Europe’s Digital Future Can’t Be Outsourced

Every time we click, scroll or stream, we rely on systems designed and controlled far beyond Europe’s borders. “Attention, otherwise we are offline”, a new article by the Council for European Public Space in Süddeutsche Zeitung, lays bare just how dependent Europe remains on external digital infrastructure—and what we risk if we don’t act now.

This piece outlines a vision for an independent, values-driven European digital sphere. From ZDF Mediathek’s push toward user-centred streaming to calls for stronger collaboration across European media systems, it charts a practical and urgent path forward. The article makes clear that our digital infrastructure should reflect public needs, not private algorithms. It reflects European Cultural Foundation’s belief that culture, democracy, and the digital world are interlinked and must be publicly governed, not market-dominated. Can Europe reimagine the internet as a public space—and make it real?

The Council of European Public Space, a key strategic ally in our 2025–2029 agenda, champions precisely the kind of shared, civic infrastructure we advocate for through initiatives like Display Europe. Together, we’re working toward a digital environment grounded in openness, ethics, and democratic participation.

“Attention, otherwise we are offline” shares insights that are too urgent to ignore. If we want a digital future that serves Europe’s people, not just its platforms, we must start building it now. Click here to read the article as a downloadable PDF, or here to read it on their website.

Photo: Süddeutsche Zeitung