📋 Tender Overview
The European Union is currently undergoing a groundbreaking process: Discussions are underway regarding the Digital Services Act, which is intended to shape digital life in Europe in the future. As part of this process, a public consultation is taking place, allowing various stakeholders - including cities, businesses, and citizens - to contribute their opinions and expertise. For our city, which has been actively committed to digital inclusion and the protection of its citizens for years - and has also established concrete support services such as the Cybercrime Helpline - the Digital Fairness Act represents an opportunity to improve the current situation. Vienna's City Councillor for Digitalization, Barbara Novak, emphasizes the importance of the Digital Fairness Act: "Europe's digital future must be fair, secure, and people-centered. As the City of Vienna, we expressly welcome the fact that the EU, with the Digital Fairness Act, is placing the protection of its citizens at the forefront. Especially in the digital sphere, we need clear rules against addictive designs, manipulative algorithms, and discriminatory profiling. Children and young people deserve special protection. For years, Vienna has stood for digital inclusion and security: from expanding digital services to providing concrete support such as the Cybercrime Helpline. With our statement on the Digital Fairness Act, we are committed to ensuring that people's rights - especially those of the most vulnerable - apply fully online as well. Only in this way can we create a fair and secure digital future for everyone." For a fair and secure digital future, the CIO Office of the City of Vienna has taken this opportunity to issue a statement on the planned Digital Fairness Act: In light of the rapidly advancing digitalization and the associated societal challenges, it is essential that fundamental rights - especially those of vulnerable groups - are at the heart of future legislation. The statement advocates for strict regulation of addictive design and profiling. The protection of privacy and the right to non-discrimination in the digital sphere are of central importance. Furthermore, a clear regulation of the minimum age for using social media is demanded in order to effectively protect children and young people from potential risks in the digital environment. These age limits must be genuinely enforceable and subject to sanctions in order to effectively prevent manipulative marketing strategies that specifically target young people. Companies should be obligated to actively exercise their duty of care towards minors. Voluntary commitments are insufficient; clear and binding legal frameworks are required. An ambitious and comprehensive Digital Fairness Act represents a crucial step towards sustainably protecting children, young people, and other vulnerable groups, and ensuring digital fairness in Europe. The statement is available at: Consultation on the Digital Fairness Act - Digital Vienna
