Digital Policy

The increasing digitization of transnational commerce and innovation has raised new concerns about the existing frameworks on issues such as data protection, privacy, freedom of speech, artificial intelligence, taxation, trade, intellectual property, and competition. Digital issues touch much of day-to-day life and have the potential to cause disputes with major consequences, as domestic legislation now has far-reaching international effects. In an era of great power competition, governments are competing to create a model of digitalization that can become the global “gold standard.” The Atlantic Council aims to position itself as a critical facilitator of dialogue for the coordination of common standards for advancement in the digital realm.

Content

GeoTech Cues

Dec 18, 2020

Pretrial risk assessment tools must be directed toward an abolitionist vision

By Nikhil Raghuveera and Hannah Biggs

The United States criminal justice system is increasingly turning to risk assessment tools in pretrial hearings—before a defendant is convicted of a crime—as well as in sentencing procedures. Risk assessment tools give judges a numerical metric that indicates a pretrial defendant’s risk of failing to appear in court, or threat to the community prior to their pretrial hearing. Judges set bail based on this tool. Facing an incredibly high volume of pretrial detainees, risk assessment tools are designed to help quickly and effectively determine pretrial detention and ease courts’ burdens. To truly address the failures of the criminal justice system, however, public sector leaders must:

Digital Policy Inclusive Growth

Issue Brief

Dec 18, 2020

Engaging Europe: A transatlantic digital agenda for the Biden administration

By Frances Burwell

Without engagement, Europe and the United States are likely to continue their disparate approaches to the digital economy. The Biden administration must meet the challenge of building better US-EU cooperation on digital issues, for the sake of transatlantic security, prosperity, and shared values.

Digital Policy Economy & Business

GeoTech Cues

Dec 18, 2020

The West, China, and AI surveillance

By Kaan Sahin (Guest Author)

AI surveillance tools in various forms are spreading globally, from facial recognition and early outbreak detection to predictive policing and gait recognition. Despite different legal restrictions, authoritarian and democratic states alike are increasingly employing these instruments to track, surveil, anticipate, and even grade the behavior of their own citizens.

Cybersecurity Defense Technologies

GeoTech Cues

Dec 17, 2020

Property rights, data, and prosperity in Africa

By Thomas Koch

One of the biggest obstacles to wealth creation and greater economic prosperity in Africa has to do with land ownership. Overcoming this obstacle will require better data collection, aggregation, and transparency.

Digital Policy Economy & Business
cctv building china

In-Depth Research & Reports

Dec 17, 2020

Countering Chinese disinformation reports

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

A series of reports on countering Chinese disinformation campaigns around the globe from the Digital Forensic Research Lab and Asia Security Initiative, housed in the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security.

China Digital Policy

New Atlanticist

Dec 16, 2020

Europe’s new legislative proposals mark a big ‘first move’ on tech-market power

By Eileen Kannengeiser and Jörn Fleck

On December 15, the European Commission unveiled its long-anticipated legislative proposals—the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act—in a move that may further deepen transatlantic divides over digital commerce.

Digital Policy European Union

Event Recap

Dec 16, 2020

Event recap | Technology policy and leadership in 2021

By GeoTech Center

A discussion featuring The Honorable Secretary James F. Geurts, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development on how leadership will change in the next digital decade.

Digital Policy Resilience & Society

New Atlanticist

Dec 15, 2020

Lessons from a Privacy Shield post-mortem on Capitol Hill

By Kenneth Propp

A hearing on the consequences of the European Court of Justice's invalidation of the EU-US Privacy Shield illuminated the deepening transatlantic divide over data transfers, and it highlighted the early challenge the subject looks to pose for President-elect Joe Biden’s administration, which is eager to repair US-EU relations.

Digital Policy Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Dec 15, 2020

How can government agencies modernize? David Bray, PhD at GovCon Different

By the GeoTech Center

Dr. David Bray, Director of the Atlantic Council's GeoTech Center, spoke at GovCon Different about the process of modernizing government processes and infrastructure, drawing on his experience bringing the FCC into the cloud. Dr. Bray discussed the barriers to innovation, from culture and organization to fatigue and policy.

Digital Policy Technology & Innovation

In the News

Dec 11, 2020

In the news: Dr. David Bray on how tech might shape the future of nation states

By GeoTech Center

GeoTech Director Dr. David Bray argues “success for the United States” will depend on “assemble[ing] a coalition of ‘digital democracies and more’, who seek not surveillance states, nor surveillance capitalism. Such a coalition,” he says, “would work across borders and sectors to build a world where we employ data and tech for greater digital empathy, diversity and shared humanity across nations and economic sectors.”

Digital Policy Inclusive Growth

Experts

Events