A Shared Ambition in Defence of Democracy

As the 2019 European electionsImproving transparency in elections and maintaining the independence of electoral commissions is vital for promoting trust in the electoral system, preventing electoral fraud, and upholding the democr... More approach, with them comes the rejuvenation of Europe’s political representation. Although I face the end of my time as Commissioner for JusticeTo address barriers that prevent citizens from having their justice needs met, OGP participating governments are working to expand transparency, accountability, and inclusion into all systems of justi..., Consumers and GenderOGP participating governments are bringing gender perspectives to popular policy areas, ensuring diversity in participatory processes, and specifically targeting gender gaps in policies to address gov... More Equality, I look beyond the horizon with eagerness and hope, towards a time of pragmatic change for Europe. But caution prevails.

Given the recent history of election seasons around the world, I find myself concerned that we may be facing a pattern in the obstruction of democracy. Fresh examples tell us that deliberate, coordinated efforts to undermine our institutions and citizens’ confidence remain a possibility via cyber-attacks, disinformation, and online manipulation by third countries or private interests.

The alarming rise of populism and backsliding in democracies around the world, the still vast gaps in equal political representation, and the technological threats by malicious groups to our dated electoral systems indicate that these upcoming elections will not be business as usual. We cannot be naïve and we have very little time to act.

There have been a few powerful wake-up calls in the past couple of years as to the need to protect elections in the digital era: the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal showed how personal data can be weaponised for the profiling and targeting of voters. Social media certainly has a democratising effect on the levels of political participation, but instances of candidates’ accounts being hacked and cyberattacks on elections around the world are not reassuring. This in turn has shed light on the topic of foreign interference and hybrid threats.

Of course, the digital age does not only present a threat, it also provides solutions. Online services can increase transparencyAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, transparency occurs when “government-held information (including on activities and decisions) is open, comprehensive, timely, freely available to the pub... More and contextualise sources of election information that citizens can engage with. Initiatives supported directly by the Commission demonstrate that the best and most democratic solution to the challenges facing democracy today is an informed and aware citizenry.

Given the very nature of our Union, endangering the integrity of the electoral process in one Member State, affects the EU as a whole. National authorities cannot address these threats by working in isolation, nor can private sectorGovernments are working to open private sector practices as well — including through beneficial ownership transparency, open contracting, and regulating environmental standards. Technical specificat... More self-regulation solve it all. The Commission has, therefore, been supporting Member States with the Action PlanAction plans are at the core of a government’s participation in OGP. They are the product of a co-creation process in which government and civil society jointly develop commitments to open governmen... against Disinformation by helping them set up rapid alert systems to share information on threats to information in real time. The 2019 election to the European Parliament will be the first under the new data protection rules, covering all actors in the electoral context.

We have also been working with online platforms, which find themselves as key information engines in today’s digital world, to ensure we can effectively address the disinformation threat together. Illegal online hate speech is not only a crime, it represents a threat to free speech and democratic engagement. However, this is something that can be overcome through the involvement of  the platforms themselves.

European democracies are also threatened by the spread of hate speech, in particular in the online sphere. In May 2016, I initiated a Code of Conduct with major IT platforms to ensure a swift response to the proliferation of illegal hate speech. What is illegal offline should be illegal online. IT Companies have responded quickly to the challenge and two and half years on, a large majority of the flagged content has been swiftly reviewed and removed. Removing illegal hate speech and prosecuting offenders is key, yet it is not the last step. Hate speech does not only affect the safety of immediate victims, it also has a chilling effect on freedom of expressionJournalists and activists are critical intermediaries connecting public officials with citizens and serving as government watchdogs, and their rights and safety need to be protected. Technical specifi... More more broadly.

We cannot have faith in democracy if we do not see ourselves reflected in it. I ardently encourage Member States and political parties to increase the number of women candidates they put forward. Achieving gender equality is about making fundamental rights a reality for all. While movements are building and more attention is falling on women’s rights globally, the situation in Europe is not yet near satisfactory.

When elections are free and fair, through resilient processes, openness, transparency, and engagement with citizens, we can ensure a pluralistic democratic debate free from hate speech and discrimination. The Member States and the European Union should take all actions necessary to defend their democratic processes against manipulation. In a democracy, citizens must be able to vote with the security that they are not being misled. It is our collective duty and responsibility to protect democratic processes and elections, and this is a legacy I want first for the European Union, and secondly for myself, to one day see it proudly displayed in our past.