The realm of digitalisation

It seems inevitable that in today’s world, we live astoundingly connected lives

The use of communication technologies is infiltrating our lives in more ways than ever. We use these technologies to shop, bank, keep in touch with family and friends and to carry out our jobs. Like every other thing in life, digitalisation has brought its good and bad things. While digitalisation and new technologies brought multiple benefits to workers and employees, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, where workers were asked to work from home, it also led to excessive stress and anxiety about working during people’s time off. Its positive effects are very easily identifiable, however, a closer look makes us realise that it took a toll on us as well.

The pressure of being always on, always reachable, has grown on our workers as unfortunately digital tools make it particularly difficult to switch off in our free time. We tend to feel a constant pressure to check or feel obliged to reply to work-related emails and messages as we tend to worry that our immediate attention is imperative. Technically, digital tools should be used as an aid to both workers and employers, understanding the benefits that an age of digitalisation brings with it, while making sure that it does not result in extra pressure and harm for employees.

Last week, the European Parliament approved my report on the Right to Disconnect that calls for a binding EU law to grant this right to all European workers. The Right to Disconnect allows workers to refrain from engaging in work-related tasks, activities and electronic communication, such as phone calls, emails and other messages outside their working time including during rest periods, official and annual holidays, maternity, paternity and parental leave and different types of leave, without facing any adverse consequences.

I genuinely believe that fundamental rights ought to be protected in all aspects of the digital realm. Alternatively, digitalisation, while changing our lives and our perspectives, has created a vast amount of personal data and other data relative to our online behaviour. In my capacity as a rapporteur on the Digital Services Act report, I have specifically asked for consumer protection and safety to feature as a key objective of this reform. What should be illegal offline should also be illegal online. Are we aware of the real dynamics of the digital world? Is our privacy being altered?

Whether they are online customers or not, consumers should always be protected. Indeed, through the legislation we will promote transparent advertising practices that do not track consumers and users throughout the net. The DSA should regulate stricter measures on harmful advertising practices, digital nudging, micro-targeting, recommended systems for advertisement and preferential treatment.

We have seen a transformation of our society that has shifted to more digital interaction and that has realised and highlighted the importance of being digitally literate, yet one should never underestimate the power of technology which can carry with it some adverse effects. In light of this, we need a functional, transparent digital society, where our workers and our consumers are solely protected.