Have your say – Digital Decade

You can also get involved in forming EU laws. The European Commission offers a platform “Have your say” with the list of all new EU initiatives open for public consultation. You need to register to write your feedback: ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say

Review of the Digital Decade policy programme

About this initiative: The Digital Decade policy programme sets up a monitoring and collaboration mechanism based on common objectives and targets for 2030, in particular on digital infrastructure, digital skills, digitalisation of public services and digitalisation of businesses.
Feedback period: for stage 2 it is 25 November 2025 – 09 January 2026
Link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/15514-Review-of-the-Digital-Decade-policy-programme_en

Feedback from Europeans for Safe Connections

We, Europeans for Safe Connections, welcome the opportunity to participate in the consultation on the Digital Decade programme. However, we consider it essential that the digitalisation of public services be approached prudently, and with due regard to fundamental rights and public health.

Non-discrimination
There is no legal obligation for citizens to have internet access or to own internet-connected devices. The digitalisation of public administration must therefore not lead to the indirect exclusion of parts of the population. It is essential to preserve fully functional offline public services that ensure equal access and prevent discrimination.

Service availability
Offline public services must be maintained in the event of wireless network failures, power outages, or extreme weather conditions.
It is essential to ensure that public authorities, healthcare / transport / banking services and cash payments and access to food remain available without requiring digital verification by citizens.

Wired connections using optical or metallic conductors are significantly more energy-efficient and provide greater resilience and reliability than wireless systems.

Automated data processing
Under Article 22 of the GDPR, citizens have the right to be informed about the processing of their personal data, including automated processing. Citizens should have the right to refuse automated processing of their personal data. They should also have the right to refuse the use of their data for the training of algorithms. Automated data processing and AI training should therefore be based on explicit opt-in models. This is particularly relevant in the context of the rapid development of foundational AI models and the stated EU objective of strengthening digital and technological sovereignty.

Data security
Users of public digital services should be clearly and comprehensibly informed about the risks associated with the wireless transmission of sensitive data. They should be informed about the availability of safer alternatives – wired connections.

Health
In practice, the digitalisation of public services is implemented through mobile applications, which leads to the expansion of wireless technologies and infrastructure. This also results in increased exposure of the population to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF).

Users of public digital services should be informed about the risks associated with the wireless connection and should have the option to use alternative solutions with less exposure.

At the international level, the Budapest Declaration [1] adopted a commitment to pay increased attention to RF EMF and their combined effects together with other environmental and health stressors. This principle is also relevant for EU digital policies to ensure that digital transformation proceeds in line with the precautionary principle.

[1] iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/781a703d-e062-4eba-b11c-a224a7861abf/content

Monitoring
We propose that the Digital Decade monitoring framework be expanded to include:

• The impact of wireless data transmission on personal data protection, including differences between technologies and protocols;
• The impact of long-term RFEMF exposure on public health and the environment;
• The percentage of public buildings providing standardized wired access for citizens;
• Ambient RF EMF exposure levels in urban “digital hubs” as an environmental health metric.

Alignment with post-2026 funding
We recommend that the European Competitiveness Fund and National and Regional Partnership Plans prioritise funding for high-speed wired infrastructure over further wireless densification, particularly where sufficient connectivity already exists.

Best regards
Europeans for Safe Connections
This feedback was sent from a wired internet connection
– No use of harmful radiation
– Less electricity consumption
– Increased data security

The link to our feedback: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/15514-Review-of-the-Digital-Decade-policy-programme/F33362970_en

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