Federal Digital Minister
Wissing for internationally uniform rules on the internet
Volker Wissing (FDP), Federal Minister for Transport and Digital Affairs. Photo: Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa/archive image
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Germany holds the presidency of the G7 this year. The digital ministers of the largest industrial nations are meeting this week. Volker Wissing wants to strengthen cooperation on internet issues.
Federal Digital Minister Volker Wissing calls for international rules for the use of the Internet.
“Digitization is based on a global network, and that’s why we need the free flow of data, we need the free exchange of data, but of course in an area that contains regulations,” said the FDP politician on Deutschlandfunk with a view to the meeting of the G7 digital ministers , which takes place this Tuesday and Wednesday in Düsseldorf.
That is why one must prevent each country from setting up its own rules on the Internet. “We don’t want to have a sum of intranets, but we want to have an Internet that allows free access in the spirit of the inventors,” said the minister. “If we isolate ourselves, then we can no longer use the potential of digitization.”
That is why international rules are needed to ensure, for example, the protection of data and fair competition. In addition, one must act against cybercrime and strengthen defense systems. “And that’s the best way for us to get things moving together.” For example, by sharing state-of-the-art technologies with each other. In this way it can be ensured “that the network remains open, remains free and is protected at the same time”.
The G7 meeting in Düsseldorf is about how the seven states can pull together more closely on cyber security and other Internet issues. Germany is chairing the G7 this year. Also in the group are the USA, Canada, Italy, France, Great Britain and Japan.