The Digital Decade PDF Download

EU citizens increasingly use the internet and a broad array of digital tools to work, learn, and socialise; to interact with companies or their governments, and to access services such as health and culture. The internet and digital tools are no longer a toy for early adopters. For today's citizens, companies, organisations, and governments, they have become an essential part of society. The COVID-19 crisis has further accelerated this trend. A shared, coherent vision for a digital economy and what it means to be a citizen in an increasingly digital world is more important than ever. The first part of this report focuses on the perception among EU citizens of the increasingly critical role that digital tools and the internet will play in their lives, and their expected impact in the foreseeable future. Among other things respondents were asked how important they expect digital tools and the internet to be in their lives by 2030, and whether or not they expect digital tools and the internet to facilitate their lives, for instance for accessing education and training opportunities, healthcare services, or connecting with other people. The second part of this report explores the perception among respondents of national priorities in terms of digital technologies, and the importance of cooperation among EU Member States regarding digital technologies, for instance regarding increasing investments in more innovative and secure digital technologies, notably through projects involving two or more Member States or ensuring that the same digital technologies and services are accessible to everyone, everywhere in the EU. The third part of the report focuses on the awareness of EU citizens on the application and protection of fundamental rights in the online environment. More concretely, respondents were asked whether or not they are aware that rights such as the freedom of expression, privacy, or non-discrimination should be respected online as well as offline.