reinforced regulatory stance would bolster Europe’s geopolitical standing as a model for digital self‑determination, influencing global standards and potentially prompting other regions to adopt similar safeguards.