Public demand for digital sovereignty and a proactive state on the rise

Public demand for digital sovereignty and a proactive state on the rise

The new representative study from gfs.bern on behalf of the Mercator Foundation Switzerland shows that the Swiss population wants a stronger regulation of AI and the state to take an active role.

SCRAI was invited by Mercator to participate in the workshop to discuss the study and its outcomes before its publication. The round enabled insightful discussions across the diverse group and stakeholders.

Insights from the Study

• AI regulation, Big Tech regulation, and Digital Sovereignty are gaining support in Switzerland.

• People in Switzerland think that the state, companies, and individuals (in descending order) should be hold more accountable for Digitalisation.

• Trust and democracy are under pressure as the sentiment in the population is rather critical regarding digitalisation while trust in institutions is decreasing.

• The topic Responsible AI gains traction. In particular, "transparency" and "human oversight" regarding AI systems for decision-making are relevant . The general opinion supports an active role of the state in that regard.

• Innovation vs. Protection: For a digital society, people overwhelmingly want government funds to be used for more protection than for investments in ideal digital innovation conditions.

Reflection
We live in uncertain times. This assessment may be subjective (personal experiences, anecdotes) or it may be based on more objective data (e.g. economic metrics) - but it is the very real perception people have. The need for more safety, certainty, leadership, and regulation is a direct consequence of this. While additional regulation might be necessary or even overdue in some cases, Switzerland needs to remain a global innovation leader for the prosperity of the next generation. At SCRAI, we believe that responsible innovation is not only possible but necessary.

SCRAI's Contribution
As our mission is to promote Responsible AI, it is good to see that fundamental requirements are gaining visibility in the population.
To shape appropriate and practical regulations and standards, we engage with standardisation bodies and associations internationally and in Switzerland. While doing so, we need to ensure that innovation is supported and not stifled. That's why we work with companies
to build real-world solutions that are both responsible and create novel value.

Thank you to Mercator and gfs.bern for the representative elicitation and providing current, relevant insights for Switzerland.

Please visit Mercator's website for the full summary and key insights:
https://www.stiftung-mercator.ch/journal/digitale-souveraenitaet-und-ein-gestaltender-staat