Position Paper- France
Sinceweareliving in anageof a rapidlydevelopingtechniquesocietyanddigitalisation, thequestionarisestowhatextentsocietyhastoimprovefundamental rightstoprotectthe individual in the digital world.
The digital chartatriestogiveanswerstothequestion, howtoprotecttheindividual’sfreedomwithintheageofdigitalism- againststates, but also against international enterprises.
Therefore, thechartatriestofocous on aspect such asdatasecurityandprivacy but also howto deal withhateandchevy on the Internet.
Duringthe last years, weas France, also begantohighlightdigitalismandthejuridicialproblemsthatarecausedbyitandtriedtofind solutionstoofferbetterprotectionof fundamental rightsforourcitizen.
Therefore, in 2014 in thereport „Etude annuelle 2014 du Conseil d'Etat - Le numérique et les droitsfondamentaux“, the „Conseil d’Etat“ focused on thatproblemandtriedto find suitablesolutions.
France aswellas Germany appearaspioneersconcerningdigitalisationandwanttoputforwardtheinterneteconomytotrigger a digitalizaitonwithineconomyandsociety.
„Germany and France wanttobetheengineofthatdevelopment“, Angela Merkel said at aconferenceconcerningdigitalisation in Berlin.
As a consequence, both countries areeagertoendorse a changetothenew digital world, thatisefficient but at the same time also compatibewithsociety.
Hence, theideaof a digital chartaasinitiatedby Germany in the European ParliamentsupportsFrance’saimto find an adequateequilibrebetween digital improvmentforeconomy on theonehand but also a goodandappropriateprotectionof fundamental rightsforthecitizen on theother.
Creating a digital chartawith digital rightsmightbe a steptowardstherightdirectionandcouldfinallyhelptoguarantee a protectionof fundamental rightswithinthe digital worldandtofillthejudicialgapthatarised due tothatsocietaldevelopment.
France especiallysupportsthe Art.5thatconcernsthefreedomoflibertyandpublic but also wantstoraiseawarenessthatthisparticularrightmightleadtocontroversysincethereis a thinlinebetweenfreedomofexpressionfirstlyandchevy on the Internet secondly. Particularlythe Internet simplifiesthepossibilityofgivinghatespeechesandspreadingchevy on other people asthe Internet guarantessanonymityto a certaindegree. As a result, France wantstofurtherdiscussandemphasize on Art. 5.
Further, Art. 11 and 13 concerningdatasecurity, sovereigntyandprotectiondeservefurtherattentionasthecitizens’ dataappaertobetheirownproperty, thathastobecaredforandprotectedbystate but at the same time theyare an importantfactorofsocietyand digital economy.
Consequently, France wantstodrawfurtherattention on thoserights, too.
All in all, France endorsestheideaof a digital charta, astheincreasingdigitalisationleadsto a change in ourexistenceandtherewithto a transformationandexpansionofthe fundamental rightsproctectionforourcitizen.
Thereforeitisimportantfor all ofustodiscusstheandactivelyparticipate in thatchange.