Strengthening democracy in Europe
This week, I went to the Copenhagen Democracy Summit to recommit Google’s support to the cause of strengthening democracy. It was only two years since our last trip to the Summit, during a moment of uncertainty and crisis in Europe. This year, it was clear from the discussions that the stakes are even higher.
Today, state-sponsored threat groups are attacking government institutions across Europe, exploiting vulnerable systems. And concerns are mounting about the potential misuse of technology to create more convincing disinformation campaigns and phishing attacks on the doorstep of June’s EU elections.
The moment demands a more effective partnership between public, private and civic organizations, between technology and democracy, and better tools in democracy’s defense.
For many in Europe, technology companies have an obvious responsibility to support democracy. We hear this every day in conversation with leaders in government, academia and civil society. Others might ask what makes Google, a private company, so interested in protecting Europe’s democratic institutions.
