Jeg tror på digital autonomi fra USA.
Det udmærker mig ikke særligt og er ikke noget at prale af. På Mastodon er det vel et flertalssynspunkt.
Jeg har heller ikke forstået alle konsekvenserne, og jeg kender ikke alle vejene dertil. Jeg er ikke et tech-hoved; nærmest en analog spiller i en digital verden.
Men nu siger jeg det alligevel: Jeg tror på digital autonomi fra USA. Og jeg tror, at det er vigtigt.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve received a number of encouraging responses to my posts and articles about the European Digital Autonomy Initiative (EDAI). Many of you appreciated the focus on European or open-source alternatives, the importance of using privacy-respecting services, or the need for stronger EU policy and public funding in this field.
All of that is great — and yes, it is part of the vision.
But if I may be honest: I have the feeling that my core message may not have come through clearly yet.
What is the actual novelty here?
I do not claim to be the first or the only one working on these questions. Quite the opposite: I now realise how many excellent initiatives already exist. Many people and organisations have long been developing European alternatives, advocating for open technologies, or working on digital sovereignty policies. I salute that.
The EDAI is not meant to replace any of these. It is meant to connect them.
My approach is not about a single issue or a specific action. It is about seeing these efforts as parts of a larger system. A system that has been missing from most public debates: a strategic framework that connects awareness, governance, and innovation.
I call these the three pillars of European Digital Autonomy:
Many initiatives already operate in one or two of these domains. But what I haven’t seen — and what I believe could make a real difference — is a shared framework where we see how these elements reinforce each other.
A better search engine is great. So is better funding regulation. So is media literacy. But the breakthrough will only come when these things are mutually catalytic.
From independence to interdependence
Everyone will naturally focus on what they know best. A coder will code. A researcher will analyse. An activist will mobilise. That’s how it should be.
But if we want more than partial improvements — if we want strategic change — we need to understand how all these efforts fit together. That’s what the EDAI attempts to provide: a systemic lens and a space to align our steps.
It doesn’t mean giving up independence. It means recognising interdependence.
If this speaks to you, stay tuned. In the coming days, I will ask for your thoughts on how we might go about finding collaborators for this idea within the Fediverse community. It’s not a fully-formed plan yet — and that’s exactly why your input could make a real difference.
Follow me on Mastodon:
TechTonicShift (@TechTonicShift@vivaldi.net) – Vivaldi Social
Gabor Hrasko (@ghrasko@mastodon.social) – Mastodon
#EDAI #DigitalSovereignty #EuropeanAlternatives #TechForEurope #OpenSource #DigitalAutonomy #EuropeanValues #BuyEuropean #TechTonicShift
https://techtonicshift.vivaldi.net/2025/05/11/the-bigger-picture/
“Meta invests $72 billion, where are the European tech giants? Bureaucrats can’t match Elon Musk. Europe has no unicorns, no AI centers, no talent cult. Maybe we’re just not made for this.”
I recently heard this reaction to my European Digital Autonomy Initiative (EDAI). It’s not ill-willed — it’s a brutally honest summary of the skepticism many feel. And you know what? I get it. That’s exactly my starting point.
My EDAI doesn’t pretend that Europe is leading the digital race today. We’re not. But accepting this reality isn’t the same as surrendering to it.
Europe doesn’t need to copy Silicon Valley. We don’t need to outspend Meta or worship “techbro” hustle culture. What we do need is to recognize that this is not just a technological game — it’s a cultural and political one too.
Our digital ecosystem should reflect who we are: privacy-conscious, democratic, multilingual, inclusive. It’s not naïve to build on those values — it’s strategic. Long-term trust and legitimacy matter.
Yes, we lack the capital of the Big Five. But we have regulation, infrastructure, community, and a vision of the public good. That’s a different kind of power.
So no, we’re not going to give up. And no, I’m not walking away.
I’m building — slowly, collaboratively, and with purpose. Join me.
Explore the full strategy and share your thoughts:
European Digital Autonomy Initiative
Follow me on Mastodon:
TechTonicShift (@TechTonicShift@vivaldi.net) – Vivaldi Social
Gabor Hrasko (@ghrasko@mastodon.social) – Mastodon
#EDAI #DigitalSovereignty #EuropeanAlternatives #TechForEurope #OpenSource #DigitalAutonomy #EuropeanValues #BuyEuropean #TechTonicShift
https://techtonicshift.vivaldi.net/2025/05/08/why-even-try-a-european-answer-to-digital-pessimism/
Europe stands at a crossroads. Do we continue relying on digital services that don’t reflect our values — or do we begin building something better?
The European Digital Autonomy Initiative (EDAI) is a vision I’ve been developing — a proposal to reimagine digital sovereignty rooted in European values like privacy, transparency, and inclusion.
It’s not anti-American. It’s pro-European. Let’s invent a digital Europe that belongs to us.
We need awareness, smart regulation, and real alternatives. This isn’t just about technology — it’s about identity, trust, and the future we want to share. Beyond left and right.
Explore the full strategy and share your thoughts:
European Digital Autonomy Initiative
Follow me on Mastodon:
TechTonicShift (@TechTonicShift@vivaldi.net) – Vivaldi Social
Gabor Hrasko (@ghrasko@mastodon.social) – Mastodon
#EDAI #DigitalSovereignty #EuropeanAlternatives #TechForEurope #OpenSource #DigitalAutonomy #EuropeanValues #BuyEuropean #TechTonicShift
https://techtonicshift.vivaldi.net/2025/05/04/european-digital-sovereignty/
"In the unlikely event we are ever ordered by any government anywhere in the world to suspend or cease cloud operations in #Europe, we are committing that #Microsoft will promptly and vigorously contest such a measure using all legal avenues available, including by pursuing litigation in court."
https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2025/04/30/european-digital-commitments/
Take back your digital autonomy, starting with decent email.
We are trying to make this as easy as possible with our Decent Email Service:
no ads, no tracking, no selling of your data.
You can now easily check if your desired *@decent.email* account name is available.
https://decent.email
If in 3 days already 357 employees did sign this petition, the executive board members should wonder if they are on the right track.....
https://www.cs.ru.nl/~jhh/open-letter-big-tech.html
(not an emplyee myself)
@aral
Goes beyond this. Why would "european alternatives" be or become any less fascist than others?
We need *our* own alternatives. Spend time and effort on systems under our control. Do not depend on centralised platforms, either from the usa or europe. #Autonomy #DigitalAutonomy
visit my digital garden, my corner of the internet that is made with hands and love, and sign my guestbook if you enjoyed your stay.
it’s becoming not only my work repository but my personal wiki
it’s made with #TiddlyWiki, a special sort of program known as a Quine.
Are you truly anti-capitalist? Then it’s time to cut ties with the mainstream capitalist platforms that are feeding the very system you oppose. TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, BeReal, WhatsApp, and countless others are all part of the capitalist machine that thrives on your consumption and engagement.
Every time you log onto these platforms, you’re contributing to a cycle of exploitation and profit-driven motives. The #Fediverse may not be a perfect solution, but it’s a space where anti-capitalist voices can thrive far more than in the cesspools of proprietary platforms owned by Big Tech.
Feeling sad because your friends aren’t on these alternative platforms? That’s just capitalism whispering in your ear, convincing you that your worth is tied to your social media presence. Let go of that notion!
Fighting capitalism starts with recognizing that your needs don’t dictate your value. The very idea of comparing human worth is rooted in capitalist ideology—so let’s dismantle that one step at a time.
Shut up and break free from capitalism!
AI tools offer benefits for academia but raise ethical risks if not built on solid foundations first. We must address warped incentives, ensure digital autonomy, & establish responsible use guidelines before widespread adoption. Ethics first, then tech.
By @amreibahr
#AIEthics #HigherEd #ResponsibleAI #DigitalAutonomy #AcademicIntegrity
The challenge of maintaining collective digital infrastructures like CommonsCloud.coop, now at #SobTec with David Gomez from @femprocomuns
#DigitalAutonomy #digitalsovereignty