Linke on digital affairs

The Left expects digitalization to keep changing work and everyday life. It wants new rules and protections for employees, customers and users of online services.

Computers and the internet change work and daily life. The Left wants new rules for this. The rules should protect workers. They should also protect customers and people who use online services.

The platform places this demand within its promise of a modern Thuringian welfare state. That state is meant to guarantee social security and equal rights for all. What has proven itself is to be kept, and new things are to be tackled where the party sees a need.

The Left sees internet, telephone, and postal delivery as public infrastructure that must be affordable and accessible to everyone. It wants broadband and 5G coverage everywhere and, to that end, a publicly organized Telekom.

The Left wants fast internet for everyone, in every village too. Internet should be affordable. Telekom should be publicly organized. There should be no more dead zones for cell phones.

The fiber strategy aims to connect business parks, schools, research institutions, and government offices by the end of 2025 and to make gigabit networks available in every municipality. If private mobile operators fail to deliver full coverage, a federal agency is to take over the rollout. Initiatives that want to move broadband networks into public or cooperative ownership get support. Public facilities as well as buses and trains are to offer free, noncommercial internet. Public administration is to use open-source software and fund its development.

The Left proposes a subcommittee in the state parliament that would discuss the opportunities, risks, and necessary rules for artificial intelligence together with experts. Thuringia is to regulate AI-generated content and AI-controlled processes by law where needed.

The Left wants a new working group in the state parliament. It should talk about artificial intelligence, or AI. Experts should take part. The group should work out which laws AI needs.

The party sees great creative potential and social benefit in the technology. At the same time, it considers new standards possible for data protection, personal rights, copyright and exploitation rights, working conditions, media law, and democracy. Experts from journalism, data protection, the judiciary, labor unions, and academia are to take part in the subcommittee.