Digital Innovation Initiative

Ensuring a Democratic Digital Domain

About the Program

Technology is the epicenter of geopolitics. The race to dominate in technological innovation goes far beyond market competition – more importantly, it is normative competition between authoritarian and democratic visions. Technology is ideology. To keep their competitive edge, democracies must develop a shared strategic approach that reflects values of openness, drives innovation, and establishes a legal framework for digital governance. The transatlantic alliance should be the driver of such a 21st-century democratic digital agenda.

CEPA’s new Digital Innovation Initiative (DII) explores trends in tech policy in Europe and the United States to advocate for transatlantic unity on digital regulation. Bringing together governments, companies, and expertise, DII works to ensure that democracies maintain the competitive edge on tech innovation.

China

Illustrations: Export shipping containers and commercial electronics with dual use semiconductor microchips. Credit: Michael Newton/Center for European Policy Analysis

Export Controls — The Keys to Forging a Transatlantic Tech Shield

By Matthew Eitel

July 20, 2023

Data and Privacy

Illustration: Two robots and an artificial intelligence learning model with the flags of the United States and European Union. Credit: Michael Newton/CEPA.

Transatlantic Community Must Unite to Address AI Risks and Opportunities

By Ylli Bajraktari and Lauren Naniche

April 25, 2023

Emerging technology

Illustration: Michael Newton/CEPA. Photo: A wafer is seen at the new Bosch 300-millimeter wafer fab for silicon chips in Dresden, Germany, May 31, 2021. Credit: REUTERS/Matthias Rietschel

Confronting China and Catching Up on Chips

By Christopher Cytera

April 10, 2023

Cybersecurity

Illustration: Michael Newton/Center for European Policy Analysis.

Europe Upgrades its Cybersecurity Arsenal — Frightening the US

By Janna Brancolini

April 5, 2023

Data and Privacy

Illustration: Michael Newton/CEPA. Images: Left: Margrethe Vestager, June 9, 2021. Credit: John Thys/Pool via REUTERS; Center: Mobile Phone. Credit: Vojtech Bruzek/Unsplash. Right: Thierry Breton, February 23, 2023. Credit: Bogdan Hoyaux/European Commission.

Reining in the Gatekeepers and Opening the Door to Security Risks

By Björn Lundqvist

March 30, 2023

Transatlantic Tech Policy Tracker

Latest Analysis

Read the latest analysis from the Digital Innovation Initiative's online journal — Bandwidth

Success Eludes the Kremlin’s Chosen Children

September 27, 2023 | By Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan

Appointing your friends’ kids to senior jobs is not the way to find crowd-pleasing digital services, as Vladimir Putin is discovering.

China’s Chip Challenge: Unlocking Huawei’s New Smartphone

September 25, 2023 | By Christopher Cytera

Huawei recently launched its Mate 60 Pro smartphone, demonstrating that China can produce cutting-edge hardware despite US export restrictions. Or does it?

Transatlantic Data Deal or Data Waterloo?

September 25, 2023 | By Alina Clasen and Théophane Hartmann

Although the US and European Union have agreed to keep data flowing across the Atlantic, court cases loom.

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Featured Content

Fair Share or Extortion? Europe’s Telecommunications Debate

Europe’s telephone operators repeated their demands this week that Google, Apple, and other Silicon Valley giants pay them a “fair share” to beam their data. But opposition is mounting.

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Featured Events

From emerging technologies and Internet freedom to data and privacy, the Digital Innovation Initiative gathers thought leaders from both sides of the Atlantic to cover the pressing issues of today.

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