The Authoritarian Stack – implications for Germany and Europe

Prof. Francesca Bria and her colleagues initiated the project Authoritarian Stack, funded by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Future of Work. This project includes a recently published database and online report (see here: https://www.authoritarian-stack.info/) and explains how US tech firms now operate as state-like powers—writing the rules, winning the tenders, and exporting their model to Europe (e.g. Palantir´s contracts with police in Bavaria, Hessen, North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg, Anduril´s partnership with Rheinmetall on drone development), where it poses a direct challenge to democratic governance. In her input, Frances Bria, aims to address the question of what can be done to stop the EU´s digital dependence from turning into political dependence, via a coordinated response that includes support for public-interest technology, open standards, and democratic governance. This is especially urgent now that the US government is openly supporting illiberal forces in Europe, in tandem with US tech actors.