Rector calls for EU law to protect universities’ tech autonomy

‘Digital University Act’ needed to limit power of digital technology companies, says Karen Maex

The EU should create a package of legislation to ensure universities in the bloc can continue to control their research and education activities and data, despite their growing use of digital infrastructure provided by private companies, University of Amsterdam rector Karen Maex has said.

In a speech on 8 January, Maex (pictured) called on the EU R&D commissioner, Mariya Gabriel, and the European Commission vice president in charge of digitisation, Margrethe Vestager, to create a Digital Universities Act to complement the Digital Services Act proposed by the European Commission in December 2020 and meant to protect EU consumers online.