Grüne on digital affairs

The Greens demand that European rules apply on the internet to tech companies from the United States and China as well. Children should learn to use social media step by step and should not be left on their own.

The Greens want firm rules for the internet. Big companies from the US and China should also follow Europe's rules. Children should learn how to use social media well. This should happen step by step, like learning to swim.

According to the platform, social media has often weakened rather than strengthened conversation among citizens, and the tone is frequently disrespectful. The internet therefore needs rules and training. The platform compares this to swimming lessons, where children progress in stages from the first badge to the highest.

The Greens want to make Baden-Württemberg Europe's leading location for artificial intelligence and pool the strengths of the AI centers Cyber Valley and IPAI. AI is to reach the entire Mittelstand (small and mid-sized firms), and quantum technology is to be expanded further.

The Greens want the state to be strong in artificial intelligence. The short form is AI. Small and mid-sized companies should be able to use AI too. Young AI companies should get money more easily. Quantum technology should also get support.

AI is to be linked with the state's strong industries, such as mechanical engineering, humanoid robotics and media production. Plans include AI real-world labs, access to venture capital for AI start-ups and support for the European capital markets union. The General Data Protection Regulation is to be interpreted uniformly nationwide, and the state data protection commissioner is to advise companies directly. The innBW and KI-Allianz BW networks are to further strengthen transfer to small and mid-sized firms. European coordination is meant to reduce dependence on AI corporations outside Europe; the QuantumBW initiative will continue.

The Greens want to make all government services available through a single digital platform and introduce the once-only principle, under which citizens have to provide information just one time. Non-digital access is to remain for people who need help.

The Greens want one app for all government offices. People should be able to do everything online there. They should only have to give their data once. People who do not use the internet can still go to an office.

As a first step, the Service BW portal is to become a single citizen platform and a “Bürger-App BW”; the model is the Danish portal borger.dk. Benefits should be paid automatically and without a complicated application where possible. Events such as starting a company, building a house, a birth or bringing in skilled workers from non-EU countries are to be handled through one-stop shops. Artificial intelligence is to automate standard procedures and relieve staff, not replace them. Municipalities will get central online services, a statewide payment system and training through digital guides.

The Greens want to concentrate political responsibility for digitalization and modernizing the state in one place, either with a minister in the Staatsministerium (state chancellery) or in a separate digital ministry. This is meant to let the state act reliably and speak with one voice in the federal system.

Today many offices are in charge of digital matters. The Greens want one central office for this. It could be a separate digital ministry. Then it is clear who is responsible.

The party says it is ready to work actively in a cross-party alliance to modernize the state. It welcomes that the federal government and the states plan a joint modernization agenda. Bundling responsibility is meant to prevent accountability from blurring between ministries.

The Greens want to make public administration less dependent on technology corporations outside Europe and rely more on open-source software. At the same time, protection of digital government against cyberattacks is to be expanded further.

The Greens want government offices to depend less on big companies outside Europe. Offices should use more open software. People's data should be safe. Protection against attacks from the internet should grow.

Open source is to take priority in software procurement where it makes technical and economic sense. The data standards of the federal information management system FIM are to become mandatory for state databases and tenders. Registers are to be hosted in secure clouds in Germany without third-party access. Plans include training for all administrative staff on data protection and cybersecurity and the expansion of secure data centers. The party also advocates a secure European infrastructure for research data.

The Greens want to strengthen libraries and media centers across the state and establish them as the backbone of digital education infrastructure. Schools' digital equipment is to be expanded through the federal Digitalpakt 2.0 and state funds.

The Greens want stronger media centers and libraries. Media centers help schools with technology. Schools should get good Wi-Fi and modern devices. Money comes from the federal government and the state. More IT experts should work at schools.

According to the platform, county and state media centers already provide digital learning media, training and technical support for schools; the law governing media centers is to be reformed. With the federal Digitalpakt 2.0 and its own funds, the state wants to support stable Wi-Fi, modern devices and platforms usable for teaching. Funds are to be awarded with little red tape. Together with school authorities, the Greens want to bring more IT staff into schools permanently, to offer guidance as well as repairs.

The Greens want to promote media literacy for all age groups so people can spot manipulated content and scams. Age limits for social networks are to be effectively enforced together with other states, and digital content is to be technically labeled.

Everyone should learn to use media well. People should spot fake pictures and fraud. Social networks have age limits. These limits should really apply. Pictures and videos should get a label.

Media literacy is not to be limited to schools; older people are to be included, for instance with regard to scams such as the grandparent scam. Information on the benefits and risks of social media is to be available in an age-appropriate form. So-called Content Credentials, meaning tamper-proof metadata, are to make the origin and integrity of images, videos and posts traceable. According to the platform, this provides guidance against disinformation and deepfakes.