In response to the ways in which technology continues to have profound impacts on society, democracy, and the planet, the increasing power and influence of Big Tech, and the wave of regulations in the EU and beyond, we wanted to address the need for transformative leadership by launching the Policy Leadership Initiative.
More than ever, we see a demand for empathetic leaders who understand how to shift power and create better policy at the EU level. Our aim is to lower barriers, support growth, and bolster that support by encouraging established practitioner leaders to share their learnings forward with newer practitioners.
Since launching the Policy Leadership Initiative in 2023, we have interviewed over 100 individuals in the policy field. We wanted to hear what practitioners had to say about leadership, policy work, power-sharing, and a range of other topics that contributed to the development of our programmes.
These were members of our network of allies, experienced practitioners, and leaders whose input helped shape the Policy Leadership programmes. We listened to what they saw as opportunities, challenges, and aspirations for the digital rights field.
In this new blog series, ‘Voices from the Policy Community,’ we will share some highlights from these interviews, which fundamentally shaped the Policy Leadership Initiative.
LACK OF DIVERSITY IN POLICYMAKING
For laws to truly protect and extend human rights for all – not just a privileged few – it is critical to have diverse viewpoints, voices, and leaders who shape the dialogue in policymaking rooms. For the Policy Leadership Initiative, in practice, this means finding ways to facilitate entry into the field, elevating underrepresented communities, and partnering with practitioners.
People often assume that leaders should conform to a particular image, which reflects the attributes and contributions we tend to value in the field. This point was highlighted by many of the practitioners we interviewed.
Nadia Benaissa, Legal Policy Adviser at Bits of Freedom, pointed out that the lack of diversity in such spaces is rather unfortunate, given that many organisations possess valuable insights on improving society but struggle to engage with policymakers effectively.
“Diversity and policymaking in the same sentence even feels difficult to connect.”
She noted a rigid organisational dynamic that enforces conformity in areas like dress codes and communication.
“There is a strong culture of ‘this is how things are done.’”
The way we see it, these institutions simply must do better. If we want policy outcomes that protect and expand rights for those who are most impacted, we need far more representation and policy approaches that match our hopes for a more diverse field.
DEMYSTIFYING THE ‘BRUSSELS BUBBLE’
Almost every practitioner we spoke with expressed a pain point in navigating the EU legislative maze – how it works in practice, whom to influence and when, or how to effectively influence these lengthy and complex processes.
Fieke Jansen, Co-Principal Investigator at the Critical Infrastructure Lab at the University of Amsterdam emphasised the importance of understanding policy networks and the timing of legislative processes. The challenge, she explained, lies not only in being heard, but in being heard at the right moment.
“People underestimate the networks you need to do policy work. It’s hard to know the legislative arcs or the moments to influence. You have to identify the entry points and moments of opportunity.”
This often results in the feeling of being “too late” to meaningfully shape the conversation.
DEEPER THAN DIVERSITY: DECOLONISING DIGITAL RIGHTS
Marginalised groups have often been excluded from policy discussions regarding digital technologies that not only reproduce but also amplify existing forms of oppression.
Many practitioners we talked with were encouraged by the broadening of the digital policy landscape, which continues to evolve to include groups directly impacted by tech-facilitated harms such as Muslims, sex workers, Roma, and migrants, but noted that more changes are needed beyond representation. An effort to decolonise the digital rights field, kicked off and shepherded by EDRi and DFF in 2020, designed to shift existing power dynamics within it. By addressing the field’s internal dynamics and building solidarity with other movements, the fight against harms experienced disproportionately by marginalised communities can be put at the forefront, and structural causes of oppression can be challenged.
‘Decolonising Digital Rights’ is an initiative now carried forward by Weaving Liberation and stands as an example of bringing this vision of decolonising digital rights to life. Weaving Liberation’s programme ‘A vision for digital justice organising in Europe’ consists of activities that aim to build an ecosystem which will work to ensure digital rights for all. This ecosystem will allow a network of racial, social, queer transfeminist, environmental, economic, and tech activists to challenge existing power structures that influence policy and organise in solidarity.
While diversity in policymaking is important, we also need to think about transforming these spaces by focusing on systemic change and thinking transformatively; to imagine and work towards anti-colonial digital futures that are just for all. This is true not only in policymaking centres, but in civil society, too.
POLICY AND POWER REDISTRIBUTION
All the previously mentioned issues ultimately connect to power dynamics, raising the question: how can one effectively challenge these dynamics in policy?
Salmana Ahmed, Co-Director at Weaving Liberation, shared that she felt as though there is a lot of performativity when initiatives try to address this issue.
"Everyone's happy to have the conversation, but not to actually give up the power or invest in the infrastructure and practices necessary to build the power of those who have been structurally excluded."
This is why we see an urgent need for practical learnings that encourage genuine power redistribution; we need to bridge the gap between willingness to discuss power dynamics and actual power-sharing, and provide emerging policy leaders with practical tools and approaches for naming, addressing, and inverting power dynamics.
LOOKING AHEAD
Our vision for the future of the Policy Leadership Initiative seeks to address the critical need for transformative leadership in the face of evolving technological and policy challenges, as well as ever-more consolidated corporate power.
Through the voices of practitioners, we want to emphasise the importance of empathy, mentorship, and community in leadership roles. By focusing on power redistribution, fostering trust, and supporting mental well-being, this initiative holds space for leaders who are not only effective in driving change in policy and beyond, but also committed to creating inclusive and resilient communities.
Our community’s reflections are the pivotal input in shaping a more equitable and responsive policy landscape.
This post was co-written by Luiza Braga.