Rector Magnificus of the University of Amsterdam, Professor Karen Maex, has called on European Commissioners to propose a ‘Digital University Act’ to secure universities’ status as independent education and research institutions and vital building blocks for the organisation of knowledge and to defend them against pressures from big tech companies.
In her Dies Natalis (annual) speech, “Protect independent and public knowledge”, delivered on 8 January, she called on European Commissioners Mariya Gabriel and Margrethe Vestager not to leave the future of knowledge in the hands of unaccountable corporate businessmen making decisions behind closed doors.
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Dr Oskar J Gstrein, assistant professor at Campus Fryslân, University of Groningen in the Netherlands, whose main research theme as a member of the Data Research Centre is ‘human dignity in the digital age’, told University World News: “While universities emphasise their heritage, often symbolised through impressive buildings and rituals, the academic community of the 21st century primarily interacts online.
“The necessary shift towards more online education and research post-COVID has put this long-term trend in the spotlight.
“As a consequence of this change, it is also necessary to redefine the added value of universities in the digital age. The academic community needs to carefully scrutinise its relationship with IT giants. Their products and services might offer comfort and ease of use, but at the same time threaten academic freedom and autonomy.”
Maex’ point of departure is the work of the European Commission and notably Commissioner Vestager to approve new legislation with the Digital Services Act in order to stem the influence of the tech giants over peoples’ choices in trade and elections, among other things, by using their huge information repositories stored in their databases.
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