New Digital Minister: Data protection must not become a brake on innovation

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Federal Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger, who took office unexpectedly, presented part of his government program at the annual meeting of the CDU Economic Council in Berlin on Tuesday. For the former CEO of Ceconomy, the parent company of MediaMarkt and Saturn, it is crucial to create a resilient value chain and a digital single market in Europe. Data protection and the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) play an “important role” in this, explained the new CDU member. These are “cornerstones of the digital society with high standards”. However, these should “not become a brake on innovation”.

He therefore sees an “urgent need for action” regarding the European requirements for safeguarding privacy, Wildberger emphasized. In essence, data protection and innovative online business models are “two sides of the same digital coin”. At the same time, he announced that he would quickly look into the AI Act with his European colleagues and sound out how the EU's AI regulation could be implemented in the most innovation-friendly way at national level.

The former manager described AI as a great opportunity for progress and growth, which politicians must explain to citizens with the help of a “positive progress narrative”. In Germany, the risks of this key technology have often taken center stage. However, these are best managed “if you master the technology” and are a leader in it. Being courageous and innovative must once again become a matter of course.

Supply chain and heating law must go

The “digital next Germany” he is striving for, which is to build on the success of “made in Germany”, will bring opportunities for growth and jobs, Wildberger explained. He is also responsible for the modernization of the state, where he wants to bring less bureaucracy and more efficiency to the administration. This also requires artificial intelligence. “For every law, two have to go. Is that possible?” he asked, paraphrasing one of his maxims. He already has the first two pieces of legislation in mind with the Supply Chain Act and the Heating Act, where the black-red government needs to act quickly.

The 55-year-old named the digitalization of the state as one of his main topics. To achieve this, it is necessary to create relevant processes quickly, efficiently and close to the lives of citizens. During his inaugural visits to authorities such as the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) and the Federal Network Agency on Friday, he met “committed employees”: “We are not starting from scratch,” said the head of the yet-to-be-established department with confidence. However, the many federal, state, and local initiatives need to be better coordinated.

Plea for a German stack

Wildberger is concerned with how a uniform digital architecture can be created at federal level and beyond. He advocates the development of a “Germany IT stack”. By this, he means a uniform infrastructure with clearly defined interfaces, cloud services and standards. So far, a EuroStack has been the main topic of discussion in specialist circles. The EU is expected to invest around 300 billion euros in common platforms, data rooms, standards and coordinated strategies by 2035.

The minister sees an electronic identity in a digital EU wallet as a building block for the associated digital sovereignty. Another focus: the major construction site of advancing the digital infrastructure: “We need functioning networks without white spots,” he emphasized. “The data must flow.” Wildberger wants to focus on fiber optics and 5G “with a clear focus on private investment”. State subsidies should only supplement this. He wants to talk to the companies expanding the network about the speed of expansion, and also explore: “Where can we reduce bureaucracy very quickly?” Better project management and clear implementation controlling could also help.

Home game at lobby group draws criticism

The first few days were “pretty wild”, Wildberger revealed when asked. He was just standing on the gas pedal. His team was on fire for the cause. Even at the conference of digital ministers, which he had just attended, the willingness to work together was absolutely palpable. Even though he knows that the goals have to be implemented in a complex system, he “actually has more energy today than last week” when he took office.

The speech at the Economic Council, which is a CDU-affiliated lobby group, was a home game for Wildberger. He had met the current Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the presidium there and was now warmly welcomed back into the traditional ranks under a new flag.

On Monday, Wildberger handed over his vice presidency of the CDU Economic Council to SAP board member Thomas Saueressig. However, he remains a member of the executive committee. The LobbyControl association previously criticized his prominent role in the Economic Council. It is also controversial that MediaMarkt-Saturn is one of the main sponsors of the Business Council. LobbyControl calls for a clear separation between political tasks and lobbying functions, even if these are honorary positions. Through the federal ministers Katherina Reiche and Patrick Schnieder (both CDU), the Economic Council is also “now even sitting at the cabinet table”.

(mho)