Public consultation for the elaboration of a Charter of Digital Rights

The objective of this consultation is to obtain, directly or through representative organizations, the opinion of the general public on the following aspects:

1. The problems that are intended to be solved with the initiative.
2. The need and opportunity.
3. The objectives.
4. The possible alternative regulatory and non-regulatory solutions.

Interested parties may make comments and observations regarding not only the issues expressly raised in this consultation, but any other issues they consider relevant.

The development of the Internet and the digital society has changed the way we relate, communicate and carry out our social, labor, economic and cultural activities, constituting a true revolution and an inexhaustible source of opportunities for progress.

However, it has also brought certain risks that pose a challenge to security, privacy and trust in the digital world, and that must be addressed through measures that guarantee the rights and freedoms of citizens.

In this sense, Spain was already the first European country to guarantee a series of digital rights related to the internet, thanks to the Organic Law on Personal Data Protection and Guarantee of Digital Rights promoted by this Government, which included important aspects such as the right to oblivion on the network, security and digital education or digital disconnection in the workplace.

Our goal now is to tackle the task of recognizing an even broader spectrum of citizens’ digital rights. The aim is to ensure that the rights and freedoms we enjoy in our offline lives are equally protected in the online environment.

In an increasingly digitalized society and economy, it is essential to address issues such as the right to privacy and security, protection from violence, education, the reduction of digital gaps, as well as their labor and civil dimensions. In particular, special attention should be paid to ensuring that digitisation does not leave the most vulnerable unprotected.

It is up to the public authorities to promote policies that make effective the rights of citizens on the Internet by promoting the equality of individuals and groups in which they integrate in order to make possible the full exercise of fundamental rights in the digital reality.

For all these reasons, the Government intends to adopt a Charter of Digital Rights that will include the rights necessary for the digital protection of all citizens and will allow us, once again, to put ourselves at the forefront of Europe in relation to the development of a free, open and inclusive digital society.

In order to have the greatest participation of civil society, this public consultation is proposed, the purpose of which is to gather their opinion, individually or through representative associations.

Considering the above,

1. How do you consider that new digital technologies affect citizens’ rights and freedoms?
2. What ethical considerations do you think should be assessed in relation to the digital society?
3. What legislative measures or public policies would you propose?
4. What specific rights do you think should be included or extended?

As possibilities of response it is suggested to approach it from one or several of the following points of view:

1. Sectorial (labor, administrative, financial, educational, cultural, privacy, etc. ),
2. Reflection of new technological realities such as artificial intelligence or the Big Data
3. In relation to the target persons, in particular the potentially vulnerable groups and the different gaps (digital, gender…) that society suffers.
4. Media and social networks
5. In which areas should it be deepened and addressed to ensure that the rights enjoyed offline are also respected online?

The concept of different alternative solutions is part of the consultation process itself.

The contributions must be sent to the email address derechosdigitales@economia.gob.es, until 24 July 2020, stating:

• Name and surname/denomination or social reason of the participant
• Organization or association (if applicable)
• Contact (email)

In general, the responses will be considered non-confidential and therefore freely disseminated. The parts of the information that are desired to be considered as confidential must be specifically indicated and delimited in the text itself.