People's rights must be protected in the online space as well, this must be done quickly, and the European Union must set an example, said Justice Minister Judit Varga in the Parliament on Monday. At the international conference entitled Dialogue on the Future of Europe: Building a Digital European Union, the head of the ministry emphasized that everything must be done so that people can use the online space safely. More and more people are realizing the importance of regulation and protecting citizens' interests in the digital world, he added.
At the conference organized by the Ministry of Justice and the Mádl Ferenc Institute of Comparative Law, Judit Varga emphasized that digitization affects the entire society and offers unlimited opportunities, but with it comes responsibility. It is important that in Europe we take the shaping of our future into our own hands and ensure a digital future that benefits people, he said.
Judit Varga explained that every generation has its own challenges, the current one is dealing with the digital revolution. The Internet has changed the lives of many people, reshaped everyday life, transformed communities and cultures - he assessed.
He explained that social media platforms have become more and more influential in recent times, gaining people's trust and gaining billions of users worldwide, but they spread too quickly and now the disadvantages have become clear. He added that more and more users are frustrated by the spread of fake news, misuse of data and restrictions on freedom of expression. Personal data is collected on social media, people's habits and behavior are observed, and citizens are monitored, the minister added.
Judit Varga emphasized that it is increasingly important to protect data, and the challenge is whether we can keep technology under control or whether it will take over our lives. He touched on the fact that the Digital Freedom Committee was established in Hungary, which prepared a document to address the problems and questions arising in connection with the necessary regulation. The Minister of Justice believes that the same laws should apply online and offline, because this ensures people a normal lifestyle. The regulation of social media platforms is inevitable, and it is not good if the players of the digital market abuse their monopoly position, he stressed.
He emphasized: it is difficult for countries to regulate this area alone, decisive European action is needed, but where possible, there is also a place for national regulation. We must build a Europe that is strong, secure and ready to overcome digital challenges, Judit Varga stated. He said that this is the third conference to be held on the future of Europe, this time the topic is digitization. The meeting offers a good chance to give new impetus to the cooperation of European countries, he added.
MTI
Cover photo: Minister of Justice Judit Varga at the international conference titled "Dialogue on the future of Europe: building a digital European Union" in the Parliament on June 21, 2021.
MTI/Márton Mónus
