To the 400 registered participants: Inside at nationwide conference on technologies for citizens’ contact, data security and transparency in the Vienna City Hall
The concern about the effects of fake news, data theft and artificial intelligence on democracy concerns not only European politics, but also the institutions affected in everyday life, such as cities and municipalities. At the same time, new technologies offer the opportunity to improve contact between administrations and citizens, for example in citizens information and participation.
For this reason, the innovation in Politic’s Institute launched a top -class conference: the safe democracy convention. Cities, municipalities, technology companies and representatives of civil society have discussed together how democracy can be strengthened with the help of technologies.
The Safe Democracy Convention took place on February 13 in cooperation with the city of Vienna, the Austrian Community Association, the Austrian Association and the Samsung and Cisco companies in the Vienna City Hall. Other partners were DXC Technology, A-Trust, Cyclomedia, Elmon, the Federal Rechenzentrum and Epicenter.Works and the Magazine Date.
The 400 decision -makers from over 50 cities and municipalities exchanged their already practiced solutions and found out about new technological developments. To this end, the initiators won successful examples from abroad, such as from Zurich, Munich, Hamburg and Berlin.
An important topic was to develop standards and guidelines for cities and municipalities. The focus was also on the exchange of pilot projects in the areas of digital citizens’ participation, transparency of administrations, protection against fake news, data security for citizens and the digital sovereignty of Europe.
Below you will find statements from protagonists of the Safe Democracy Convention:
Jürgen Czernohorszky, Managing City Councilor for Climate, Environment, Democracy and Personnel: „We are currently experiencing worldwide that democratic achievements are not a matter of course. It is therefore so important to defend democratic values and institutions with all forces and to support initiatives to strengthen democracy. As the European Capital of Democracy, the city of Vienna would like to make a contribution.
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Johannes Pressl, Mayor of Ardagger, President of the Austrian Association: “Citizen participation, communication with citizens, transparency and digital technologies are important future topics for all Austrian communities. The common exchange, a look at the challenges in digital communication and learning from each other will lead to new inputs for working in our municipalities and cities. ”
Elisabeth Mayr, Vice Mayor of the City of Innsbruck, representative of the Austrian Association
“Digital tools for democratic participation are undoubtedly a great opportunity. Because in particular people who find it more difficult to participate in participation evenings, such as women due to care work, people who do not master German so well, may not have any right to vote, and that people with disabilities or mobility restrictions are made easier to make access to co-determination . It is also important not to forget the analog access to enable real equality. ”
Marvin Peters, Director Mobile Samsung Austria: “Digitization not only has to be efficient, but also safe. At the Safe Democracy Convention, Samsung shows with its best practices, such as not only digitizing municipalities, cities and public administrations, but also ensuring the necessary protection of the data. ”
Mikel Gindy, Head of National Digitization Cisco Austria: “With partnerships, cities and municipalities helps Cisco to provide modern technologies and solutions that improve the efficiency, security and transparency of public services. This cooperation enables innovative infrastructures to create the citizens: inside. The Safe Democracy initiative not only promotes digital transformation, but also strengthens the trust of the citizens: inside in public institutions. It is in Cisco’s DNA to promote and support such initiatives. ”
Martina Fürrutter, Head of Advisory at Innovation in Politics Institute: “Our democracy is required to renew and protect itself. The safe democracy convention shows which technologies we need for strong democracy. In the joint exchange, federal states, cities and municipalities, technology companies, experts: interior and citizens: find the best solutions inside. ”