Podcast: Social and political aspects of digital tech
Digitalization can be described as a silent tsunami that affects all aspects of our lives. It is not simply a technological issue but deeply political, economical and societal. The podcast digs deep in these aspects of digital technology and urges us to take charge of our own digital future.
”Policy makers but also the wider public don’t really seem to grasp what kind of digital technologies we are introducing, what the effects are and how we can steer that into direction that makes sense to everyone.” Tech giants such as Amazon, Facebook and Google have not been here for long, but already they have a huge role in our everyday lives and they are extremely powerful. It is unprecedented, yet digital technology is still too often approached as if it was simply a technical issue. In this podcast experts Justin Nogarede (Digital Policy Adviser, FEPS) and Jan- Erik Støstad (Secretary-General, SAMAK) discuss the societal aspects of digital technology based on their report A Progressive Approach to Digital Tech – Taking Charge of Europe’s Digital Future. The topic is also commented by Member of European Parliament Miapetra Kumpula-Natri (S&D). Project Manager Maija Mattila (Kalevi Sorsa Foundation) interviews. Duration: 1 h.
Justin Nogarede leads the digital policy portfolio at the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) in Brussels. He has previously worked in the European Commission on digital and single market policy files. He holds a Master’s Degree in European Competition Law and Regulation.
Jan- Erik Støstad is Secretary-General of SAMAK, the Cooperation Committee of the Nordic Social Democratic parties and trade union LOs. He was State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour between 2005–2012 during Jens Stoltenbergs red-green coalition government in Norway. He is economist by education.
Miapetra Kumpula-Natri (S&D) is Member of European Parliament. At the parliament, she is member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and rapporteur for the European Data Strategy. She is also an EU representative in the World Trade Organization’s e-commerce process. She is Bachelor of Engineering.