Digital manifesto presented in Berlin:Telefónica Deutschland calls for New Digital Deal

Telefónica makes a global commitment to a “new digital deal” with the goal of delivering responsible digitalisation that benefits everybody. With ethical principles to govern the application of artificial intelligence as well as nationwide support programs such as “Digital Mobility for Seniors”, Telefónica Deutschland is promoting practical steps. The telecommunications company presented the current and German edition of its Digital Manifesto to politicians and association representatives on 8 May 2019 in Berlin. In political, business and social spheres, there is huge demand for strategies to deal with the opportunities and risks that digitalisation presents. What is remarkable is the pace of this digital transformation, which is reaching into every aspect of our lives. Companies have a special responsibility with regard to its implementation.

In its role as a global telecommunications company with approximately 356 million active mobile and fixed-line connections in 16 countries, Telefónica’s Digital Manifesto proposes comprehensive and cooperative efforts to strike a “new digital deal”. Christoph Steck, Director of Public Policy & Internet at Telefónica S.A., presented the version of the Digital Manifesto tailored to Germany as part of an event at the Telefónica Digital Lounge in Berlin on 8 May 2019. “Everyone should benefit from digitalisation. Therefore, we believe that social and economic policies must be renewed and our institutions and regulations modernised for the digital era so as to put people at the heart of digitalisation. We must define a new social contract that helps bring about more effective, more open collaboration between governments, business and civil society. In making this transformation, we must ensure that nobody is left behind. Only by working together will we achieve fair and sustainable digitalisation of our society,” emphasises Christoph Steck.

Afterwards, invitees from the fields of politics, foundations and associations, including Falko Mohr (Member of the Bundestag, SPD), Dr. Konstantin von Notz (Member of the Bundestag, The Green Party) as well as Valerie Mocker (Nesta) and Dr. Thomas Koenen (BDI), discussed how a framework for the new digital era can be created in Germany that places the focus firmly on people. A detailed report on the event is available on UdL Digital. “With the Digital Manifesto we have created an important basis for food for thought. It identifies the core problems and approaches. I would like to see intensive, contentious but above all constructive discussions in politics, business and society at large as to how we in Germany and Europe can harness the possibilities of digitalisation to benefit humankind,” says Valentina Daiber, Chief Legal Officer and Director of Corporate Affairs at Telefónica Deutschland. From the company’s perspective, a digital transformation that prioritises people will require cooperation particularly in the following core topics.