ECI Proposal - EU Digital Self-Dependency for Citizens and Protection Against Unlawful Foreign Digital Surveillance

Main Ask:
Protect EU citizens using EU-only digital services from foreign surveillance and ensure certified EU-controlled alternatives exist for software, hardware, and infrastructure.

Full Description:

Context:
Recent geopolitical tensions with historical allies have exposed the risks of over-reliance on foreign-controlled digital services, making EU digital self-dependency a critical necessity. Currently, EU citizens lack protected, verifiable options to avoid foreign dependencies in software, hardware, or infrastructure. This leaves them vulnerable to foreign surveillance, data exploitation, and sudden service disruptions, while EU businesses face unfair competition from foreign-dominated markets.

Our Demands:
We urge the European Commission to:

- Shield EU Citizens from Foreign Surveillance
- Legally protect individuals who choose EU-only digital services (e.g., email, cloud, chat) from foreign surveillance. The EU must:
- Prohibit cooperation with third-country authorities targeting citizens solely for using EU-based services.
- Ban the sharing of metadata with foreign entities, closing gaps in GDPR and NIS2.
- Guarantee that EU institutions and member states reject foreign requests for data or metadata from certified EU-only services, unless tied to serious, unrelated crimes.

Guarantee EU-Only Digital Options
Certify software, services, and infrastructure (e.g., CDNs, root CAs, browsers) as 100% EU-controlled: no foreign ownership, hosting, or dependencies. Audits must be public and annual.

- Fund and endorse EU private sector companies to develop open-source, self-hosted, or EU-controlled alternatives, in exchange for transparency and progress monitoring.
- Prioritize public procurement of certified EU-only solutions to drive market adoption.

Build EU Hardware Autonomy
Develop a strategic roadmap for self-sufficiency in critical hardware (e.g., semiconductors, motherboards, storage), aligned with the European Chips Act. This must include:

- Phased targets for EU-designed and manufactured components.
- Public-private partnerships to accelerate production.
- Incentives (e.g., grants, tax breaks) for companies contributing to EU hardware sovereignty.

EU Commitment:
The EU must demonstrate unity and resolve in pursuing this vision, resisting foreign pressure or rhetoric that seeks to slow or suspend progress. This transformation should be steady, gradual, and low-profile, avoiding unnecessary escalation while ensuring long-term resilience.

Why This Matters:

- This initiative fills critical gaps in existing EU laws (GDPR, Data Act, NIS2) by:
- Addressing metadata protection and citizen choice, which are currently unprotected.
- Creating economic opportunities for EU businesses while reducing risks from foreign dependencies.
- Ensuring the EU retains control over its digital future, regardless of external political pressures.

Compliance with EU Values:
This proposal aligns with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (Articles 7, 8, 16, 17) and supports the EU 2030 Digital Compass goals for sovereignty and resilience.