In view of the growing importance of new technologies in public life, but also in the private sphere, it is essential to remain vigilant with regard to cybersecurity, while continuing to promote e-government. This is the message sent by Martin FODOR during the e|Dem and e|Gov Days of Central and Eastern Europe, in Budapest, Hungary, on May 2.
"The misuse of new technologies has made Big Brother a reality, with extensive data collection," he warned. Mr. FODOR highlighted other threats to the democratic balance of our societies, in particular, the climate of mistrust due to the rise of fake news, the spread of hate speech and inequalities in access to new technologies.
"Social media, once considered the ultimate democratic tool, now seems to increasingly serve the objectives of anti-democratic forces," he said, while stressing the importance of e-government in improving government processes and facilitating interactions with citizens through digital services.
In this respect, the Council of Europe has adopted the first and only binding international instrument on cybercrime, known as the "Budapest Convention", which has already been ratified by 63 countries.
Mr FODOR underlined the importance of raising awareness among local authorities of the need to maintain a high level of cybersecurity. "We may live in an electronic democracy, but we must not forget that in this compound word, it is "electronic" that must serve democracy and not the other way around. In an increasingly digital and interconnected world, cybersecurity is not an option, it is a necessity," he concluded.
