Amsterdam must become less dependent on American tech companies
Amsterdam and the rest of the Netherlands are currently too dependent on large technology companies from the United States, such as Google and Microsoft. This is according to Claes de Vreese, a professor at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). He conducts research into the influence of these companies and artificial intelligence (AI) on our society and democracy.
According to De Vreese, the current situation is risky for Dutch infrastructure. Many organizations, including the government and universities, use the 'cloud' of American companies for their daily operations. If these systems were to fail tomorrow, a large part of the work in the Netherlands would come to an immediate standstill. We would then no longer be able to access our files or communicate with colleagues.
The professor is also concerned about the power these companies have over information. Because they determine which messages we see on social media and how AI models provide answers, they have a lot of influence on what people think. This can be a danger to democracy, as control over important information lies with only a few commercial parties abroad.
Therefore, De Vreese advises that Amsterdam and the Netherlands must seriously look for alternatives. According to him, it is important that Europe develops its own technological solutions. In this way, we become less dependent on the United States and can better protect our own rules and values. This is also known as 'digital sovereignty'.
According to the professor, the discussion about 'Big Tech' is not just about computers and software, but about the future of our society. It is time for politicians and citizens to think about how we can use technology without losing our independence. Only in this way can the Netherlands maintain control over its own digital future.