Our CC4DR’s session  on Digital Rights in Europe, where are we at and where shall we go, was an opportunity for cities to recall the importance of driving a digital transition based on human rights. 
Digital human rights are a critical topic, not only for the future of technology but also for the protection of democratic values across Europe. In recent years, Europe has taken significant strides to safeguard digital rights. Landmark regulations like the GDPR have set global standards in data protection and privacy, and initiatives like the Digital Services Act are reshaping the online landscape. However, as digital technologies evolve rapidly, so do the challenges they pose.  

On the one hand, Mario Draghi’s recent report is another alarm about our continent’s ability to create value and remain an economic powerhouse. More than a few are eager to point at our regulations as a handicap. On the other hand, we can witness everywhere in Europe, and most specifically in countries such as Ukraine, Moldova or Georgia, the rising threat of fake news, abusive surveillance or technologies used for war purposes. 

“Europe has a key role to play because digital human rights are not going to be promoted on another continent”
Sophie Woodville, Digital Program Manager, Bordeaux Métropole

In this context, the European Union has developed a Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles, that is linked to the European commission’s Digital Decade 2030. The purpose of the digital decade is to provide a clear direction to Europe regarding its digital transformation. To do so, the European Commission has developed a compass with concrete targets to achieve for 2030, such as having 100% of the public services online and 80% of citizens with basic digital skills.

According to Eric Peters, Action Head of Unit at the European Commission, while the digital transformation is essential, its success depends on the capacity for all citizens to have online access. And not any type of access, as technology does not go hand in hand with Europe’s values and rights, as shown by the threat on children online and disinformation. 

That is why the European Union adopted the European Declaration of Digital Rights and Principles. It aims to set guidelines for a human centric, inclusive, sustainable and safe digital transition. 
“A technological revolution needs to be framed and accompanied, otherwise there can be a lot of risks and Harms done to the population”
Eric Peters, Acting Heat of Unit responsible for the Digital Decade 2030 strategy, DG CNECT.

The link with cities might appear a bit complex, but it is actually not. Cities are not just administrative bodies; they’re vibrant centres of innovation, civic engagement, and social inclusion.  In many ways, cities are on the front lines of digitalization, experiencing first hand both the benefits and the challenges technology can bring to communities. 

Cities play an essential role in translating human rights into the digital realm and ensuring that these rights remain protected as our lives become increasingly digital. According to Tamilla Adbul-Aliyeva, Digital Rights and Ethics officer, “when we talk about digital rights, we're talking about fundamental human rights that must be upheld in a new context—one where technology influences almost every aspect of our lives, from accessing essential services to participating in democratic processes”. And cities are ideally positioned to make sure that when they use digital technology, they do so with respect to human rights.

One of the main arguments in favour of technology is that it’s efficient, or cost-effective to use technology for certain public services. It seems as if the risks or human rights consequences are taken for granted. But when you use technology without considering human rights impact for citizens, this can lead to a significant trust gap. In the Netherlands, a political scandal showed that the government used discriminatory algorithms to find fraud cases with childcare benefits, which has led to harm to tens of thousands of innocent parents.

This example shows how cities are witnessing the impacts of algorithms and technology on human rights. As Tamilla Abdul-Aliyeva said, “for us the lesson is clear: digitalisation must always prioritise the well-being of citizens, with digital rights at its core”. It concretely means that digital tools are just digital tools that improve quality of life and are not an end in themselves.

Coming back to the European level, the European Union is increasingly taking into account cities in its digital political agenda. According to Eric Peters, Ursula Von Der Leyen has set a number of priorities into which cities are on the map of Europe. She has requested the new executive vice-commissioner, who still needs to be confirmed, to develop the future of cities in Europe, that should detail how Europe can work more concretely with cities and regions, especially regarding digitalisation. 

The basis of this work is already here. The yearly reporting of the digital decade is identifying best practices in cities and member states. In 2024, the European Commission did its first monitoring of the Declaration on Digital Rights, and saw that cities are progressively engaged, especially to improve e-governance. 

However, there is still a lot to be done. The report also shows that there is less improvement on basic digital skills, discrimination and freedom of choice. Freedom of choice is particularly important, as nine out of ten people will need human support, i.e offline support, to access the online world and/or public services. Moreover, surveys from the European Commission and Porto show that 60% of citizens are not aware that they have rights online. That is why Eric Peters is calling for concrete actions, examples and tools to move ahead.

This shows that cities have a crucial role to play in helping the EU at a macro-level. They can produce data and monitor what is happening on the ground, especially regarding the current inequalities that they have on their territories. While all levels of governance need to build relations with citizens, local representatives have the most trust with their citizens, and, according to Paulo Calçada, CIO of Porto Digital, this opportunity should be harnessed by the EU to build up on this existing bond. But to do so, “we need time, resources and we need policies to discuss how cities are moving”, Paulo said. 

Urban areas are therefore uniquely positioned to understand the needs of their citizens and to pilot solutions that protect digital rights in real, tangible ways. Many cities in Europe are already pioneering local data governance models, promoting digital literacy, and ensuring that technology serves the public good. For example, Amsterdam and Helsinki’s work on algorithms registers and transparent procurement for AI systems demonstrates concrete ways of enforcing ethical AI practices. When cities take the lead, they bring these issues closer to citizens and can act as powerful advocates for rights-driven tech policies at higher levels of government.  

Indeed, cities have the capacity to be at the forefront of a European digital rights agenda that ambitiously implements the European Declaration on Digital Rights. To the question “why cities?”, Pablo Férnandez Marmissolle-Daguerre, Assistant Secretary-General for Partnerships, answered that it is because there is a political responsibility of local and regional leaders to bring human rights to their territory. Local governments are the champion of public services delivery, which, with the current digitalisation of services, is very linked to digital rights. 

However, the current international system is not fit to hear and act on the insights of municipalities. It is not fit to deliver a more inclusive and sustainable future. For UCLG, a first commitment is to identify and recognise public service as a world public common that should be fully accessible for everyone, and based on a human rights framework. A second commitment is to bring human rights and digital in each intergovernmental discussion. 

Cities can work together to document their successes, create guidelines and align on key principles, and they can use this to have significant influence on EU regulations or initiatives. One of the most effective ways to harness these individual city efforts is through coalitions such as the Cities Coalition for Digital Rights. Our network allows us to gather insights and best practices, and present them as input and advocacy material to foster a European agenda on digital rights. We are encouraging cities across Europe to connect their efforts and advocate collectively to amplify their impact.

Are you a local government? Then join the movement to make digital human rights come true! 

Author: Léa Lebon