Wildberger: "We will not give up this digital republic"

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For politicians, attending the digital conference re:publica has been a mixed pleasure for years. The conference, which, in contrast to other events, focuses on the social dimension, is considered difficult terrain by responsible politicians. And for Karsten Wildberger, the appearance on Tuesday evening on the largest available stage was not always easy. Just as the minister's interim assessment is mixed, so too was the reception of what the minister could present in the old Postbahnhof am Gleisdreieck.

Federal Digital Minister Wildberger is trying to win over the audience as supporters for at least some of his plans and previous approaches. He is sure of applause on some topics. “In two and a half years, we must have products that can absolutely keep up,” says the minister about a departure from dominant providers of office software and comparable products. At the Center for Digital Sovereignty, there is ongoing consideration of how it can be equipped more effectively. It needs products that can “stand up” to competing products, as the minister put it. Zendis will receive the money it needs with changed structures. “We will not give up this digital republic,” the minister calls out to the hall.

Sovereignty may cost comfort

But it's not just about building software for the administration. But better products that can also survive in the market. The principle here is: “Public money, public code.” This is something that can earn applause from the audience at the re:publica conference in Berlin. And also that some products are used primarily for reasons of convenience; at high license costs, this convenience can come at a high price.

Wildberger's perspective on dependence on the USA and others is one of a targeted catch-up race. He hopes that we will continue to live in a world of cooperation and trade, but that we will be aware of the risks and not naive. “We see that technological capabilities have geopolitical significance,” says Wildberger, referring to the global situation. That's why capabilities are being worked on and the state must commit itself to European providers.

Wildberger appeals to the community

He wants to strengthen the dialogue with civil society; he admits to having done too little in this area last year. But how voluntary this admission is is unclear. Because recently, and also at re:publica, criticism has been voiced about some BMDS projects – for example, about the open-source AI module project SPARK or about the German implementation of the EUDI Wallet announced for the turn of the year.

Security is the top priority in implementation, according to Wildberger. There are several criteria for the success of the project: “First, the wallet must work, then it must convince by being secure,” explains the minister. On Wednesday, the Digital Identity Act (DIdG) is to be discussed in the Federal Cabinet, which will create the legal basis for the wallet. Then citizens will be able to identify themselves much more easily to third parties with state-certified data. Wildberger is thinking of a “parcel station app” and sees “many, many use cases that will make life better.” But that will only come if it is also trusted.

But that cannot be decreed, says Wildberger. The wallet must earn trust. “We are naturally examining the thing thoroughly,” says the digital minister. And yet he asks for the community's help to make it truly secure. It is one of the minister's flagship projects, one by which he wants to be measured. The fear: that the state-guaranteed data could leak. Wildberger therefore promises “full transparency about who used what and when.” He does not receive applause for this.

Where Wildberger doesn't get applause

And that too has its reasons. Because Wildberger's attitude towards deregulation and changes in data protection is not trusted at re:publica. “We need to move from pure data protection to responsible data use,” argues the minister, and the hall is dead silent. A deep skepticism that less data protection law also implies a reduction in fundamental rights protection is noticeable among the participants.

On the other hand, Wildberger's clear commitment to the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act, the two EU regulations mainly attacked by the USA, is consensus among the audience. And also a final point: “I also sometimes wish for companies to take a little more responsibility for society,” says Wildberger. If it is no longer clear what is true and false, that would be permanently corrosive to society, says the politician, who joined the CDU last year.

(afl)