“One of the most important things is to build knowledge and critical thinking,” emphasized Edoardo Raffiotta, Professor at the University of Milan Bicocca, during his lecture held at MCC Debrecen Center as part of the MCC Budapest Summit.
Professor Edoardo Raffiotta highlighted that technology is more deeply embedded in our lives than we might initially think. The continuous sharing of our data—through emails, cloud storage, and online shopping—places vast amounts of information into the hands of tech giants that hold immense power not only economically, but also politically.
He provided an in-depth overview of the European legal landscape, arguing that current regulatory frameworks—such as the GDPR—are no longer sufficient to address the emerging challenges posed by artificial intelligence and data management. With over 15 different regulations affecting the digital space in Europe, many of which are outdated, Raffiotta called for a clearer, principle-based, and more streamlined regulatory system. “GDPR, for example, was introduced before the AI boom. The solution is not to abolish all rules, but to establish fewer, yet clearer and future-proof regulations that rest on strong foundations,” he explained.
He also expressed concern over the decline of deep, nuanced public discourse, which is increasingly replaced by impulsive, binary reactions—like or ignore, agree or cancel. According to Raffiotta, this narrowing of thought is dangerous, as the complex societal challenges we face—such as fake news, manipulation, or technological abuse—cannot be resolved with simplistic answers.
The digital age, he concluded, presents not only technological but also social, political, and legal challenges. “Competence, knowledge, and a critical mindset”—these are the foundations that must be strengthened both through legislation and education. People must learn to evaluate what content they accept, what they share, what they debate—and what they reject.
