The Aeolian Discourse is a discussion series hosted by Michael Shea. The topic is Data Sovereignty & Governance in Decentralized Public Infrastructure. Rob ‘s contribution is titled Creating a European Commons through a decentralised network of 6G smartphones. The full argument will be out soon in a Springer Brief in Political Science; Statecraft and Policymaking in the Age of Digital Twins.
Europe is rightly regulating data, data spaces, cloud, edge, AI, chips, IoT (CRA) and other important enablers of digital connectivity. In this short talk I will make an argument for regulating – in a similar way as the wallet – the smartphone itself arguing for a firm grasp on hardware and hardware infrastructure coming in the new 6G space. In creating an OS from the chip up AI runs parallel with service applications like social media, search tools, tools for friends and shopping, etc. In this way we can implement what we now attempt to regulate (sometimes on the level of mundane features). Not only does this bring back trillions of euros (GAFAM now being 7 trillion) as our primary cloud will be the edge of 500 million phones that are fully compliant on all current Acts and Directives. Because of the extras and hyperlocal information people will gradually fade out their old phones. And of course anyone in the world can buy into our commons, simply by buying the phone. By 2030 a phone will probably not be the right word as this device will be a true companion, exactly as it once was intended.
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