Big Tech as Digital Infrastructure: A New Agenda for Democratic Control
As part of the government’s expert group, Mie Oehlenschlæger, co-founder of Tech & Childhood, has contributed to the group’s work on analyzing Big Tech’s role as digital infrastructure and its societal implications. The newly released report highlights the structural challenges posed by tech giants’ increasing control over essential digital services and proposes solutions to strengthen democratic oversight and reduce dependency on these companies.
Digital Infrastructure Under Private Control
The report emphasizes that society’s growing reliance on digital solutions—from social media to cloud services and payment systems—has made Denmark vulnerable to economic, security, and democratic risks. Large tech companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft own and control key parts of the digital infrastructure, raising concerns about competition, data access, and government regulation.
Seven Principles for a New Digital Strategy
The expert group proposes seven guiding principles for a more resilient and democratically controlled digital infrastructure:
Transparency on Big Tech’s influence – Ownership and operation of digital infrastructure must be publicly accessible and continuously monitored.
Making data accessible for individuals and society – Data should serve public and individual interests rather than solely commercial gains.
Encouraging alternatives to Big Tech – Competition and the development of European digital solutions must be supported.
No one should be forced to use Big Tech – People must be able to participate in social, cultural, and democratic communities without relying on tech giants.
Public institutions should not be dependent on Big Tech – Governments should avoid being locked into large private platforms.
Educational institutions must be free from commercial Big Tech – Digital tools used in schools should be age-appropriate, ad-free, and not collect children’s data for commercial purposes.
Big Tech’s platforms must be safe marketplaces – Online commerce should be fair, transparent, and comply with national regulations.
What Comes Next?
The report calls for political action to reduce Denmark’s digital vulnerabilities and reclaim democratic control over critical infrastructure. It highlights the need for stronger regulations, increased public investment in alternative digital solutions, and a broader political strategy for digital sovereignty.
At a time when tech giants not only dominate markets but also shape public discourse, information flows, and critical infrastructure, ensuring that technology serves society rather than dictates its direction is more crucial than ever.
Download the full report