Warning: The Netherlands is too dependent on American tech giants
A professor from the University of Amsterdam (UvA) warns that the Netherlands is too dependent on large technology companies from the United States. Claes de Vreese researches the influence of 'Big Tech' and artificial intelligence (AI) on our society. According to him, it is dangerous that we rely on American companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon for almost everything.
The biggest problem is that much of our daily work takes place in the 'cloud'. These are online services and programs managed by these American companies. De Vreese says that a large part of the operations in Amsterdam would stop immediately if these services were to fail tomorrow. This makes the city, the government, and businesses very vulnerable.
In addition to the technical risks, there is also a political problem. The professor is concerned about the influence of these companies on democracy. Because they have control over algorithms and information, they can unconsciously determine what people see. This can ultimately influence how people think and even how they vote during elections.
Therefore, the professor advises that Amsterdam and the rest of the Netherlands must look for alternatives. According to him, it is important to support and use our own European technologies. In this way, we maintain more control over our own data and are less dependent on decisions made in the United States.
The discussion about the power of Big Tech is becoming increasingly important in the Netherlands. Although the technology offers many benefits and convenience, a good balance between efficiency and security is needed. The goal for the future is to build a digital world that better aligns with European values and laws.