Digital Sovereignty: Technological Dependence Raises Concerns Among European Ethics Councils
The National Council of Ethics for the Life Sciences (CNECV) organised the annual seminar “Digital Sovereignty for Europe – an ethical framework”, bringing together in Lisbon on 5 March 2026 the presidents of European ethics councils from Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Spain and Sweden. The symposium highlighted the urgency of establishing an ethical framework to guide rapid digitalisation and reduce Europe’s strategic dependence on major technology companies.
The president of the National Council of Ethics for the Life Sciences, Maria do Céu Patrão Neves, emphasised the growing power and influence of the GAFA companies (Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon, or GAFAM when including Microsoft), which control around 70% of data storage and processing capacity in Europe. According to her, this technological dependence has direct implications for European autonomy, resulting in a loss of control over citizens’ data, reduced capacity for innovation, and even a diminished ability to legislate and enforce rules in the European digital space.
Representing the Portuguese Government, the Secretary of State for Digitalisation, Bernardo Correia, argued that “Europe’s digital sovereignty and economic competitiveness are inseparable.” He presented the National Digital Strategy as the compass for “transforming Portugal into a prosperous and innovative country” and highlighted the National Agenda for Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a driver of responsible innovation. The aim, he said, is for Portugal to stand out by having “the best ecosystem for responsible AI anywhere in Europe.”
The vice-chair of the First Committee (Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees) of the Portuguese Parliament, André Rijo, said that reflecting on digital sovereignty requires an approach that combines technological innovation with democratic responsibility. “Europe must ensure that technological development takes place in line with its fundamental values, safeguarding citizens’ rights and trust in institutions,” he stated.
From “lasagna” to “tiramisu”: information abundance creates an attention deficit
The keynote speaker, Andrea Renda, director of research at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), presented an analysis of the evolution of the internet’s architecture, comparing its early open phase to a “lasagna” and its current state, dominated by intermediaries, to a “tiramisu”. According to the researcher, the abundance of information has created a “scarcity of attention”, captured by intermediaries that have become true “black holes” of value.
“Companies become enormous, but they are not accountable” for the systemic damage they cause, he argued, calling on Europe to lead efforts in establishing civil liability for these entities and in rigorously regulating artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Renda also quantified Europe’s dependence in critical sectors controlled by American and Chinese companies, such as semiconductors (90%) and cloud services (more than 85%). His presentation was followed by a debate moderated by CNECV members Carlos Maurício Barbosa and Margarida Silvestre.
Digitalisation, health and young people at the centre of debate among European ethics councils
The roundtable “An ethical framework for the digital era” brought together representatives from the ethics councils of Denmark, France, Germany, Greece and Sweden. Participants discussed how accelerated digitalisation has altered individual perception, contributing to societies that are “increasingly polarised and intolerant” and to growing distrust in political institutions, in a context marked by phenomena such as cyberbullying and disinformation.
In the field of health, speakers stressed the need to integrate ethical design principles into the development of artificial intelligence systems applied to biomedicine and clinical research, with the aim of safeguarding human dignity. The debate was moderated by CNECV members Miguel Ricou and Inês Godinho.
The international symposium also included the presentation of a joint opinion by the National Council of Ethics for the Life Sciences and the Spanish Bioethics Committee on the impact of digital use on the health of children and adolescents. The document warns that associated effects such as sleep disturbances, anxiety, difficulties in concentration, social isolation and impacts on school performance reflect and amplify existing social, educational and family vulnerabilities. The two councils therefore advocate an integrated response based on public policies and coordinated action by the state, schools, families, technology companies, health professionals and young people themselves.
The discussion also included contributions from the audience by the president of the Mirabilis Association, Mariana Norton dos Reis, and by two young participants: Henrique Silva, representing the National Youth Council, and António Costa, vice-president of the National Association of Medical Students (ANEM).
The urgency of the current moment and the need to affirm European digital sovereignty were summarised by Maria do Céu Patrão Neves, who said that the current geopolitical context has acted as a “belated collective awakening”, but warned: “there is no time to lose” in ensuring a more reliable and secure digital world for future generations.
During the afternoon, representatives of the European ethics councils held a private working session to consolidate proposals from the different countries, also emphasising the importance of strengthening digital sovereignty and the capacity of European states to define, autonomously, the ethical and regulatory principles applicable to emerging technologies.
