Deeds instead of false promises

How my work in the European Parliament improves transparency

 Posted on July 15, 2021  |  5 minutes  |  941 words  |  Marcel Kolaja  • Other languages: cs

How are we doing in changing the way the European Parliament works? We pursue digitization, voting by roll call, and transparency of taxpayers’ money spending. Prior to the European Parliament elections in 2019, one of the main Pirate priorities was a free Europe that needed to be upgraded. European policy making should be more transparent and closer to the people. And since my election, I have been working hard on it. [Read More]
cyber security  FOSS  Free Software  Open Source  remote voting  transparency 

The Internet needs a fundamental change

What will the new rules bring?

 Posted on March 10, 2021  |  3 minutes  |  432 words  |  Marcel Kolaja  • Other languages: cs

The digital space in Europe has remained the same since the beginning of the new millennium. In the meantime, a number of services have appeared to help us find information, watch videos, keep in touch with friends, or find the partner of our dreams. Words such as algorithms, targeted advertising, personal data protection, or communication encryption are increasingly seeping into public space. Politicians, experts, academics, and the public call for regulation of dominant platforms, such as Facebook, Google, and Twitter. [Read More]
censorship  content moderation  cyber security  Digital Services Act  Digital Markets Act 

Act now to prevent national governments from dismantling encryption!

 Posted on November 11, 2020  |  3 minutes  |  447 words  |  Marcel Kolaja  • Other languages: cs

Two months ago, I questioned Commissioner Johansson in the plenary about Commission’s plan with the regulation derogating from ePrivacy; however, I didn’t get a satisfying answer to my concerns. Now, citizens’ privacy faces another attack. This time from the Member States. Following the Commission’s plan to create exception from the ePrivacy rules and consequently weaken encryption for the purpose of investigating child sexual abuse material on-line, the general subject of encryption is in front of Member States in the Council. [Read More]
cyber security 

Remote voting in the European Parliament

Why iVote is a strategic mistake

 Posted on June 17, 2020  |  3 minutes  |  512 words  |  Marcel Kolaja  • Other languages: cs

The COVID-19 crisis created a lot of challenge on many fronts. The European Parliament is not an exception. One of the challenges lies in enabling Members of the European Parliament to vote remotely while respecting law, rules of procedure, and democratic principles. Current solution for remote voting So far, bodies of the European Parliament vote remotely based on a decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament that made temporarily remote voting possible by e-mail. [Read More]
COVID-19  cyber security  remote voting 

Thoughts on the European Digital Strategy

 Posted on February 19, 2020  |  4 minutes  |  646 words  |  Marcel Kolaja  • Other languages: cs

Together with the white paper on Artifical Intelligence, the Commission presented their digital strategy for the upcoming legislature: Shaping Europe’s digital future. The paper defines a three pillar strategy “that will ensure that Europe develops and pursues its own way of vibrant, globally competitive, value-based and inclusive digital economy and society.” My thoughts on this: Technology that works for people Cyber security: The strategy refers to the EU toolbox for 5G as an important milestone for achieving resilience. [Read More]
cyber security  Digital Services Act  digital tax  disinformation  FOSS  interoperability  Open Source  open technologies  Free Software