Ueberschär is the Heinrich Böll Foundation president and delivered the keynote presentation at the opening symposium exploring the challenges and opportunities for a more just digital future, 13-15 September in Berlin. "Fundamental rights will not prevail on their own or through voluntary commitments by corporations," said Ueberschär. "That is why the broad support and joint commitment of (civil) society and churches including, politics, science and business are needed to guarantee and protect civil rights in the digital age as well, to make the digital space usable for the common good." The historic symposium is co-organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the World Association for Christian Communication, focusing on the impact of digital transformation on communities and societies. 'Not a luxury'
"Digital participation is not a luxury or merely nice to have, but a prerequisite for the development of inclusive societies. Free access to information and unhindered opportunities to disseminate it form the backbone of democratic, open and prosperous societies," Ueberschär said. In her speech spanning many issues, she noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, people have learned to appreciate digital communication. "We even celebrated the Easter service online. We stayed in touch with our beloved ones via Zoom and Skype; some of us were able to do their work entirely online….The traffic in the air and on the streets dropped, so there was some relief for the climate. "But at the same time, we saw governments using the pandemic to install new surveillance apps, pretending to combat the pandemic," said Ueberschär, who from 2006 to 2017 was general secretary of the German Protestant Church Congress (Kirchentag). She cited the World Health Organization's references to infodemics, ubiquitous disinformation and fake news, massively amplified by social media and mass access. The symposium theme, said Ueberschär, underscores the importance and changing role of WACC as a network with its ideas, impulses, prescience, and a particular focus on vulnerable groups. "We must note, already here, that the relationship between freedom of religion and communication rights is by no means easy and that it also requires debate and conviction within the Christian spectrum." Ueberschär marked significant challenges to a just digitalization, including "surveillance and humiliating control versus informational self-determination and dignity." Afghanistan example
She referred to a recent example in Afghanistan. "Services like WhatsApp have been helpful in evacuating Afghans, but they can also make those individuals identifiable targets. The Taliban's own presence on social media also raises questions about the platforms' obligations," said Ueberschär. She urged the forces of democracy and public welfare to stand together in the fight to build credibility and trust in the digital media world. “Digital participation is not a luxury or merely nice to have, but a prerequisite for the development of inclusive societies. Free access to information and unhindered opportunities to disseminate it form the backbone of democratic, open and prosperous societies,” asserted Ueberschär. “Civil society, churches included, have to be involved in finding what it means to have privacy, self-determination, security and ensure equality and justice in the digital space.” |
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