Is France on the slope of authoritarian digital technology?

Digital technology, an essential tool in politics, is increasingly being centralized by states and sometimes imposed on citizens. Our votes will shape a more or less desirable future in this domain, often perceived as intangible but with very concrete consequences on our daily lives.

As a media outlet focused on responsible, ethical, and inclusive digital practices, our emphasis is on topics related to the digital realm. Regarding the results of the European elections on June 9th, which placed the far-right in the lead in France, we are aware that they do not stem (or very little) from the candidates' proposals concerning digital issues.

However, digital technology was massively used throughout these elections. It will be just as, if not more, utilized during the very short period leading up to the legislative elections imposed by the President of the Republic.

In any case, the June European election will have significant consequences in the digital domain.

The European Union Shapes the Digital Landscape

One only needs to recall the measures and regulations implemented by the EU in recent years (non-exhaustive list):

GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation): a regulation that has transformed the web in Europe, allowing European citizens to regain control over their personal data and have a say in its usage. A right that some companies still sometimes "forget" to respect: Meta's updated privacy policy, aiming to use user data to power its AI, is significant in this regard.

The AI Act: aims to make the training of AI systems more transparent. This law also seeks to classify AIs according to their level of risk and prohibits their use in certain sensitive cases: social scoring, creation of facial recognition databases, etc.

The DSA (Digital Services Act): this regulation combats illegal content and requires web giants to be more transparent online, particularly regarding content display algorithms and the protection of minors on major platforms like TikTok, Temu, Amazon, etc.

What Happens When Digital Technology Falls into the Wrong Hands?

Although digital technology, especially how it can be used, is rarely present (and explained to citizens) in political debates, it is a particularly powerful tool. Its malicious use can have serious consequences, as we regularly observe:

Cyberattacks: for example, the hijacking of digital devices through data encryption with ransomware. In France, ministerial websites and essential infrastructures like hospitals regularly cease functioning due to server overloads (during denial-of-service attacks).
Foreign interference: for example, the creation and dissemination of fake news aimed at fueling social crises by manipulating public opinion.
The shutdown of access to social networks: in May 2024, the French government cut off TikTok during riots in New Caledonia, justifying this decision, among other reasons, by its desire to limit communication among rioters.

In this regard, other decisions by the current government call for vigilance: notably, the authorization to use artificial intelligence for mass surveillance during the 2024 Olympic Games.

What Authoritarian Digital Technology Could Look Like...

A glance abroad is enough to see how digital technology, far from being neutral, serves governments (more or less authoritarian):

In Russia, Google and Facebook are not accessible. Russians use Yandex, a Google equivalent with strong ties to the government. This allows the government to monitor browsing habits, control the content disseminated and indexed...

China uses popular apps like WeChat (the equivalent of WhatsApp) and Alipay (a mobile payment solution owned by Alibaba) to collect data on citizens. This data is used by the government to evaluate them (with a "social credit" system) to grant or deny a bank loan, the right to travel...

China has also made a name for itself in artificial intelligence by developing a tool based on President Xi Jinping's thinking: ChatXiPT. One can easily imagine the applications of this technology in controlling ideas or even reshaping history according to the party's ideology.

It's Amazing What Simple Ballots Can Change

We are in a critical period for democracy, for several reasons:

The war between Ukraine and Russia at Europe's borders.
The transformations brought about by AI in our lives and work.
The environmental crisis...

In France, the dissolution of the National Assembly is about to reshuffle the deck. Each party will strive to capitalize on this to gain more power, and that is their right. As citizens, ours is to closely examine the proposals of those who already see themselves as future deputies. Before, of course, voting with full awareness. This is the best way to ensure the respect of our freedoms (including digital) within the Assembly.